Hojjatoleslam Abbas Amirifar (born 1957) is the prayer leader of

Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and also known as Persia, is a country in West Asia. It borders Iraq to the west, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Armenia to the northwest, the Caspian Sea to the north, Turkmenistan to the nort ...

ian president

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (born Mahmoud Sabbaghian on 28 October 1956) is an Iranian Iranian principlists, principlist and Iranian nationalism, nationalist politician who served as the sixth president of Iran from 2005 to 2013. He is currently a mem ...

and head of the presidential cultural committee. He was arrested in May 2011 on charges of "sorcery", after he produced a controversial film predicting the imminent return of the

Mahdi The Mahdi () is a figure in Islamic eschatology who is believed to appear at the Eschatology, End of Times to rid the world of evil and injustice. He is said to be a descendant of Muhammad in Islam, Muhammad, and will appear shortly before Jesu ...

,Ahmadinejad losing ground in Iran power struggle, analysts say
, By Matt Smith , CNN , May 26, 2011 (the title of which—Zohur Besyar Nazdik Ast—has been translated as "Appearance is Close!"
Source: Radio Zamaneh, 5/03/11). According to Radio Zamaneh, he was "referred to the Special Court for the Clergy for his involvement in the production and distribution" of the film, as well as for "disturbing public minds and insulting political groups and figures." The arrest is thought to be part of a dispute between the president and other conservatives, including the

supreme leader A supreme leader or supreme ruler typically refers to powerful figures with an unchallenged authority, such as autocrats, dictators to spiritual and revolutionary leaders. Historic examples are Adolf Hitler () of Nazi Germany, Francisco ...

. "At least 25" supporters of Ahmadinejad have been arrested in 2011, including Mohammed Sharif Malekzadeh and Kazem Kiapasha."Abbas Amirifar released Wed after 40 dys in solitary, immediately rearrested by Special Clerical Court #Iran #Iranelection
Twitter / Persian Banoo: (Tweeted 16 June 2011)

References

Living people Iranian Shia clerics 1957 births {{Islam-bio-stub

See also

References