Motalefeh
Motalefeh is the short name for an Iranian political organization, Jamiat’haye Motalefeh Islami, or Unified Islamic Associations. It was formed in 1963, as a conservative group made up of Islamic clubs, conservative clerics and merchants.[1] Specifically, it is an alliance between the clerics of the ulama and the powerful bazaari merchant class. [2] Members control much of the economy not dependent on oil. They oppose political reforms, but divided regarding economic reforms; [1] factions oppose foreign investment and integration of Iran in the global economy. [3]
During the Pahlavi regime, its members assassinated the Shah’s Prime Minister Ali Mansour and several other political figures. In 2005, a cleric associated with the party, Hamid-Reza Taraghi, told the state news agency, “The circumstances for women to be ministers in the cabinet do not exist, but probably they can become deputies”. [3]
Its current leader, Habibollah Asgar Owladi, a member of the Expediency Council, is part of a panel, proposed by Supreme Leader of Iran Ali Khameini and Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani, to calm protests resulting from the 2009 Iranian Presidential election.[4]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 , 3. Political Parties, Country Fact Sheet: Iran, Research Directorate of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, December 2007
- ↑ Hani Mansourian (1 October 2007), "Iran: Religious Leaders and Opposition Movements", Journal of International Affairs
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Women not permitted in cabinet of Iran’s new president", Iran Focus, 07 August 2005
- ↑ Bendix Anderson (5 Oct 2009), "Rafsanjani's Deal?", Tehran Bureau, PBS