The 12th Shia imam, Ganji said, was a historical invention born out of a family dispute over the 11th imam’s successor and inheritance. I looked around the room, in vain searching for bodyguards. In most Shia circles, Ganji’s words would be considered blasphemy, putting him in serious danger. But Ganji seemed oblivious, and carried on explaining that both rational reasoning and historical evidence spoke against the existence of the 12th imam.
