A useful obituary of Grand Ayatollah Houssein Ali Montazeri, written by Muhammad Sahimi, has appeared on the Tehran Bureau website.
Montazeri was a leading light in the 1979 Revolution. Initially named as Khomeini’s successor, Montazeri soon turned against the regime, becoming one of its bravest and most consistent critics from within the Shi’a clerical elite. He remained under house arrest for much of the latter part of his life.
Montazeri will remain a controversial figure for everyone committed to secular democracy and the separation of religion and state. However, Montazeri’s personal bravery, integrity and commitment to human rights are surely without question. His early and consistent opposition to the tyranny of Khomeini’s regime and that of his successors marked the Grand Ayatollah out as an important opponent of the Islamist regime in Iran and, more broadly, the political realities and ambitions of clerical fascism.
His funeral is today, December 21, in Qom.
I call you father because I learned from you how to defend the oppressed without using violence against the oppressor. I learned from you that being silent is helping the oppressor. Father, I learned much from you, although I never got the chance to show my appreciation for being your child and student. Father, forgive us.
Shirin Ebadi, the 2003 Nobel Laureate for peace
Read the obituary written by Muhammad Sahimi, here.
5 Comments
Another interesting obit is here:
http://observingiran.blogspot.com/2009/12/on-death-of-ayatollah-montazeri.html
Cross posted, it may also be found here:
http://www.hurryupharry.org/2009/12/22/on-the-death-of-ayatollah-montazeri/
The obit by observingiran is actually more correct. But hey the old man had the courage to stand up and ask for reform. People change and there is no point of an inquisition. One thing Iranians have learnt (hopefully to be honest) is that you cannot settle society’s differences without open and honest debate. And that means democracy. But my fellow Iranians being so short-minded, I will not be surprised if they miss the opportunity, yet once again.
Khaled,
Fair comments. I posted Muhammad Sahimi’s obit because I have been impressed in the past by his knowledge of the inner-workings of the Iranian regime. observingiran‘s obit is a useful balance to Sahimi’s. Hence my link to it.
I think this is universally true. As is the capacity to forget prior learning. The first lesson of history unfortunately too often being that we forget history. I don’t think that is a specifically Iranian failing.
Khoda hafiz,
AF
(Off-topic, SCNR)
Over to the east, in the subcontinent, they’re busy Arabizing themselves, as usual. (We’ve had this discussion before!) And so even this venerable phrase may bite the dust.
Exhibit A
Exhibit B
Qidniz,
Thanks for that, not at all off-topic, as far as I am concerned.
You will be happy to learn that in the mountain-fastnesses of Tajikistan, khoda hafiz continues to hold sway – being the traditional farewell (after a night of extra-strong “Chacha” Georgian vodka, Mantu and assorted revelries). Followed by the usual swaying around, slipping over in the ice and general post-party nonsense.
God only knowing what on earth one is going to feel like the next morning after a full-day of partying with the “poor Persians”, as one good Tajik friend once self-identified the Tajik people.
Seasons Greetings, my erudite friend.