H.E. Grand Ayatollah Hajj Sayyid Ali Khamenei

Champion of Iranian Solidarity

Although Khamenei was initially criticized for endorsing the June 2009 re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, he has been acclaimed for his response to the post-election turmoil. He ordered the closing of the Kahrizak detention centre in response to reports of prisoner abuse and death. Most recently, he has called for solidarity within Iran, in light of the 31st anniversary of the Islamic Republic on February 11, 2010. He is a strong advocate of Iran’s nuclear energy program, but has described possessing nuclear weapons as a ‘sin’.

Supreme Leader, Velayat-e Faqih

Khamenei’s current influence stems from his powerful position as a religious leader, which gives him a unique role in political affairs. His job is to enact the Velayat-e Faqih—the guardianship of the jurist. In real terms this means a system where scholars of fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) have a controlling say in the political affairs of the state. The rule of the jurist was a concept created by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, based on ideas that have run through Iranian political history since the time of Shah Ismail—who was the first to make Shi‘a Islam the national religion of Iran. It was conceived in a battle against oppression as a way of safeguarding the Iranian nation from tyranny; giving the final say in all matters to a group of religious scholars, the Council of Guardians. This Council is headed by a chief arbitrator—the Supreme Leader.

Leader of Shi‘a Revolution

Khamenei gains much of his influence in Iran from his role as a leader of the Islamic Revolution in Iran. The Islamic Republic of Iran was forged out of the 1979 Revolution. Combating what many saw as the tyrannical rule of the Shah, Khamenei joined the Society of Combatant Clergy that staged demonstrations mobilizing many of the protests leading to the Shah’s overthrow. After the revolution in 1979, Khamenei was one of the founding members of the Islamic Republic Party, and a member of the assembly of experts that was responsible for drafting Iran’s new constitution.

Sunni-Shia Reconciliation

On September 2, 2010 Khamenei issued a historic fatwa banning the insult of any symbol that Sunnis hold to be dear, including but not limited to the companions and wives of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). This fatwa was received with great appreciation by the Chancellor of Al-Azhar University, Shaykh Ahmad Al Tayyeb.

He has referred to the Arab Spring as the ‘Islamic Awakening’ and warned the protestors not to let their movements be hijacked by outside forces. He has been particularly supportive of the Bahraini protestors, but has sided with the government in the Syrian protests. This double standard has lost him credibility in the Sunni Arab World, yet he retains influence with the Arab Shi’a in Iraq. Moreover, he has forcefully suppressed protests in his own country.