Editing Islam and democracy (section)

=====Theory=====
Since the [[Iranian Revolution|revolution in Iran]], the largest Shia country, Twelver Shia political thought has been dominated by that of [[Ayatollah]] [[Ruhollah Khomeini]], the founder and leader of the revolution. Khomeini [[Islamic Government: Governance of the Jurist|argued]] that in the absence of the Hidden Imam and other divinely-appointed figures (in whom ultimate political authority rests), Muslims have not only the right, but also the obligation to establish an "[[Islamic state]]".<ref>[http://quest4truth.weebly.com/imam-03.html] {{Dead link|date=March 2013}}</ref> To that end they must turn to scholars of Islamic law ([[fiqh]]) who are qualified to interpret the Quran and the writings of the imams.

Once in power and recognizing the need for more flexibility, Khomeini modified some earlier positions, insisted the ruling jurist need not be one of the most learned, that ''Sharia'' rule was subordinate to interests of Islam ([[Maslaha]]—"expedient interests" or "public welfare"<ref>Abrahamian, Ervand, ''A History of Modern Iran'', Cambridge University Press, 2008, p. 165</ref>), and the "divine government" as interpreted by the ruling jurists, who could overrule Sharia if necessary to serve those interests. The Islamic "government, which is a branch of the absolute governance of the Prophet of God, is among the primary ordinances of Islam, and has precedence over all 'secondary' ordinances."

The last point was made in December 1987, when Khomieni issued a fatwa in support of the Islamic government's attempt to pass a labor protection bill not in accordance with sharia.<ref>Schirazi, Asghar. ''The Constitution of Iran'', p. 212</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://gemsofislamism.tripod.com/khomeini_promises_kept.html#footnote_72a|title=Khomeini's REVERSALS of Promises|access-date=2015-05-04|archive-date=July 8, 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120708183450/http://gemsofislamism.tripod.com/khomeini_promises_kept.html%23Islamic_Clerics#footnote_72a|url-status=live}}</ref> He ruled that in the Islamic state, governmental ordinances were primary ordinances,<ref>{{cite book |last=Arjomand |first=Said Amir |date=1993 |chapter=Shi'ite Jurisprudence and Constitution Making in the Islamic Republic of Iran |editor1-last=Marty |editor1-first=Martin E. |editor2-last=Appleby |editor2-first=R. Scott |title=Fundamentalisms and the State: Remaking Polities, Economies, and Militance |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=doCmVaOnh_wC&pg=PA104 |publisher=University of Chicago Press |page=[https://archive.org/details/fundamentalismss00mart/page/104 104] |isbn=978-0-226-50884-9 |url=https://archive.org/details/fundamentalismss00mart/page/104}}</ref> and that the Islamic state has absolute right ({{langx|fa|ولايت مطلقه}}) to enact state commandments, taking precedence over "all secondary ordinances such as prayer, fasting, and pilgrimage".

<blockquote>Were the powers of government to lie only within the framework of secondary divine decrees, the designation of the divine government and absolute deputed guardianship (''wilayat-i mutlaqa-yi mufawwada'') to the Prophet of Islam (peace be upon him and his progeny) would have been in practice entirely without meaning and content. ... I must point out, the government which is a branch of the absolute governance of the Prophet of God is among the primary ordinances of Islam, and has precedence over all secondary ordinances such as [[salat|prayer (salat)]], [[sawm|fasting (sawm)]], and [[hajj|pilgrimage (hajj)]].</blockquote>

The idea and concept of Islamic democracy has been accepted by many Iranian clerics, scholars and intellectuals.<ref>{{cite news |date=August 10, 2002 |title=President Says Democracy Conforms With Religion in Iran |url=http://www.wwrn.org/article.php?idd=6426&sec=59&con=33 |newspaper=Tehran Times |via=WorldWide Religious News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070308230836/http://www.wwrn.org/article.php?idd=6426&sec=59&con=33 |archive-date=2007-03-08}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.khatami.ir/|title=" Official Website of Sayyid Mohammad Khatami " www.khatami.ir|access-date=2015-05-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071016063245/http://www.khatami.ir/|archive-date=October 16, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.drsoroush.com/|title=AbdolKarim Soroush:: عبدالکريم سروش|access-date=2014-11-03|archive-date=December 17, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141217093113/http://drsoroush.com/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.leader.ir/langs/EN/index.php?p=news&id=3447 |title=News |website=The Office of the Supreme Leader, Sayyid Ali Khamenei |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120310170922/http://www.leader.ir/langs/EN/index.php?p=news&id=3447 |archive-date=2012-03-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.khamenei.ir/EN/News/detail.jsp?id=20031220A |title=Participation in Majlis Elections, Religious and Logical Duty: Leader |date=December 20, 2003 |website=Institute for Preserving and Publishing Works by Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenie |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927225743/http://www.khamenei.ir/EN/News/detail.jsp?id=20031220A |archive-date=2007-09-27}}</ref> The most notable of those who have accepted the theory of Islamic democracy is probably Iran's Leader, Ayatollah [[Ali Khamenei]], who mentions Islamic democracy as "Mardomsalarie Dini" in his speeches. Nevertheless, Khamenei openly expresses his opposition to [[liberal democracy]], having said, "Islam naturally stands against liberal democracy."<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://english.khamenei.ir/news/9551/Islam-naturally-stands-against-liberal-democracy-s-plot-to-dominate |title=Islam naturally stands against liberal democracy's plot to dominate the world - Khamenei.ir |access-date=March 3, 2023 |archive-date=March 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230316025234/https://english.khamenei.ir/news/9551/Islam-naturally-stands-against-liberal-democracy-s-plot-to-dominate |url-status=live }}</ref>

There are also other Iranian scholars who oppose or at least criticise the concept of Islamic democracy. Among the most popular of them are Ayatollah [[Naser Makarem Shirazi]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.makaremshirazi.org/|title=پایگاه اطلاع رسانی دفتر مرجع عالیقدر حضرت آیت الله العظمی مکارم شیرازی|access-date=2015-05-04|archive-date=October 31, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031115251/http://www.makaremshirazi.org/|url-status=dead}}</ref> who have written: "If not referring to the people votes would result in accusations of tyranny then it is allowed to accept people vote as a secondary commandment."<ref>انوار الفقاهه- كتاب البيع – ج 1 ص 516</ref> Also [[Mohammad-Taqi Mesbah-Yazdi]] has more or less the same viewpoint.