Ahmad Khatami: Difference between revisions

| image = File:AssemblyAhmad ofKhatami Experts2019 congress 201901 10(cropped).jpgjpeg

| imagesize = 220px

}}

[[SayyidAyatollah]] '''Ahmad Khatami''' ({{lang-fa|احمد خاتمی}}, born 8 May 1960) is a senior and prominent [[Iran]]ian [[ShiaMuslim]] cleric,<ref>{{cite web|last=|first=|url=http://www.haaretz.com/news/international/iran-cleric-mideast-unrest-replay-of-our-1979-islamic-revolution-1.339796|title=Iran cleric: Mideast unrest replay of our 1979 Islamic revolution |publisher=[[Haaretz]] |date=2011-01-28 |accessdate=2011-02-16}}</ref> member of [[Guardian Council]] and a senior member of the [[Assembly of Experts]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rttnews.com/Content/GeneralNews.aspx?Id=1331803&SM=1 |title=Senior Iranian Cleric Calls For Setting Up Of New UN |publisher=RTT News |date=2010-06-11 |accessdate=2011-02-16 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715211651/http://www.rttnews.com/Content/GeneralNews.aspx?Id=1331803&SM=1 |archivedate=2011-07-15 }}</ref> In December 2005, [[Ali Khamenei]] appointed him as [[Tehran]]’s substitute [[Friday prayer]] leader.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mehrnews.com/en/newsdetail.aspx?NewsID=267401 |title=Ahmad Khatami meets Leader |publisher=[[Mehr News]] |date=2005-12-18 |accessdate=2011-02-16 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714070354/http://www.mehrnews.com/en/newsdetail.aspx?NewsID=267401 |archivedate=2011-07-14 }}</ref> He is also a [[conservative]] and [[Iranian Principlists|principlist]] politician.

In 2006, during the [[Pope Benedict XVI Islam controversy]], Khatami asked the [[Pope]] to "fall on his knees in front of a senior [[Muslim]] [[cleric]] and try to understand [[Islam]]."<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090619220503/http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=%2F2006%2F9%2F17%2Fworldupdates%2F2006-09-17T173738Z_01_NOOTR_RTRJONC_0_-267877-10&sec=Worldupdates "Pope tells Muslims he is 'deeply sorry' for crisis"], ''[[The Star (Malaysia)|Malaysia Star]]'', September 17, 2006</ref> In 2007, he addressed the [[death sentence]] issued by [[Imam Khomeini]] against [[Salman Rushdie]], saying "In the Islamic Iran that [[revolution]]ary ''[[fatwa]]'' of [[Imam]] [Khomeini] is still alive and cannot be changed."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23401632-details/British%20Muslims%20burn%20St%20George's%20flag%20at%20anti-Rushdie%20rally/article.do |title=British Muslims |publisher=[[London Evening Standard#Websites|This is London]] |date=2007-06-22 |accessdate=2011-02-18 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090620013148/http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23401632-details/British%20Muslims%20burn%20St%20George%27s%20flag%20at%20anti-Rushdie%20rally/article.do |archivedate=2009-06-20 }}</ref> In regard to the [[2009 Iranian election protests]], Khatami denounced [[demonstration (people)|demonstrators]] as [[rioters]] who wage war against [[God]] ("''[[mohareb]]''"), (a [[Capital punishment|capital crime]] in [[Sharia|Islamic law]]),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-06-26-voa14.cfm |title=Iranian Cleric: Protesters at War With God |publisher=[[VOA News]] |date=2009-07-01 |accessdate=2011-02-18 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090718092354/http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-06-26-voa14.cfm |archivedate=2009-07-18 }}</ref> and more recently accused reformist presidential candidates [[Mir Hossein Mousavi]] and [[Mehdi Karroubi]] of Mohareb as "leaders of sedition." in 2011.<ref>[https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110216/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_iran_opposition Iran opposition leader ready to 'pay any price'], by ALI AKBAR DAREINI, AP, 16 February 2011, accessed 4 March 2011</ref>