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| Top dissident Iranian cleric dies | Top dissident Iranian cleric dies |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| One of Iran's most prominent dissident clerics, Grand Ayatollah Hoseyn Ali Montazeri, has died aged 87. | One of Iran's most prominent dissident clerics, Grand Ayatollah Hoseyn Ali Montazeri, has died aged 87. |
| Hoseyn Ali Montazeri was a moving spirit in the 1979 revolution which created Iran's Islamic state, and was at one stage set to become its leader. | Hoseyn Ali Montazeri was a moving spirit in the 1979 revolution which created Iran's Islamic state, and was at one stage set to become its leader. |
| One of Shia Islam's most respected figures, he was also a leading critic of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. | One of Shia Islam's most respected figures, he was also a leading critic of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. |
| The BBC's Jon Leyne says the death comes at a crucial time in a standoff between the government and opposition. | The BBC's Jon Leyne says the death comes at a crucial time in a standoff between the government and opposition. |
| Iran's rulers will now fear the opposition may attempt a big turnout for his funeral and other ceremonies marking his death, especially in the run-up to the Shia Muslim festival of Ashura on 27 December, our correspondent says. | Iran's rulers will now fear the opposition may attempt a big turnout for his funeral and other ceremonies marking his death, especially in the run-up to the Shia Muslim festival of Ashura on 27 December, our correspondent says. |
| Large crowds have gathered outside Montazeri's home in the clerical city of Qom, where he is due to be buried on Monday morning. | Large crowds have gathered outside Montazeri's home in the clerical city of Qom, where he is due to be buried on Monday morning. |
| Thorn | Thorn |
| The cleric's son told the BBC that his father had died of natural causes. | The cleric's son told the BBC that his father had died of natural causes. |
| DEFIANT CLERIC Born into provincial family in 1922 and educated at a seminaryArrested and tortured for leading protests against Iran monarchyDesignated successor to Islamic Republic's founder, KhomeiniFell out with Khomeini in 1989 over Iran's human rights recordHouse arrest in 1997 for criticising current Supreme LeaderIssues a fatwa against President Ahmadinejad after 2009's election Obituary: Ayatollah Montazeri | DEFIANT CLERIC Born into provincial family in 1922 and educated at a seminaryArrested and tortured for leading protests against Iran monarchyDesignated successor to Islamic Republic's founder, KhomeiniFell out with Khomeini in 1989 over Iran's human rights recordHouse arrest in 1997 for criticising current Supreme LeaderIssues a fatwa against President Ahmadinejad after 2009's election Obituary: Ayatollah Montazeri |
| The state-owned Irna news agency said: "Hoseyn Ali Montazeri passed away in his home last [Saturday] night." | The state-owned Irna news agency said: "Hoseyn Ali Montazeri passed away in his home last [Saturday] night." |
| A thorn in the establishment's side, Montazeri issued a fatwa condemning President Ahmadinejad's government after June's disputed election. | A thorn in the establishment's side, Montazeri issued a fatwa condemning President Ahmadinejad's government after June's disputed election. |
| But that was not his first clash with authority - he repeatedly accused the country's rulers of imposing dictatorship in the name of Islam and said the liberation that was supposed to have followed the 1979 revolution never happened. | But that was not his first clash with authority - he repeatedly accused the country's rulers of imposing dictatorship in the name of Islam and said the liberation that was supposed to have followed the 1979 revolution never happened. |
| During his lifetime, the cleric was transformed from a pillar of the Islamic revolution to one of the most vocal critics of its leadership. | During his lifetime, the cleric was transformed from a pillar of the Islamic revolution to one of the most vocal critics of its leadership. |
| He had been designated to succeed the Islamic Republic's founder, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, but the pair fell out over Iran's human rights record a few months before Khomeini died of cancer in 1989. | He had been designated to succeed the Islamic Republic's founder, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, but the pair fell out over Iran's human rights record a few months before Khomeini died of cancer in 1989. |
| In 1997 he famously clashed with Khomeini's successor, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, whom he outranked in the religious hierarchy, after questioning the powers of the Supreme Leader | In 1997 he famously clashed with Khomeini's successor, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, whom he outranked in the religious hierarchy, after questioning the powers of the Supreme Leader |
| This led to the closure of Montazeri's religious school and an attack on his office in Qom. He was placed under house arrest for six years. | This led to the closure of Montazeri's religious school and an attack on his office in Qom. He was placed under house arrest for six years. |
| 'Sense of duty' | 'Sense of duty' |
| After his detention, state-run media began referring to him as a "simple-minded" cleric, references to him in schoolbooks were erased and streets named after him were renamed, but he remained defiant.. | After his detention, state-run media began referring to him as a "simple-minded" cleric, references to him in schoolbooks were erased and streets named after him were renamed, but he remained defiant.. |
| MONTAZERI BBC INTERVIEWS Exchanged emails detailing his thinking on reform in October 2009Interviewed at his home in Qom in June 2008Click below to read details href="/2/hi/middle_east/8314266.stm">E-mail exchanges Visiting Iran's ayatollahs | |
| Born into a provincial family and educated at a seminary, Hoseyn Ali Montazeri came to prominence as one of the early supporters of Imam Khomeini. | Born into a provincial family and educated at a seminary, Hoseyn Ali Montazeri came to prominence as one of the early supporters of Imam Khomeini. |
| Prior to the overthrow of the Iranian monarchy, he organised public protests in support of Imam Khomeini, following the latter's arrest. | Prior to the overthrow of the Iranian monarchy, he organised public protests in support of Imam Khomeini, following the latter's arrest. |
| As a result he was repeatedly detained himself and tortured in jail. | As a result he was repeatedly detained himself and tortured in jail. |
| While Imam Khomeini was in exile in Iraq, Montazeri was nominated as his representative in Iran, and after the revolution, he was designated as successor. | While Imam Khomeini was in exile in Iraq, Montazeri was nominated as his representative in Iran, and after the revolution, he was designated as successor. |
| But he was marginalised after questioning decisions taken by the Supreme Leader and calling for a transparent assessment of the revolution's failures. | But he was marginalised after questioning decisions taken by the Supreme Leader and calling for a transparent assessment of the revolution's failures. |
| In his opposition to President Ahmadinejad, he became an unlikely inspiration for Iranian reformists. | In his opposition to President Ahmadinejad, he became an unlikely inspiration for Iranian reformists. |
| Despite his old age and failing health, Hoseyn Ali Montazeri backed the opposition's claims that the 2009 election result, which gave President Ahmadinejad a landslide victory, had been widely rigged. | Despite his old age and failing health, Hoseyn Ali Montazeri backed the opposition's claims that the 2009 election result, which gave President Ahmadinejad a landslide victory, had been widely rigged. |
| The cleric had often said his opinions were guided by his "sense of religious duty". | The cleric had often said his opinions were guided by his "sense of religious duty". |
| What are your memories of Grand Ayatollah Hoseyn Ali Montazeri? | What are your memories of Grand Ayatollah Hoseyn Ali Montazeri? |
| Send your comments using the post form below. | Send your comments using the post form below. |
| A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |