Top Iranian Clerics Call Election Illegitimate!

There has been much discussion about the fraudulent elections in Iran and the subsequent social uprising. Now, the most important group of clerics in Iran has come out with a statement calling the election invalid.

The most important group of religious leaders in Iran has called the disputed presidential election and the new government illegitimate, an act of defiance against the country's supreme leader and the most public sign of a major split in the country's clerical establishment.

The statement by the Association of Researchers and Teachers of Qum represents a significant, if so far symbolic, setback for the government and especially the authority of the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, whose word is supposed to be final. The government has tried to paint the opposition and its top presidential candidate, Mir Hussein Moussavi, as criminals and traitors, a strategy that now becomes more difficult -- if not impossible.

"This crack in the clerical establishment and the fact they are siding with the people and Moussavi in my view is the most historic crack in the 30 years of the Islamic republic," said Abbas Milani, director of the Iranian Studies Program at Stanford University. "Remember they are going against an election verified and sanctified by Khamenei."

Leading Clerics Defy Ayatollah on Disputed Iran Election

Increasing evidence of vote manipulation is mounting and the main political opponent of Ahmedinejad has released more documentation showing that more than 20 million extra ballots were printed and that people were paid to vote for Ahmedinejad.

For instance, although the government had announced that two of the losing presidential contenders had received relatively few votes in their hometowns, the documents stated that some ballot boxes in those towns contained no votes for the two men.

This despite earlier polls showing very strong support for the opposition candidates, and after the vote, this support has been proven by thousands taking to the street calling for their votes to be counted.

The statement by the top clerics adds support to the opposition and goes on to lash out at the leadership for using violence against the people of Iran in an attempt to oppress their political rights.

im sorry that this hasnt gotten any attention. this seems like it should be big news to me. the religious leaders in Iran are siding with moussavi may have a huge impact on how Ahmadinejad behaves.

reply to post by ELECTRICkoolaidZOMBIEtest


This goes to the very legitimacy of Ahmedinejads power. It pulls out the rug from underneath him and clearly indicates the seriousness of the fraudulent election. The importance of these top clerics can not be underestimated. Their entire system of Islamic theocracy and mix of democracy is based on a close religious consensus. With such strong dissent from such important clerics, any claim of legitimacy is significantly weakened to the point of virtual collapse.

Ahmedinejad is becoming increasingly isolated. Within Iran top clerics and political figures deny the legality if his authority. Every member of the EU has called in the Iranian ambassadors to discuss the fraudulent election and government violence against the people of Iran. The Kingdom of Jordan has pulled the licenses of Iranian state television to broadcast there, and the Sultan of Oman has cancelled all meetings with Ahmedinejad. Even Russia, long a strong supporter of Iran, has refused to hold private meetings with Ahmedinejad. A very strong signal indeed.

What should the West do??
I remember the questions about the flawed Bush electiion, until us in the West have true democracy imo we should not interfer.

These clerics will never uphold the democracy we dream of in Iran, they are Muslim Clerics.

There again do we have the democracy we dream of.

reply to post by dizzylizzy


What democracy do you dream of for Iran?

The people of Iran are proud of their Islamic culture and are not trying to completely change the system, They just want to remove the corrupt rulers. Iran has Democracy, mixed with a Theocracy, as they desire. The problem in this case is corruption and oppression by those who stole the election. Iranian law calls for free and open elections. This did not happen this time around, but the Top clerics have spoken out and proclaimed the election to be invalid. They are looking out for Democracy. They are speaking out in favor of a true free and open election. As it should be.

Think you may have missed this part of the article:



The Association of Researchers and Teachers of Qum, while a significant group, are by no means the top clerics in Iran.

Rafsanjani and his allies are still gathering support among the top clerics. There are still many who go along with Ahmadinejad.

reply to post by Sestias


Actually, No, I did not miss that part. But what you missed, or chose to ignore, is the very next line in the article:

With its statement Saturday, the association of clerics came down squarely on the side of the reform movement.

And if you have been following the events in Iran closely, you will see that they are not the only ones who have done so:

Grand Ayatollah Yosuf Sanei spoke out against the government violence towards the Iranian people, calling it an "Unforgivable sin" against Islam. His statements came at a time when more and more clerics and Ayatollahs are speaking out against the illegitimacy of Ahmedinejads election.

Ayatollah Bayat-Zanjani said that the demand for justice and protesting for one’s rights was legal. He also denounced the suppression of protesters and called the act illegitimate. Zanjani joins Ayatollahs Taheri, Ghaffari and Montazeri in supporting the cause of the protesters.

Karoubi stated that he would not recognize the current government and would continue to stand by the people in their quest for their rights, even if it took the rest of his life.

Rafsanjani, who is one of the Imams that lead Friday Prayers in Tehran's largest mosque, has declined to lead prayers there in protest over the fraudulent election and government sponsored violence against the citizens of Iran.

Ayatollah Hadi Ghaffari has directly accused Khamenei of sinning against the people by ordering arrests and killings.

Ayatollah Taheri, the former Friday Imam of Isfahan, called Ahmadinejad's appointment illegal.

Pezeshkian, an Iranian MP, told the parliament that God's enemy was he who stood against the people.

Dozens of Iranian university professors have a signed a letter expressing deep anger for the attacks made by security forces on Iranian universities and students.

Khatami stated that, “force should not be used to make people do what one wants them to.” He added that the general trust of the Iranian people have been damaged by such tactics.

Yes, it is not only the top clerics in the article who have spoken out on the side of the protesters. The list if influential Clerics is strong and growing.

Ahmedinejad has lost all moral authority and will never again be seen as a benevolent leader.