Iranian opposition stepping up criticism of ayatollahs

Rubeir al-Fares

Ayatollah Mahmoud Amjad, an outspoken reformist seminary teacher, has called for staging a popular uprising against Iran’s mullahs, describing the religious establishment in Qom of being “corrupt”.

Amjad also called for purging Iran of corrupt officials and religious figures.

He said in a statement that he would lead an uprising, following in the footsteps of Islam’s prophet Muhammad, to redress the wrongs of the ayatollahs.

He held Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei responsible for the killing of many Iranians during the demonstrations that erupted in 2009 in protest against the fabrication of the presidential elections in favor of former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

He also criticized Khamenei for the recent execution of Iranian journalist Ruhollah Zam, describing the journalist as a “martyr. He asked Iran’s clerics not to fall silent in the face of all the violations committed by the ayatollahs.

However, the Shiite Seminary lashed out at Amjad for criticizing Khamenei. It accused him of serving the interests of foreign agencies, especially after he opposed the execution of the abovementioned journalist.

Nevertheless, Amjad is finding support among ordinary Iranians and opposition media, especially on cyberspace. They complained against shrinking freedoms in their country, especially after the detention of a large number of activists and opposition figures.

Some observers are, meanwhile, stepping up attacks against those who criticize the ayatollahs. They accused these opposition figures of being a “bunch of traitors”.