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ScottB-06

Poster in Shiraz that says "We are alive with Vilayat [-e faqih]". Vilayate faqih is the concept that underlines clerical rule and ironically not very popular with the clergy, so you get helpful reminders. Coincidentally the following day Ayatollah Behjat was to die (considered by many to be a marja-e taqlid). The government declared three days of mourning and put posters everywhere, either (depending on whom you talk to) because they had to given his massive support or because they were happy to see him go being a rather quietist [Turkish] cleric in the spirit of Shariatmadari and opposed to Vilayat. Of course it might also be that the clergy is just a tight-knit group.

Taking a trip through Iran in May, 2009.

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