Politics of Iran
The Islamic Republic of Iran was founded on April 1, 1979. Political System includes democratic and theocratic elements. Foundation of the state is the Iranian Constitution. Head of State is the Supreme Leader, the Government of President. Due to the strong influence of the Shiite clergy and the application of Sharia law, Iran is often referred to as a theocracy.
- 2.2.1 Guardians
- 2.2.2 Parliament
- 2.2.3 expert
- 2.2.4 Arbitration
- 2.2.5 Security
Ideological foundations
The political system of Iran, based on an elaboration of the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Khomeini worked in the Iraqi exile in Najaf, the concept of velayat -e faqih ( rule of the Supreme Leader ). The current constitution corresponds to this concept in many areas. The concept of Velayat -e Faqih goes back to Mullah Ahmad Naraghi († 1829) from Qom. In his book written in Arabic Avaed al - Ayam Naraghi explained that during the absence of the 12th Imam Mahdi, the Faqih two dominions zukomme: The first region extends to everything that concerns the Prophet and the Imams; the second section covers the configuration of the religion and the social environment of man. Naraghi called ten examples where the Velayat -e Faqih in the secular sphere comes into play, such as the fiduciary management of the assets of orphans and mentally handicapped, the judiciary, etc.
Khomeini created with its elaboration Velayat -e Faqih, a concept that mandates the highest Shiite clerics in order to prepare the return and thus the reign of Mahdi through the exercise of political authority.
In principle 5 of the Iranian Constitution states:
" In the Islamic Republic of Iran is during the absence of the engrossed 12th Imam - may God, that he will come as soon as possible - the management contract ( Imamate ) and the implementing powers ( welayat -e- amr ) in the affairs of the Muslim community to the righteous, God-fearing, informed about the needs of the times, brave, capable of implementing scholars to [ ... ] "
The concept of Velayat -e Faqih breaks with the apolitical and quietist tradition of the Shia that prevailed earlier with a few exceptions in the Shiite clergy. As one of the main representatives of this position Grand Ayatollah and Marja -e taqlid Husayn Boroujerdi is called. The involvement in politics is incompatible return to the quietist view the Twelver Shiite belief, after the rapt 12th Imam Mahdi and will reign as the sole legitimate ruler of the Muslim world. Every government during his rapture is after this conviction, only a caretaker government, which is legitimized by nothing and so she sees itself as Islamic, even contains a contradiction in terms.
Khomeini was not the first Shiite cleric aimed at achieving control of legislation by spiritual leaders. During the Constitutional Revolution from 1906 to 1911 it was Sheikh Fazlollah Nuri, a staunch opponent of the constitutionalists, who proposed a project drawn up by First Amendment to review all laws on Islamic basis by five clerics ( panel of experts ), which then was also part of the Iranian Constitution. Although this never constituted expert committee, clergy were represented from the outset as a Member of the Parliament and worked at the law with.
Nevertheless, the Velayat -e Faqih is a " revolutionary novelty " for the Shia, as Khomeini and his followers in the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran went through a participation of the clergy in the legislative process also. The Supreme Leader, the spiritual and political leadership was awarded. This government saw itself indeed in anticipation of the 12th Imam, as the representative government, but called explicitly for the necessity of the unity of politics and religion. After Khomeini's conviction could only be so sure that God's laws were the laws of the state and only the top representatives of the Imams was suitable for this task.
Pioneer of the revolutionary ideology in Iran Jalal Al -e Ahmad had and his student Ali Shariati, who shaped the intellectual discourse of the 60s. Āl -e Ahmad published his influential 1962 essay Gharbzadegi in which he denounces the Westernization of Iran, which he interpreted in part as an attack. In Islam, he saw " the single is not affected by the western handle value ". Khomeini later confessed that he was habe.Schariati read the book with admiration both opponents of the democratic capitalist West and the totalitarian Soviet Union and advocated a political Islam as a third way. He managed to produce the socially revolutionary concept of Alid, "red" Shi'ism as a revolutionary movement, which he describes as pure, true and unadulterated Shia. He is bordered on the Safavid, "black" Shia. This drawing by political inaction from is in mourning and complaining, rather than rebel against oppression. Shariati coined the purposes of this position in his essay " The Martyrdom " ( Schahadat ) a saying that became the slogan of the Islamic revolution: " Every place is Karbala, every month is Muharram and every day is Ashura ."
State-building
After Khomeini, an Islamic government can be neither despotic nor totalitarian. Rather, it is bound by the Constitution and democratic. Democracy does not mean, however, that Parliament passed laws according to the will of the people but derives solely from the Koran and the Islamic tradition. In an Islamic state, the separation of powers into legislative, executive and jurisprudence is also canceled. As the highest authority convenes a Religious Council, which shall inform the government about the appropriate Islamic laws. Religion and state form a unit and are not separated. Specifically, the government structure of Iran designed as follows:
Offices
Supreme Leader
→ Main article: Supreme Leader
The Supreme Leader is the head of state of Iran. He appoints half the members of the Guardian Council and the chief judge of the land. The Supreme Leader is also responsible to the supreme command of the armed forces and the appointment of members of the Expediency Council.
If there is no person to give that will meet the requirements of the Constitution, the Office of a gathering of 3 or 5 persons is required. For the appointment of the Supreme Leader and the Assembly is elected every eight years by the people of an expert, which monitors its activities and can theoretically drop him again. However, the Guardian Council meets as with all elections in Iran, a pre-selection of candidates. Due to the great influence of the Supreme Leader on the composition of the Guardian Council, a dismissal is considered almost impossible.
