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Sun, Sept 26, 2010 | The Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center

Hashemi Rafsanjani (left) and Mehdi Karoubi (right). (Mehr Photo)

Reformist Opposition Leader Mehdi Karoubi Challenges Supreme Leader Khamenei

Mehdi Karoubi challenges Khamenei, demands that Assembly of Experts exercise its authority against the Supreme Leader

This week, Saham News, a website affiliated with Mehdi Karoubi, one of the leaders of the reformist opposition, published the contents of a letter sent by Karoubi to Assembly of Experts Chairman Ali-Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani ahead of last week’s meeting of the assembly. In his letter, Karoubi called for increased monitoring of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and the bodies under his direct responsibility by the Assembly of Experts.

In the letter, sent on September 13, Karoubi called on Rafsanjani to exercise the constitutional powers of the assembly and take all measures necessary to prevent the principle of “rule of the religious jurisprudent” from being eroded by the Supreme Leader’s negligence in performing his duties and abuse of his powers.

In his letter, Karoubi pointed a finger at some of the state institutions under the Supreme Leader’s responsibility, mainly the judiciary, the Revolutionary Guards, and the Basij. He accused the judiciary of failing to maintain its independence and perpetrating injustice against political prisoners and journalists, and the Revolutionary Guards and the Basij of meddling in politics and economy. He accused the Revolutionary Guards and the Basij of forging the presidential election results, suppressing Iranian citizens after the election, and illegally penetrating into economic spheres.

Karoubi stressed that the Assembly of Experts is constitutionally empowered to monitor the Supreme Leader and claimed that the assembly does not properly exercise the powers vested in it by the constitution, including Clause 111, which allows it to depose the Supreme Leader, and Clause 107, according to which the Supreme Leader is equal in law to any other citizen. According to Karoubi, the role of the Supreme Leader in the Islamic republic is not just symbolic, and he has to bear responsibility for the consequences of his actions. If the Supreme Leader becomes unfit for his job, the Assembly of Experts must recognize that and remove him from office. (Saham News, September 18)

Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (Photo: REUTERS)

Karoubi’s letter naturally provoked strong criticism from government supporters, with several conservative Majles members reiterating their demand to put the reformist opposition leaders to trial. Conservative Majles member Behrouz Ja’fari issued a call to fight the “leaders of incitement” and bring them to justice. Majles member Mohammad Javad Abtahi said that Karoubi was acting like a person who has lost his mental and spiritual balance, and that regardless of that legal action must be taken against him and the other opposition leaders. He criticized the judiciary for not putting them to trial so far, claiming that by doing so it made the “leaders of incitement” believe that the regime lacks the courage to fight them. He also criticized the silence of Assembly of Experts Chairman Ali-Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani over Karoubi’s strong-worded letter, saying that Rafsanjani had better make it clear where he stands with regard to the letter and distance himself from the elements involved in anti-government incitement.

Esma’il Kowsar, deputy chairman of the Majles National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, also strongly reacted to Karoubi’s letter, saying the letter showed that the opposition leaders were emboldened by the lack of decisive action from the judiciary. The judiciary must take measures so that they no longer feel themselves entitled to send such letters. (IRNA, September 20)