Iran president slammed for Mahdi comments

Political and religious Iranian figures slammed President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for his repeated comments about the Mahdi, or who Muslims's believe is mankind's savior, and warned him about the consequences of rumors that he converses with the holy imam.

Secretary-general of the conservative Islamic Coalition Party, Habibollah Askar-Oladi, met with the president and told him rumors that link Ahmadinejad to the Mahdi were dangerous and especially rumors that he converses with him, the pro-government Jahan News reported.

Askar-Oladi, who is also head of Imam Khomeini’s Committee, accused Ahmadinejad’s advisor, Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei, of helping to spread the rumors.

“In what capacity does he talk about religious matters? Why does he issue controversial statements and leave you to provide explanations for the public?” Askar-Oladi reportedly told Ahmadinejad during their meeting.

The Mahdi, an Arabic term for guided, is believed to be the redeemer of Islam who will come to earth before the Day of Judgment and, together with Jesus, will rid the world of all tyrants and injustice.

According to observers, the criticism Askar-Oladi directed at Mashaei and several of the president’s close aides are in fact directed at the president himself for he is seen as the main source for the latest claims about the coming of the Mahdi.

In a recent speech Ahmadinejad claimed he had documented evidence that the United States invaded Iraq in order to prevent the coming of the awaited Mahdi and stressed that the Iranian people will prepare the grounds for his coming and will form the Mahdi Army.

This is not the first time the Iranian president has been subjected to harsh criticism for his continuous references to the Mahdi.

In a meeting he held with cleric Ayatollah Jawadi Amuli, Ahmadinejad claimed a halo of light surrounded him as he addressed the United Nations General Assembly and said it was because the Mahdi was supporting him as he delivered his speech.

In what capacity does he talk about religious matters? Why does he issue controversial statements and leave you to provide explanations for the public

Secretary general of the conservative Islamic Coalition Party

Imminent coming

Mashaei argues that the frequent mention of the Mahdi’s name is in itself a sign of his imminent coming.

The mayor of Tehran, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, one of Ahmadinejad’s most prominent rivals in the conservative bloc and a 2005 presidential candidate, lashed out at the president and his allies.

“Ahmadinejad is neither revolutionary nor successful nor honest. He does nothing but deceiving himself and deceiving others.”

Ghalibaf, who was one of the major Revolutionary Guard commanders during the Iran-Iraq war, infuriated Ayatollah Mesbah-Yazdi, member of the Assembly of Experts and Ahmadinejad’s spiritual advisor, with his inflammatory statements about the president.

“The president is God’s representative on earth,” he said. “When he receives an order of presidency from the supreme leader, obeying him becomes as important as obeying God.”

When asked about his reaction to the statements made by the Iranian president and his close aides, reformist presidential candidate Mehdi Karroubi said very little.

“I wonder what would have happened if any of the reformists had made just half of these allegations.”



(Translated from Arabic by Sonia Farid)

Ahmadinejad is neither revolutionary nor successful nor honest. He does nothing but deceiving himself and deceiving others

Tehran mayor