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Grand Ayatollah Hossein-Ali Montazeri

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Religious Figure

The Resume

    (1922-December 19, 2009)
    Born in Najafabad, Iran
    Shiite Islamic theologian
    Designated successor to Ayatollah Khomeini as Supreme Leader of Iran (1985-89)
    Demoted after criticizing Khomeini's actions
    Placed under house arrest for questioning the authority of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khameini (1997-2003)

Why he might be annoying:

    He joined Khomeni in protesting the Shah's Westernization campaigns, including allowing women to vote (1963).
    He declared that Iranian law could never grant women equality in certain matters, such as inheritance or legal testimony, because it would go against the Koran.
    Early in the revolution, he was mocked by the upper and middle classes as a country bumpkin.
    After the overthrow of the Shah, he played a key role in replacing a democratic and secular draft constitution with one that created an Islamic theocracy.

Why he might not be annoying:

    He said that in writing the constitution, he intended for religious leaders to advise the government, not run it.
    He said occupying the American embassy and taking hostages had been a mistake.
    He condemned the fatwa against Salman Rushdie, noting 'People in the world are getting the idea that our business in Iran is just murdering people.'
    He was imprisoned and tortured by the Shah's regime (1974-78).
    He told Khomeini that his prison and judiciary systems were worse than the Shah's.

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 13 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 8 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 12 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 3 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 40 Votes: 97.50% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 81 Votes: 53.09% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 40 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 7 Votes: 85.71% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 31 Votes: 96.77% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 258 Votes: 47.67% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 53 Votes: 67.92% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 25 Votes: 92.00% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 16 Votes: 87.50% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 56 Votes: 69.64% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 296 Votes: 68.24% Annoying