Wednesday
Dec232009
Iran: Is Ayatollah Sane'i The Next Montazeri?
Wednesday, December 23, 2009 at 7:39 
As the death of Grand Ayatollah Montazeri provides a symbol both of mourning and of hope for the challenge to the Iranian regime, Josh Shahryar sees another senior cleric filling the religious and political space:When Grand Ayatollah Hossein-Ali Montazeri died three days ago, perhaps the most nagging question on everyone’s mind was who would replace a man of such stature. Asked about who he had designated as his successor, Montazeri’s son Ahmed replied calmly that his father told him, “The people will decide.” And the people have decided. Maybe not as openly as one would wish, but they surely have.
The Latest from Iran (23 December): This Time, No Pause?
The next spiritual leader of Iran’s reformist movement is none other than Montazeri’s old friend, Grand Ayatollah Yousef Sane’i. Perhaps no other cleric seemed as obvious a choice: not only are his credentials important, but so are his political, religious and social views. And his rise is being helped by the Iranian Government.
Tuesday started with Government-owned media quietly inserting the word Imam before Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s name. This is surely not only a mockery of the Shi’ite faith --- according to which Khamenei is not even a source of jurisprudence –--- but also of common sense. It is a direct consequence of candid suggestions by reformists and clerics alike to elevate Montazeri posthumously to the rank of Imam. Khamenei was quick to order his men to do the same for him before anyone else did it for the cleric whom he had pushed aside as Supreme Leader in 1989 and later placed under house arrest....
At the same time, reports from inside Iran suggested the government has ordered Basij and other paramilitary troops to enter Qom and surrounded Sane’i house and office, as well as Montazeri’s. It was claimed that security forces broke into Sane’i’s office and hung a picture of Khamenei on the wall. Rumors abounded as to what would be the fate of the cleric.
Sane'i, with his official website, has been one of the most vocal critics of the government and Ahmadinejad --- see, for example, the August video of his denunication of the President. The Ayatollah has repeatedly called for the halting of hostilities against peaceful protesters by the security forces, is now paying for those statements. In response, the Government seems to have made up its mind that now that Montazeri is gone, Sane’i must be silenced.
That plan would work perfectly, if the Iranian people did not have something to say about it.
As the news of the attack on Sane’i’s house circulated, droves of people from the nearby cities of Isfahan and Najafabad started flocking to Qom. Witnesses reported hundreds of people departing for the city with one purpose only: to protect Sane’i. Within those people, there were cries of hatred and anger for the government and of love and affection for the successor of Montazeri’s legacy. And why not?
Sane’i is the perfect man to replace Montazeri. He represents the same brand of moderate Islam that Montazeri espoused. This includes his stance that women have equal rights with men and can be judges and sources of jurisprudence. He has denounced suicide bombings, considers nuclear weapons as being against the soul of Islam and forbidden and perhaps shockingly, even believes that followers of other religions if they are sincere would go to heaven.
These are the qualities that endeared him to the late Montazeri and this is the reason why today, thousands of people from around Iran announced their willingness to defend him against the government. It seems likely that the government will continue to press Sane’i. People have already begun to flock towards him. The question is, is he ready to pick up Montazeri’s pen and fight tyranny? Considering what he’s been doing the past few months, the answer is a resounding yes.
Reader Comments (5)
Sooner or later Sanei's history will be disclosed...my God YET another ayatollah!!! Ok Montazeri was nice! But Sanei was a good friend of Khalkhali,...even Khalkhali joined the reform camp! Khalkhali was the butcher of revolution executing hundreds of thousands! Come end this vicious circle should end. Sanei will sooner or later will be held accountable for human rights abuses in Iran in 80s!
The women rights should be defined by women not by any of these ayatollahs thanks God I lived in Iran to know! how we have felt and sorry that no one outside really understands
Josh - thanks so much for writing this. I had been wondering about this since the moment Montazeri passed away, so it was perfect timing for you to put pen to paper and fill in the gaps for me. Excellent piece!
I do understand it. I agree with both of you. Sane'i is another Islamo fascist that needs to pay for his crimes. I, however, do not know how many people in Iran agree with us. The chant of Rohanei e vaghei Sane’i (real spiritual or clergy is Sane’i) troubles me. This chant is not from outside Iran, it is people and students in Iran, even women are chanting that. Why do they say that?????
Because Iranian people have no choice now. I have to stick to one of these guys or else I will have a much harder time. I have to wear green and have to vote one of these candidates, none of them, my choice for now!...wait and see how demands will grow further and further, until the silent majority (...) also join too! we want to walk this path slowly, hopefully and peacefully!!!!