Motahari Responds to Individual Who Called Him Impure; Join Your Brothers in ISIS

Ali Motahari, the Deputy Speaker of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, responded on his Instagram page to an open letter from the head of the Coordination Council for Islamic Propaganda in Golestan Province, describing his thoughts as close to those of ISIS and advising him to rush to help his brothers in Mosul. On Thursday, December 4, Ali Motahari, a representative from Tehran in the Islamic Consultative Assembly, replied to a letter from Ahmadreza Ahmadi, the head of the Coordination Council for Islamic Propaganda in Golestan Province, which was written after Motahari's comments regarding the ban on holding music concerts in Mashhad, where Ahmadi referred to him as 'impure' in an open letter. In response to the prohibition of music concerts and the opposition of the Friday Imam of Mashhad to concerts in the city, Motahari had jokingly said during a student Q&A session, 'Perhaps if Imam Reza were here, he would have attended a concert where a poem by Hafez was recited.' Following this, Ahmadreza Ahmadi criticized Motahari, stating that his ideological foundations were contrary to those of his father, Morteza Motahari, who is referred to as a master of the Islamic Revolution of Iran. In his letter, Ahmadreza Ahmadi wrote to Motahari that if he were in a situation where he had to shake hands with him, he would 'definitely' wash his hands afterward. The head of the Coordination Council for Islamic Propaganda in Golestan Province emphasized that according to his theological principles, 'insulting the infallible Imam' is a serious matter, and while he does not consider Motahari deserving of 'execution'—a judgment reserved for the Islamic ruler—he certainly considers him 'impure' unless he repents. In his response on Thursday, Motahari stated on his Instagram that it is clear from the content of the letter that Ahmadi lacks 'sufficient awareness' of Morteza Motahari's thoughts and is merely trying to use his name as a 'tool.' Motahari pointed out that he would 'not shake hands with someone like him' to avoid the need to wash his hands. He advised the head of the Coordination Council for Islamic Propaganda in Golestan Province to 'cleanse your soul and mind from malice, hatred, and carnal desires.' The Deputy Speaker of the Islamic Consultative Assembly also recalled a part of Ahmadi's letter that emphasized, 'If I were not in a position to consider you deserving of execution, I certainly consider you impure,' and responded that his words remind him of a famous saying, 'God recognized a certain animal and did not give it horns.' Motahari expressed his relief that Ahmadreza Ahmadi is not a 'Sharia ruler,' as otherwise, 'most people would be excommunicated and executed.' In the conclusion of his Instagram post, he stated that 'your spirit is compatible with the Takfiri Zionist group ISIS; it would be better for you to rush to help them in Mosul instead of staying in Golestan Province, as your brothers there are in great danger.' Last week, Motahari's speech in Mashhad was also canceled by the city's prosecutor, which drew strong reactions from Hassan Rouhani, the President of Iran, and Ali Larijani, the Speaker of the Islamic Consultative Assembly. Additionally, several members of parliament demanded that the Minister of Interior explain the cancellation of this speech and take action against those responsible. In response to the reactions to the cancellation of this speech, Ayatollah Sadeq Amoli Larijani, the head of the judiciary, complained to the heads of the other two branches. In this context, Rouhani commented on the cancellation of Motahari's speech, stating that they want to pave the way for extremism in Razavi Khorasan. The Minister of Interior warned following the cancellation of Motahari's speech in Mashhad, and the governor of Razavi Khorasan stated that the Mashhad prosecutor canceled the speech based on a letter from the 'IRGC Intelligence.' The head of the judiciary again attacked Rouhani, asking, 'Shouldn't you defend this branch?' The IRGC denied intervening to prevent Motahari's speech.