By Ali Akbar Dareini
Associated Press

TEHRAN, Iran — A group of former reformist lawmakers appealed to a powerful clerical body in Iran to investigate Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's qualification to rule in an unprecedented challenge to the country's most powerful man over the postelection crackdown. The call came as controversy heated up Friday over allegations that protesters detained the crackdown were tortured. Hard-line clerics across the country demanded that a senior reform leader be prosecuted for claiming that some detainees were raped by their jailers.

The former lawmakers' appeal was to the Assembly of Experts, a body of clerics that under Iranian law has the power to name the supreme leader and, in theory, to remove him — though such a move has never been attempted. There was no immediate response from the assembly to the group's letter, sent late Thursday. But even if the call is ignored and is only symbolic, it was the most direct challenge to Khamenei yet in the turmoil that has embroiled Iran since its disputed June 12 presidential election.

The letter breaks a major taboo among Iran's political classes against overtly targeting Khamenei, whose position at the top of the political-clerical hierarchy has long been unquestioned. The letter, reported in opposition Web sites, came from a group of former lawmakers, most of them from the reform camp. The reports did not say how many signed the letter.

This is indeed a big development.

Excerpts from another article with additional details. I have been unable to find the "opposition" site these articles are referring to:

The former lawmakers said the supreme leader is responsible for the judicial system and the security forces who carried out the crackdown, adding that Iran's constitution underlines that "the supreme leader is on the same level as the rest of the people before the law."

The former lawmakers "demand a legal probe on the basis of Article 111 of the Constitution, which is a responsibility of the Experts Assembly," the letter said. Article 11 says that if the supreme leader "becomes incapable of fulfilling his constitutional duties," he will be dismissed.

The letter was addressed to Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, a powerful former president and cleric who heads of the Assembly of Experts. Rafsanjani has sided with the opposition in the election crisis, but accepting to investigate the supreme leader would likely be too dramatic a step for him to take. Around two-thirds of the 86-member assembly are considered strong loyalists of Khamenei and would oppose such a move.

There was no sign that opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi, who claims to have won the election, backs the former lawmakers' letter. But the letter suggested how much some in the opposition have been emboldened at a time when the government and clerical leadership have been deeply embarrassed by the claims of torture and abuse against prisoners.

Here's a fun activity for everyone for the weekend:

Go to the Khobregan site and look at your elected representatives! These are the only people who can "legally" get rid of Khamenei. I know, based on that there's not much hope. Obviously that's not the fun part. The fun part is that you'll get a really good laugh at the expense of some of these beaten geezers. I counted 37 that seem to receive more grooming than my dog or show faint signs of a smile or the fact that they were not fingered by their teachers growing up. 44 Votes would be needed to get rid of Rahbar. Maybe I missed something, so go through the list and see if there's any way in hell you can add 8 to that list, based on the pictures! My few favorites are,

Osama Bin Laden's Fashion Advisor, Mr. Salami: http://www.majlesekhobregan.ir/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=578&Itemid=39

The child of Mr. Spock and that chick from the Borg, Mr. Niasar: http://www.majlesekhobregan.ir/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=583&Itemid=39

"What you talkin' about Willis?" from Growing Pains, Mr, Taheri: http://www.majlesekhobregan.ir/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=586&Itemid=39

And last, but certainly not least...

The philosophical Gremlin from Gremilins 2, Mr. Gorgani: http://www.majlesekhobregan.ir/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=606&Itemid=39

Hope you have as much fun going through the list as I did. There are a few decent looking, well groomed non-oghdeis in there too.

Behrou jan, sevvomish ke marhoom shode!!
I guess he is going to send his vote from the other world!!

Wow... that IS big!

Thanks for the post Behrou joon.

Its not only reformers... ayatollah sastgheyb from majlese khobregan also asked for urgent meeting regarding will of people.

You know it's big news but deep down we also know that nothing will come of it. They will do nothing this time around.
But some important red lines have been crossed and the next time they piss people off that will be that. The coup will be the other way next time.

he is a crack whore.

They know very well that "system" will not function with the present standing. Either they get rid of supreme nachos or it is the end of barbaric republic.

I agree they should get probed, if you get what I mean :UniKia: :AlienAbduction: :DrEvil:


Sadly they'd probably like it too.

Behrou jan, sevvomish ke marhoom shode!!


Yeah, but I'm sure that picture was taken when he was alive - as ugly as he looks - lol. He's definitely one guy, who won't get his hand on any of those good looking 72 virgins, not even in the afterlife! ;)

Here's a fun activity for everyone for the weekend:

Go to the Khobregan site and look at your elected representatives! These are the only people who can "legally" get rid of Khamenei. I know, based on that there's not much hope. Obviously that's not the fun part. The fun part is that you'll get a really good laugh at the expense of some of these beaten geezers. I counted 37 that seem to receive more grooming than my dog or show faint signs of a smile or the fact that they were not fingered by their teachers growing up. 44 Votes would be needed to get rid of Rahbar. Maybe I missed something, so go through the list and see if there's any way in hell you can add 8 to that list, based on the pictures! My few favorites are,

Osama Bin Laden's Fashion Advisor, Mr. Salami: http://www.majlesekhobregan.ir/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=578&Itemid=39

The child of Mr. Spock and that chick from the Borg, Mr. Niasar: http://www.majlesekhobregan.ir/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=583&Itemid=39

"What you talkin' about Willis?" from Growing Pains, Mr, Taheri: http://www.majlesekhobregan.ir/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=586&Itemid=39

And last, but certainly not least...

The philosophical Gremlin from Gremilins 2, Mr. Gorgani: http://www.majlesekhobregan.ir/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=606&Itemid=39

Hope you have as much fun going through the list as I did. There are a few decent looking, well groomed non-oghdeis in there too.

khoshgelah bayad beraghsan, khoshgelah bayad beraghsan.

LMAO @ Ramin. Good one :)