Sayyid Ahmad Alamolhoda (also Alam Olhoda or Alam al-Hoda; Persian: احمد علم‌الهدی; born September 1, 1944) is an Iranian Shia Islamic cleric who has been described as "senior"[1] and "ultra conservative"[2] and "hardline."[3] His rank has been given both as Hojjatoleslam[4] and Ayatollah.[5] He is the Friday Prayer leader in Mashhad, Iran,[4] and is that city's representative in the Iranian Assembly of Experts.[6] Alamolhoda is a member of Combatant Clergy Association.[7]

Alamolhoda name appeared in international media as a speaker at a December 30, 2009 rally held in favor of the Islamic regime, where he was quoted as calling opponents of the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei In comments broadcast on Iranian state TV, Alamolhoda told demonstrators,

"Enemies of the leader, according to the Quran, belong to the party of Satan ... Our war in the world is war against the opponents of the rule of the supreme leader."[8]

Alamolhoda was a strong critic of Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, the previous head of the Assembly of Experts, whom Alamolhoda attacked for "his silence in the face of unprecedented insults against the leader of the revolution" (Ali Khamenei), and warned him to "reform his behavior before it was too late."[6]

Alamolhoda is known for his restrictive measures against women's rights in Iran. He has in his Friday Prayers speeches spoken against women's right to ride bicycles in Mashhad. He opposes women entering football stadiums in Mashhad. He stands against the holding of concerts in Mashhad, believing that people who travel to the "holy city of Mashhad" should only come for prayers.[9]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Iran's Mousavi ready to die for opposition cause". Archived from the original on 2012-04-26. Retrieved 2010-01-08.
  2. ^ Iranians Rally in Support of Government[permanent dead link], 31 December 2009
  3. ^ Iranian hardliners rally, call for killing reformists Archived 2010-01-17 at the Wayback Machine, salon.com, Dec 31, 2009
  4. ^ a b "Ahmadinejad has proof US trying to stop Hidden Imam". FRONTLINE - Tehran Bureau. Archived from the original on 2010-01-07. Retrieved 2010-01-08.
  5. ^ In Tehran, Thousands Rally to Back Government Archived 2017-12-22 at the Wayback Machine By NAZILA FATHI, December 30, 2009
  6. ^ a b Supreme Leader's Performance "Proven"[permanent dead link]
  7. ^ Mohammadighalehtaki, Ariabarzan (2012). Organisational Change in Political Parties in Iran after the Islamic Revolution of 1979. With Special Reference to the Islamic Republic Party (IRP) and the Islamic Iran Participation Front Party (Mosharekat) (Ph.D. thesis). Durham University. p. 177. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2017-06-11.
  8. ^ "Iranian hardliners rally, call for killing reformists Dec 31, 2009". Archived from the original on January 17, 2010. Retrieved January 8, 2010.
  9. ^ "رازگشایی آیت الله علم‌الهدی از مخالفتش با اجرای کنسرت در مشهد - خبرآنلاین". 25 July 2023. Archived from the original on 2023-07-25. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
Political offices
Preceded by Representative of the Supreme Leader in Razavi Khorasan Province
2016–present 		Succeeded by
Incumbent
Religious titles
Preceded by
Mahdi Ebadi
 Friday prayers Imam of Mashhad
2005–present 		Succeeded by
Incumbent