Gholamreza Hassani
Encyclopedia
Hojatoleslam
Gholamreza Hassani is the Friday prayer
imam at the Masjid-e-Jamé mosque in the city of Urmia
in northwest Iran, and representative of the Iranian Supreme Leader
in East Azarbaijan Province
. He has been described as one of the most, if not the most, conservative voices in Iran. He is known for the conservative political positions taken and theories advocated in his Friday sermons, which have reportedly "drawn criticism from many of the reformists" and been used by Iranian "political satirists" in their works."
In 2001, articles appeared in the English language media about a Friday sermon he delivered that condemned the practice of owning and holding small dogs as unIslam
ic. The New York Times reported him as saying, "I would like to thank the honorable police and judges and all those who worked to arrest dog lovers and to confiscate short-legged dogs in this city," Several years later a crackdown on dogs and dog owners was launched in Tehran. He has also been quoted as saying that "Women who do not respect the hijab and their husbands deserve to die ... These women and their husbands and their fathers must die."
In 2011 he was reportedly presented with the national "Medal of Bravery", "one of the most significant official medals awarded in Iran," by president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The medal was reportedly awarded for his record of resistance against the Shah
’s regime prior to the Islamic Revolution
, against the Kurd
ish opposition in the first years of the Islamic Republic, and for his participation in the Iraq-Iran War. Hassani's devotion to the Islamic Revolution was such that in 1983, several years after the Revolution, he informed authorities of the hiding place of his son, Rashid, a member of the opposition leftist guerilla group Fadayian Khalq
, who was then executed by firing squad with Hassani's approval. Hassani is quoted has telling an American journalist, "Abraham didn't sacrifice his son, but I did. Even today, I don't regret it."
As of 2000, Hassani had two living wives. He has or had five sons and seven daughters.
Hojatoleslam
Hujjat al-Islam is an honorific title meaning "authority on Islam" or "proof of Islam", given to Twelver Shī‘ah clerics...
Gholamreza Hassani is the Friday prayer
Jumu'ah
Jumu'ah is a congregational prayer that Muslims hold every Friday, just after noon in lieu of dhuhr...
imam at the Masjid-e-Jamé mosque in the city of Urmia
Urmia
- Demographics :According to official census of 2006, the population of Urmia is about 871,204.- Language :The population of Urmia is mainly Azerbaijani people, with Kurdish, Assyrian Christian, and Armenian minorities...
in northwest Iran, and representative of the Iranian Supreme Leader
Supreme leader
A supreme leader typically refers to a figure in the highest leadership position of an entity, group, organization, or state, who exercises strong or all-powerful authority over it. In religion, the supreme leader or supreme leaders is God or Gods...
in East Azarbaijan Province
East Azarbaijan Province
East Azerbaijan Province or East Azarbaijan Province is one of the 31 provinces of Iran. It is in the northwest of the country, bordering Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan, and the provinces of Ardabil, West Azerbaijan, and Zanjan...
. He has been described as one of the most, if not the most, conservative voices in Iran. He is known for the conservative political positions taken and theories advocated in his Friday sermons, which have reportedly "drawn criticism from many of the reformists" and been used by Iranian "political satirists" in their works."
In 2001, articles appeared in the English language media about a Friday sermon he delivered that condemned the practice of owning and holding small dogs as unIslam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
ic. The New York Times reported him as saying, "I would like to thank the honorable police and judges and all those who worked to arrest dog lovers and to confiscate short-legged dogs in this city," Several years later a crackdown on dogs and dog owners was launched in Tehran. He has also been quoted as saying that "Women who do not respect the hijab and their husbands deserve to die ... These women and their husbands and their fathers must die."
In 2011 he was reportedly presented with the national "Medal of Bravery", "one of the most significant official medals awarded in Iran," by president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The medal was reportedly awarded for his record of resistance against the Shah
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi
Mohammad Rezā Shāh Pahlavi, Shah of Iran, Shah of Persia , ruled Iran from 16 September 1941 until his overthrow by the Iranian Revolution on 11 February 1979...
’s regime prior to the Islamic Revolution
Iranian Revolution
The Iranian Revolution refers to events involving the overthrow of Iran's monarchy under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and its replacement with an Islamic republic under Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the leader of the...
, against the Kurd
Kürd
Kürd or Kyurd or Kyurt may refer to:*Kürd Eldarbəyli, Azerbaijan*Kürd Mahrızlı, Azerbaijan*Kürd, Goychay, Azerbaijan*Kürd, Jalilabad, Azerbaijan*Kürd, Qabala, Azerbaijan*Qurdbayram, Azerbaijan...
ish opposition in the first years of the Islamic Republic, and for his participation in the Iraq-Iran War. Hassani's devotion to the Islamic Revolution was such that in 1983, several years after the Revolution, he informed authorities of the hiding place of his son, Rashid, a member of the opposition leftist guerilla group Fadayian Khalq
Organization of Iranian People's Fedaian (Majority)
The Organization of Iranian People's Fadaian or Fedayan-e Khalq , 'Organization of self-sacrificers of the people of Iran ') is the largest socialist party in Iran and advocates the overthrow of the Islamic regime in Iran...
, who was then executed by firing squad with Hassani's approval. Hassani is quoted has telling an American journalist, "Abraham didn't sacrifice his son, but I did. Even today, I don't regret it."
As of 2000, Hassani had two living wives. He has or had five sons and seven daughters.