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Call for democratization may challenge Khatami's legitimacy
TEHRAN, Nov 19: The constitutional legitimacy of Iran's supreme leader, the backbone of the Islamic theocracy, is coming under pressure from growing calls for democratlsation of the country’s political system, reports AFP.
Since the landslide election of moderate President Mohammad Khatami in May, questions have been raised about all-encompassing powers vested by the constitution in the leader, a post occupied by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Growing numbers of moderate critics within the political establishment favour transferring at least some of Khamenei's powers to the president. Whose mandate is seen as an
expression of the popular will.
Such arguments have been raised with striking frequency in recent months, infuriating hardline conservatives and taking aim at the heart of the theocracy which draws its legitimacy from Velayat-e-Fagih — the rule of supreme jurist in Islam.
"Enemies, knowingly or unknowingly. are targetting the spine of the regime." Hossein Irani, a conservative MP from the holy city of Qom in central Iran, said Tuesday.
The system of "Velayat" was establish after the 1979 Islamic Revolution to serve as a guardian of the religious government and ensure that elected officials perform to his
standards.
Khamenei, like his predecessor Ayatollah Ruhollan Khomeini, enjoys powers beyond any popular political mandate. He controls the armed forces, the Judicial system, much of the media, the official clerical establishment and sets the general policy guidelines, notably in foreign relations.
While in the revolution's early years, the challenge to "Velayat" came only from western-style liberal democrats, such opposition has now spread to Islamic moderates and leftwingers within the establishment.
A radical group, demanding fundamental changes in the Is-
lamic Republic, called'recently for the leader to be elected by suffrage and for his powers be curtailed.
Under the constitution, the supreme leader must be appointed by the assembly of ex-Krts. a body of high-ranking usllm clergymen directly elected by popular vote.
Calls for limiting the leaders power have struck a sensitive chord within the conservative religious establishment, which demands "absolute obedience" to the leader, with many members labelling such thoughts as blasphemy.
At a session of the parliament on Tuesday, several conservative deputies shouted slo-
flans against "those who chal-enge the authority of the supreme guide and weaken the fundamental principles of the regime."
Deputy Speaker Moham-mad-All Movahedi Kermani. an arch conservative, warned that the new challenges could lead to tension and dared the president to take a "clear stand" on the issue.
The challenge to Khamenei is mostly coming from the sup-Kers of Ayatollah Hossein-All itazeri, a once-lnfluential clergyman disgraced nearly a decade ago by the late Ayatollah Khomeni after he criticised the excesses of the Islamic regime against opposition groups
The debate has spread to the
holy city of Qom. a stronghold of the Shi'ite clergy, where several demonstrations have taken place during the past days In support of Khatami
'A/elayat-e-Fagih is an Inseparable part of the constitution." said Qom s Friday prayer leader. Ayatollah All Meshkini
The schools of theology in Qom meanwhile announced they would not hold classes today to allow students to attend a gathering in support of the leader
On Saturday, the office of a student activist group was vandalized and its leader Heshma tollah Tabarzadi. severely beaten up after he called In a rally for Khamenei's powers to be reduced.