RNA – In an interview with Rasa News Agency, Ayatollah Ali-Reza Eslamian, the representative of the people of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province in the Assembly of Experts, said that an important pillar of religious government is Wilayat al-Faqih (Guardianship of the Jurisprudent) and added, “The person who is familiar with the political structure of the Iranian government will be aware of the significance of this revolutionary institution.”
Referring to the opposition of internal and external enemies to the Assembly of Experts, the Iranian cleric said, “The reason for the opposition of the enemies is very clear – the various levers of power in the religious government and the Islamic Republic of Iran work together and derive their legitimacy from Wilayat al-Faqih but the enemies do not want this.”
Ayatollah Eslamian emphasized that the main pillar of the Islamic Republic of Iran is Wilayat al-Faqih and stated, “The late founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, ImamKhomeyni, had stated in relation to the constitution that ‘if there was nothing in the constitution except the progressive principle of the Wilayat al-Faqih, it would still be a source of pride.’”
He added, “If Wilayat al-Faqih didn’t exist, the dignity and authority of the Islamic Republic of Iran wouldn’t have been created. When the importance of Wilayat al-Faqih becomes apparent, we will be able to recognise the special role of the Assembly of Experts.”
His Eminence pointed out that if there was no Assembly of Experts, the qualities of the guardian-jurisprudent also would not exist. “Therefore, the issue of selecting a leader and monitoring the continuity of the conditions of the Supreme Leader is one of the duties of this revolutionary institution.”
Ayatollah Eslamian said, “Some say ‘how can the Assembly of Experts supervise the Supreme Leader of the Revolution [Ayatollah Khamenei]?’ However, such a question is nothing more than a farce.”
He continued, “The Assembly of Experts is not obliged to supervise the activities of the Supreme Leader, but the second duty of this revolutionary institution is to monitor the continuing conditions of the Leader, not control over the Leader.”
Referring to other activities of the Assembly of Experts, Ayatollah Eslamian said that after observing some of the major problems regarding management, culture, economics and politics in the country, the members of this revolutionary institution invited the officials who work in these areas and asked for explanations regarding the problems facing the country and called the officials to strive to overcome the obstacles before them after reviewing them.
The doctrine of Wilayat al-Faqih forms the central axis of contemporary Shi’ah political thought. It advocates a guardianship-based political system, which relies upon a just and capable jurist (faqih) to assume the leadership of the government in the absence of an infallible Imam.
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