Grand Ayatollah Vahid Khorasani, a prominent Shiite source of emulation, refused to modify his criticism of the judiciary and security forces, which he reportedly made in February and instead told a group of senior clerics that he had more to say about the topic.
According to BBC Persian Service, Ayatollah Khorasani had criticized in February 2011 the incarceration of many political activists by the judiciary and had called a number of security agencies “corrupt.” Khorasani’s harsh criticism of governmental bodies directly under the supervision of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was not received well in Tehran and pro-government clerics have consistently pressured Khorasani to either revise or refute his earlier comments.
In a meeting in late March with members of Qom’s Society of Seminary Teachers, a government sponsored clerical organization in Qom with tremendous political influence, Ayatollah Khorasani was asked to take back his comments and stop his criticism of the government. Instead, Khorasani responded that he had “thought long and hard” about his comments before voicing them and that he was not going to change course.
Ayatollah Abbas Kaabi, a hardline cleric with close ties to Khamenei, asked Grand Ayatollah Khorasani not to cause damage to the regime and the Vali Faqih, in this case Ali Khamenei. In response, Khorasani said: “Are individuals more important or Islam? Where is the founder of the Islamic Republic [Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini]? How much longer are Mr. Khamenei and I are going to stay alive?” He implied that his criticism was in defense of Islam and that he did not care if his criticism angered the Supreme Leader.
Ayatollah Khorasani said, “I have more fundamental things to say that I will mention them gradually even if that bothers certain people.”
During Supreme Leader Khamenei’s visit to the holy city of Qom last fall, Grand Ayatollah Khorasani refused to follow his colleagues and meet with the Leader. In contrast, the conservative Khorasani has granted numerous audiences to families of political prisoners and has listened to their grievances.
It is interesting to note that Chief Justice Sadegh Larijani, the head of Iran’s judiciary appointed by Khamenei, is Mr. Khorasani’s son in law.
More interesting internal trouble in Iran. The fact that it comes from a hard-line conservative is hopeful news. It wouldn't make anyone in that gov't squirm if it was from liberal groups.
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