Simultaneous Attack by Religious Mourning Figures on Rouhani, Rafsanjani, and Ahmadinejad

In less than a week, Hassan Rouhani, the President of Iran, and Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, the head of the Expediency Discernment Council, have faced sharp criticism from several mourning figures close to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic. After some mourners and speakers at the funeral of the victims of the Iran-Iraq war early last week attacked Rouhani's nuclear policies, on Thursday evening, June 18, 'Saeed Hadadian,' a mourning figure known as 'Ahl al-Bayt' in Tehran, accused Rouhani and Rafsanjani of 'elitism' within the system. Although the position of mourning figures in Iran has previously had a religious basis, the developments of the past two decades have infused the rhetoric of some religious mourners with political language and orientations. Hadadian also criticized Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the former President of Iran, referring to his 'house arrest' incident and said: 'But let me also say that Mr. Hashemi has never been angry with the system. That gentleman sat at home for 11 days! This Mr. Mousavi, who is currently under house arrest, once wanted to be angry, but the Imam gave him a reprimand that settled everything.' He stated that 'some people' in the Islamic Republic are trying to 'revive the previous figure (Ahmadinejad)' and remarked: 'This system is so rooted and has grown so much that those who were president for eight years have no place to return. Some are also looking for their positions. Don't think they are after the simplicity of that gentleman. He showed how he stands against the leadership. Be careful not to let them take your hat.'