A popular cleric based in Iraq, who advocates the separation of mosque and state, is projecting his influence in Iran
Some clerics are distancing themselves from the regime, which corners much of Iran’s wealth through its vast business empire. Esmail Azarinejad, a poor cleric, drives around neglected villages distributing children’s books from the back of his old Peugeot. Others openly challenge the mullahs in charge. The following of Seyed Aghamiri, who says temporal power corrupts, grew after a clerical court defrocked him. Older sages have met with reformers.
Mr Sistani champions the separation of mosque and state. Clerics should advise, he says, not rule. Revered as Shiism’s pre-eminent, or religious reference, Mr Sistani has influence in Qom too. Last month Ayatollah Abdollah Javadi-Amoli, a conservative stalwart in Qom, said the quality of teaching is better in Najaf. Senior Iranian clerics are moving there, including Ali Khomeini, the respected grandson of the Islamic Republic’s founder.
Mr Sistani is quietly projecting his influence. His representative in Qom, Jawad al-Shahristani, collects tithes from Iranian followers and funds a countrywide charitable network that includes poor houses and hospitals. Mr Sistani also supports 49,000 religious students, about 45% of Iran’s total, with stipends. Short of cash, Mr Rouhani, meanwhile, has cut seminary funding by a third. “Mr Sistani’s office is very powerful in Qom,” says Mr Haghighat.
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