WHOSE GUIDE IS KHAMENEI ?
There is growing debate in Iran on the status and legality
of thesupreme leadership position. Developments after the last presidential
elections in particular caused questions to be raised about the supreme leader
as well. This questioning approach had been a taboo since the revolution let
alone mentioning the name of the supreme leader but this is changing now.
The developments show that the Iranian political life has
come to an important crossroads. The supreme leader/guide is elected by the
Assembly of Experts comprised of scholars/clergy chosen by the people, as stated
by the Iranian Constitution. Articles 107 and 108 of the Constitution stipulate
that this Council “selects the person who holds the qualifications set in the
Constitution to become the supreme leader, observes his activities and dismisses
him if it is decided that he does not fulfill his duties”. Articles of this
constitution also demonstrate that the supreme leader does not have any
dominance or superior status over the religious figures in the Assembly of
Experts who elect him. Furthermore, as maintained by the Constitution, the Guide
is “equal to other persons in country before the laws”.
Assembly of Experts member Ayatollah Ali Mohammad
Dastghayb announced on 01.10.2010 that Khamenei no longer possessed the
“requirements and qualifications of the Guide” set out in Article 109 of the
Constitution. In the Constitution, the attributes of the Guide are listed as “a
person with scholar authority to issue fatwas in various canon law, justice and
fear of god, right political and social perception, prudence, courage and
sufficient management skills and power for guidance”. Dastghayb also maintained
that an absolute guidance was only possible “if the public accepts the guide
wholeheartedly and embraces him with their own will and if he is approved by the
other lower authorities/important religious scholars”. One other important
letter of criticism came from Mahdi Karrubi. Karrubi noted that “the Assembly of
Experts should use all its powers concerning observation of institutions and
activities under the auspices of Khamenei”.
What are the reasons which cause Khamenei and the position
occupies to be questioned?... First of all Khamenei and his entourage ensured
Ahmadinejad’s re-election as president by resorting to malpractice and
irregularities. Weary of the country’s economic and political challenges the
public saw the elections as a way out. However, Ahmadinejad’s dubious assumption
of power has greatly undermined public confidence in both leaders. Another issue
worth noting is the close relationship between Khamenei, IRGC and Ahmadinejad. “Economic
interests” is the determining factor in the relationship amongst these three.
Currently the IRGC has diffused into Iran’s political, economic and social life
and controls 80% of its economy. Khamenei’s son Mojtaba, Ahmadinejad and senior
IRGC officials enjoy high profits from malpractices in many IRGC companies
engaged in commercial activity. The Guide’s silence to IRGC’s startling progress
is a confirmation of these developments.
Moreover, there are claims that Khamenei charges a certain
percentage from oil trade, and pockets huge amounts from the state budget
together with his family. Reportedly Karrubi demanded an explanation during the
last presidential elections and whereabouts of the “lost million dollars”
remains a secret in Khamenei. All is revealed in Khamenei’s remarks from twenty
years ago when he said, “do this business but make sure the public does not
realize, do that business but make sure no one knows”. Khamenei’s wealth has
exceeded 36 million dollars up until now. According to Article 142 of the
Constitution, “head of the judiciary is tasked with investigating any possible
increase in assets acquired by the Guide, President, Vice-Presidents, Ministers
as well as their spouses and children before and after appointment.” However,
according to the Constitution the head of the judiciary is appointed by the
supreme leader. Therefore Khamenei has secured himself by the appointment he
made to the head of the judiciary. Khamenei intends to appoint his son Mojtaba
Khamenei to succeed him as the supreme leader. In that case, the current regime
will be no different from the sultanate or the monarchy system. The leading
clergy does not consider Mojtaba competent. Furthermore, when Mojtaba visited
Iraq in 2009 to receive Ali al-Sistani’s consent and to become Ayatollah, he was
turned down by al-Sistani who stated that “he did not consent to Mojtaba just
like he did not consent to his father”. The public does not consent to Mojtaba
either since it has been exposed that many serial murders of opponents of the
Khamenei family were committed upon Mojtaba’s order. As it can be seen, Khamenei
abuses the duties and powers granted to the supreme leader by the Constitution
and defines himself as “the envoy of Allah, his prophet Mohammad and holy imams”
and as “one whose authority cannot be questioned”. The Iranian public however is
unable to see the manifestations of these supreme qualifications and loses faith
in the Guide each day. Taking a look at what is going on in the Khamenei-IRGC-Ahmadinejad
triad of evil, one questions “whose guide Khamenei is”…