In the constitution of 1979, Ayatollah Khomeini is explicitly mentioned as the first legal scholar who meets the criteria and consequently takes up the new state representative of the 12th Imam. Since Khomeini embodied the ultimate leader of the Islamic Revolution, the Office during his reign was called the Office of the Supreme Leader. Some of the revolutionary leader designation is used even today.
As part of the constitutional changes in 1989, the reference was removed, the jurist must be recognized by the majority of believers as spiritual authority. Instead, more emphasis was placed on political qualifications.
President
The President heads the government of the country. He is elected every four years by direct popular vote from all approved by the Guardian Council candidates and allowed to remain in office a maximum of two consecutive terms of office. The presidential elections are always two years offset instead of the parliamentary elections.
In the original Constitution of 1979, the present powers of the President were distributed to the offices of President of the Republic and the Prime Minister: The Prime Minister was at the head of the government, coordinated the government's work as head of the Council of Ministers and slammed the Minister at the beginning of their term before. The President, however, was the representative of the state, his office was the highest after the Supreme Leader. He headed the executive, signed international treaties and certain the prime minister. Since 1989, the competencies in the office of the President are united, which means a strengthening of the government to the Supreme Leader.
In each term of 10 to 12 Vice- Presidents shall be appointed, each responsible for different departments. The First Vice President shall represent the President in his absence and directs the affairs of government.
→ see also: List of Presidents of Iran, Ahmadinejad Cabinet II
Institutions
Guardian
→ Main article: Guardian
The Guardian examines laws and persons appearing on compliance with the principles of Islam as well as in compliance with the Constitution. Through its extensive veto it represents the most important institution to influence the Supreme Leader dar. The Guardian Council is a committee of twelve members, six of whom are lawyers six clergymen are proposed by the chief judges and elected by Parliament and determined by the Supreme Leader.
The Constitution states:
" In order to avoid inconsistencies between the decisions [ of Parliament ] and Islamic law or the Constitution, a Guardian is formed with the following composition:
All laws, which Parliament adopts are first checked by the Guardian on the conformity with the Basic Law and then possibly invalidated. In addition, appointed by the Supreme Leader 6 members have spiritual appeal, citing disagreements with the Islamic principles of the possibility of a veto on a law. This veto can not be overruled and prevents a law becomes final by Parliament.
"The finding of the coincidence of the decisions [ of Parliament ] with the Islamic rules will be taken by the majority of Islamic jurists of the Guardian Council and in terms of conformity with the Basic Law of the majority of all members of the Guardian Council. "
In addition, the Guardian Council decides on the suitability of candidates for all elections. Prior to each election, the Guardian Council prohibits many candidates participating in the elections. The reasons given are often associated with un-Islamic behavior and are regularly featured in displeasure.
Parliament
→ Main article: Majlis (Iran)
The parliament ( Majlis ) is elected every four years by the people directly. Entitled to vote all Iranian men and women are over the age of 17. The choices are only approved by the Guardian Council candidates.
The Parliament is the legislative body of Iran. Legislative proposals coming from the ministers or MPs themselves
According to the Iranian parliamentary elections of 14 March 2008, the last parliamentary elections were held on March 2, 2012
Template: Future / No category instead.
Expert
→ Main article: Expert
The expertise consists of 86 " virtuous and experienced " clergy, at least with the religious title Hodschatoleslam, who are elected for eight years by the people after pre-selection by the Guardian Council.
The Expert Council meets at least five days a year. It elects the Supreme Leader, "monitored" its activities and may also in theory take it off.
Expediency
→ Main article: Arbitration
To mediate between Parliament and the Guardian exists a Expediency Council, whose members are appointed by the Supreme Leader.
Security
→ Main article: Security
The Supreme Leader as Commander in Chief of the armed forces supported a Security Council.
Justice
In the Islamic Republic of Iran Islamic law, the Shari'a, formed by the Penal Code of the Islamic Republic of Iran is considered. In German the Iranian Penal Code is published under the title " criminal laws of the Islamic Republic of Iran " from the "Max - Planck - Institute for Foreign and International Criminal Law " in the translation of Dr. Silvia Tellenbach with the ISBN 3,110,148,846th
The Supreme Leader appoints the chief judge, who in turn appoints the Attorney General. There are several court branches, including revolutionary courts ( for political offenses ). The Special Court for the Clergy ( for offenses of clerics ) stands outside of general jurisdiction and is directly responsible to the Supreme Leader. The chief judge is a member of the Security Council and shall appoint, in cooperation with the Parliament, the six jurists of the Guardian Council.
The justice system, in particular the departments 25 and 28 of the Revolutionary Court with the judges Abolqasem Salavati or Mohammad Moghisseh are massive human rights violations, arbitrary judgments, and violations of the Iranian Constitution and against process procedures - especially in trials against demonstrators in connection with the protests by the Iranian presidential elections in 2009 - accused.
Administrative divisions
→ Main article Administrative divisions of Iran
The Governors-General of the 30 provinces ( Ostan ) are appointed by the Minister of the Interior, with the approval of the Ministerial Council. In 2005, there were 30 Ostans in Iran, including 324 and 865 Schahrestans Bakschs.