Leading Clerics Defy Ayatollah on Disputed Iran Election
An important group of religious leaders in
Iran called the disputed presidential election and the new government illegitimate on Saturday
the Association of Researchers and Teachers of Qum, represents a significant
The government has tried to paint the opposition and its top presidential candidate
as criminals and traitors, a strategy that now becomes more difficult
the most historic crack in the 30 years of the Islamic republic,” said Abbas Milani, director of the Iranian Studies Program at
Stanford University
With its statement Saturday, the association of clerics came down squarely on the side of the reform movement.
The clerics’ decision to speak up
could fizzle under pressure
“I don’t ever remember in the 20 years of Khamenei’s rule where he was clearly and categorically on one side and so many clergy were on the other side,” Mr. Milani said. “This might embolden other clergy to come forward.”
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