Clerics question legitimacy of Iran regime

Jim Robbins:

The uprising in Iran can only succeed if there are fundamental shifts within the clerical power structure that runs the country. There are now signs that an opposition group is crystallizing within the religious leadership.

Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, the reformist former president, has traveled to the city of Qom, the religious center of the country, to try to rally clerics to oppose Ahmadinejad and support the opposition. Rafsanjani is chairman of the 86-member Assembly of Experts which appoints and monitors the supreme leader, currently Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who thus far backs Ahmadinejad.

Meanwhile Grand Ayatollah Montazeri, an influential voice for liberal policies who has previously openly criticized Ahmadinejad, has issued a statement saying that the legitimacy of the regime is at stake, and the issues being raised by the crisis must be dealt with. He also advised "all the officials, as well as the military and security forces, to uphold their religion and not sell their souls; they must understand that the term 'officials are excused [because they are only doing their duty]' would not be accepted by the Almighty God on the Day of Judgment." This is clearly religious guidance against a propsective military crackdown.

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I think this regime is not above eliminating clerical as well as non clerical opposition. They think they are on a mission from God and therefore anyone who opposes them is opposing God. That gives them the leeway to kill with out conscience.

The revolt of the clerics does suggest how fragile the hold of the regime may be.