Under the Microscope: The Resignation of Ayatollah Jamal al-Din Taheri - 2002-07-10

Under the Microscope: The Resignation of Ayatollah Jamal al-Din Taheri - 2002-07-10. In the program 'Under the Microscope' on Wednesday, July 10, Dr. Alireza Noori Zadeh, an international journalist and analyst of Iranian affairs, answers questions from Farah Jahangiri regarding the resignation of Ayatollah Jamal al-Din Taheri, the Friday prayer leader of Isfahan, the fatwa of Ayatollah Meshkini, and the Society of Teachers in Qom against the Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization and Mr. Hashem Aghajari, as well as the confrontation of the ruling clergy with the new wave of secularism supporters and the separation of religion from government: 1- Dr. Noori Zadeh believes that the publication of Ayatollah Taheri's statement, who has served in this position since 30 years ago under Ayatollah Khomeini, coinciding with the anniversary of July 18 and the tone of this statement, which criticized the regime thoroughly, was one of the most important events of this year. 2- According to reports from domestic and international newspapers and news agencies, despite the show of force by security forces and the presence of plainclothes agents, and despite the use of sticks, batons, knives, and tear gas, and despite the cancellation of the permit for a peaceful demonstration, there were protests by male and female students and other groups in Tehran yesterday. 3- Given the coincidence of Ayatollah Mazaheri's statement with Ayatollah Meshkini's statement, which issued a fatwa against Mr. Aghajari and the Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization, it seems that a severe confrontation is on the way. Some believe that the division of the clergy and their affiliated organizations into two groups is a tactic similar to that of the ruling clergy to prevent people from joining the secular movement known as the Third Way.