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Rare opportunity to voice dissent in Iran as thousands mourn Rafsanjani Rare opportunity to voice dissent in Iran as thousands mourn Rafsanjani
(about 3 hours later)
Hundreds of thousands of mourners have packed the streets of Tehran for the funeral of Iran’s former president Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, whose death has shaken up the country’s political balance. The funeral of Iran’s former president Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani turned into a rare display of public dissent on Tuesday as at least 2 million people packed the streets of Tehran to pay tribute to a man whose death has shaken the country’s political balance.
The supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, led the funeral prayers at Tehran University campus as critics and supporters alike paid tribute to an ayatollah who was considered “a pillar” of the Islamic Republic, a crucial mediator and, more recently, an advocate of political openness and better relations with the west. In what was thought to be as the biggest crowd honouring a politician since the death in 1989 of Ayatollah Khomeini, the founder of the 1979 Islamic revolution, Iranians from across the political spectrum attended the funeral.
Iranians from across the political spectrum attempted to claim the ayatollah for their own. Among those attending were the prominent student activist Bahareh Hedayat, who has served several years in jail, as well as Qassem Suleimani, the commander of Iran’s Quds force, the external arm of the powerful Revolutionary Guards. All attempted to claim Rafsanjani, who died on Sunday aged 82, as their own as he was buried alongside Khomeini in a sumptuous shrine in south Tehran.
Supporters of Iran’s opposition Green movement, who were heavily crushed in post-election unrest in 2009, used a rare opportunity to chant in support of opposition leaders under house arrest, Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi. “Ya Hossein, Mir Hossein,” many mourners shouted, in a reminder of Rafsanjani’s support for the opposition. The supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, led the funeral prayers at Tehran University campus as critics and supporters stood behind him, bidding farewell to a man who was considered a pillar of the Islamic republic, a crucial mediator and, more recently, an advocate of political openness and better relations with the west.
One video apparently taken from the funeral showed a group of mourners chanting “Death to Russia”, in criticism of the state’s ally. But outside in the streets, mourners sympathetic to the opposition and supporters of Iran’s pro-reform Green movement, who were heavily crushed in bloody unrest in 2009, voiced dissent, chanting in support of opposition leaders under house arrest, Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi.
Rafsanjani, who died on Sunday due to “heart complications”, was Iran’s greatest political survivor and a leading force in its politics. He was an ultimate insider; a founding member of the 1979 Islamic revolution, a former de facto commander-in-chief of Iranian military during Iran-Iraq war and a two-time president, who was seen as the country’s second most powerful political figure for much of the Islamic Republic’s history. His opponents say he jailed many of his critics too. One video taken from the funeral that was posted on social networks showed a group of mourners chanting “Death to Russia”, in unusually strident criticism of the state’s staunch ally. “The Russian embassy is a den of spies,” shouted another group, in a chant reminiscent of post-revolutionary tirades previously reserved for the US.
But during his later years, his political allegiances shifted towards reformists and, as a result, he was greatly sidelined. Two of his children were imprisoned and in 2013, his bid for presidency was blocked. This change of heart led to him restoring some of the popular credibility he had lost while he was in power. Large numbers of Iranians are critical of their country’s role in the Syrian war, in which it is closely aligned with Moscow, but do not often have a chance to express their views.
Rafsanjani was due to be buried alongside the late Ayatollah Rouhollah Khomeini, the founder of the revolution, in a sumptuous shrine in south Tehran. Earlier in the day, senior officials, including the president Hassan Rouhani, attended his funeral prayers. Rafsanjani, who died due to “heart complications”, was Iran’s greatest political survivor and a leading force in its politics. He was at one time the ultimate insider; a founding member of the revolution, a former de facto commander-in-chief of Iranian military during the Iran-Iraq war, and a two-time president, who was seen as the country’s second-most powerful political figure for much of the Islamic republic’s history. His opponents say he jailed many of his critics, too.
The funeral ceremony was hosted by Khamenei despite a rift with Rafsanjani in recent years. This meant that most of the people on the first row of the prayers were his critics, including hardline clerics, as members of Rafsanjani’s immediate family were pushed on the rows behind. But during his later years, his political allegiances shifted towards the reformists. In 2009, he sided with the Green movement and urged the state to release political prisoners and compensate their families. As a result, he was sidelined. Two of his children, including his daughter, Faezeh, were imprisoned for supporting the opposition. In 2013, his bid for presidency was blocked. But he regained some of the popularity he had lost while in power, and the large numbers of opposition figures at his funeral showed he may have earned their enduring forgiveness.
One picture circulating online from early morning depicted Rafsanjani’s daughter, Faezeh, who was previously jailed over her support for the opposition, showing a victory sign in a move that was seen as her support for change. Rafsanjani’s more recent political leaning was partly credited to his children, especially Faezeh, who strongly supports the greater presence of women in society. Among the opposition figures with lengthy jail sentences behind them who attended the funeral was the prominent student activist Bahareh Hedayat. A picture circulating online depicted Faezeh showing a victory sign, in a move that was seen as an indication of her continued support for change.
However, as the funeral was hosted by Khamenei despite a rift with Rafsanjani in recent years, most of the people on the first row of prayers were Rafsanjani’s critics, including hardline clerics. Members of Rafsanjani’s immediate family were pushed on to the rows behind.
Iran’s establishment was out in full force, including Qassem Suleimani, the commander of Iran’s Quds force, the external arm of the powerful Revolutionary Guards.
The former president Mohammad Khatami, the leader of Iran’s reformist movement, was reported to have been banned from attending the funeral. Khatami has recently faced restrictions on his movements because he is seen as a supporter of Mousavi and Karroubi. Local media have been banned from using his images or publishing his name.The former president Mohammad Khatami, the leader of Iran’s reformist movement, was reported to have been banned from attending the funeral. Khatami has recently faced restrictions on his movements because he is seen as a supporter of Mousavi and Karroubi. Local media have been banned from using his images or publishing his name.
While in power, Rafsanjani advocated better relations with Iran’s Arab neighbours. Officials from Turkey, Afghanistan, Bahrain, which is currently at odds with Iran, and even the White House press secretary expressed condolences. While in power, Rafsanjani advocated better relations with Iran’s Arab neighbours. Officials from Turkey, Afghanistan, Bahrain – a country which is currently at odds with Iran – and even the White House press secretary expressed condolences.
Rafsanjani’s death has concerned many moderates in Iran about the trajectory of the country. Many believe his main legacy has been Rouhani, who was seen as the ayatollah’s protege. Officials from Tehran’s municipality announced on Tuesday that a street will be named after Rafsanjani. Rafsanjani’s death has concerned many moderates in Iran about the trajectory of the country. Many believe his main legacy has been president Hassan Rouhani, who was seen as his protege. Reformists believe Rafsanjani’s death has tilted the balance towards the hardliners and they have fear of its implications on Iran’s upcoming presidential vote in May, when Rouhani would have to seek re-election.
Officials from Tehran’s municipality announced on Tuesday that a street in the Iranian capital would be named after Rafsanjani.