Grand Ayatullahs Gulpaygani, Makarem Shirazi, & Ardabili Join Grand Ayatullahs Montazeri & Saanei

Grand Ayatullah Nasir Makarem Shirazi

There are two news reports that Iranian Grand Ayatullahs Nasir Makarem Shirazi, 'Abdolkarim Ardabili, and Safi Gulpaygani, who are all independent of the ruling clique of religious scholars ('ulama), have issued statements of concern over the election results, possible irregularities, and the violent state crackdown on the largely peaceful Mousavi and Reformist demonstrations. Shirazi has called on the Guardian Council, which has agreed to a "partial recount" of the votes, though they did not clarify what they meant by this, to examine the votes "carefully" and "impartially," and has warned against national division. Gulpaygani said that it is vital for the elections to maintain their integrity. Ardabili has reportedly declared the election results to be "invalid," and called for an examination of the election. Confirmation from their official web sites has not yet been posted.

They join Grand Ayatullahs Hossein 'Ali Montazeri and Yusuf Saanei, and leading Reformist religious scholar Hujjat al-Islam Mohsen Kadivar, as clerical critics of the election results and subsequent crackdown by the state.

Grand Ayatullah Safi Gulpaygani


Grand Ayatullah al-Sayyid 'Abdolkarim Ardabili