Why Ali Motahari is Under Pressure

Despite the direct order from the President of Iran to investigate the attack by plainclothes agents on Ali Motahari in Shiraz, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Interior states that no one has been arrested in connection with the incident. This comes after the announcement of the arrest of two attackers shortly after the incident. While officials have been discussing the event, the reason why Ali Motahari, a prominent figure among conservatives in Iran, was attacked remains unclear. Maziar Mahdavi Azad, a political analyst residing in Germany, explains that the radical conservatives have made their stance clear, and the representative of the Supreme Leader in Fars Province and the commanders of the Basij have also shown their positions. Motahari's biggest crime in criticizing conservatives is that he has entered the realm of Ayatollah Khamenei, explicitly stating in a speech in Mashhad that Khamenei has fallen from justice. He has repeatedly emphasized that conservatives should not be mere followers of Khamenei's orders. This boundary-breaking action by Motahari is seen as a direct challenge to the powerful establishment of the Supreme Leader's office. Last December, during a visit to the Faculty of Mathematics at Ferdowsi University in Mashhad, Motahari made controversial statements, asserting that there are no untouchable figures above criticism. He cited a saying from martyr Motahari, stating that any non-infallible official placed above criticism would corrupt both themselves and society. He stressed that the main duty of the Assembly of Experts is to oversee the performance of the leadership and its subordinates, which they have failed to do. Motahari questioned whether there has ever been a discussion about the subordinates of the leadership institution, pointing out that the Executive Headquarters of Imam's Order has turned into an economic cartel. He argued that everyone should be able to express their opinions freely, and that the concept of Velayat-e Faqih (Guardianship of the Jurist) does not mean creating an idol to be worshipped. Following these statements, he faced intense attacks from conservatives who labeled him as 'insightless' or 'a troublemaker.' However, the possibility of a serious investigation into the case he has opened against the plainclothes agents in Shiraz and the Friday Prayer leader of Shiraz, who he accuses of being behind the attack, seems unlikely. Mahdavi Azad notes that dealing with groups recognized as rogue factions is virtually impossible in the Islamic Republic. This is due to the fact that part of the propaganda, security, and judicial structure of the Islamic Republic is involved in dealing with critics. The leaders behind these groups are some of the highest political officials in Iran, from the Guardian Council to representatives of the Supreme Leader in provinces, and their foot soldiers are members of the Revolutionary Guards and Basij, the most important revolutionary institution of the Islamic Republic. Ultimately, addressing pressure groups means that the Islamic Republic would have to use legal methods to deal with critics, which it lacks the ability to implement and will not accept due to the consequences and the strengthening of opposition fronts. Therefore, what is happening now, similar to the attacks on Ali Larijani and Hassan Khomeini, will ultimately lead to a political maneuver by the government, but in the long run, it will not result in their elimination, weakening, or marginalization. According to the spokesperson for the Ministry of Interior, following President Hassan Rouhani's order, the Minister of Interior has formed a committee led by the Deputy Minister for Security and the advisor to the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, which is set to travel to Shiraz for further investigations.