Ali-Asghar Gharavi | |
---|---|
Born | c. 1943 or 1944 (age 79–80)[1] |
Nationality | Iranian |
Alma mater | Saint Joseph University |
Political party | Freedom Movement of Iran |
Seyyed Ali-Asghar Gharavi (Persian: سید علیاصغر غروی) is an Iranian scholar of religion and political activist affiliated with the Freedom Movement of Iran.[2]
According to the American magazine In These Times, he is "one of Iran's most prominent pro-democracy activists and political thinkers".[3]
In 1998, he was arrested and summoned to the Special Clerical Court for criticizing the regime, despite the fact he is not a cleric.[2] In 2013, Bahar newspaper was banned for publishing an article written by Gharavi, titled “Imam Ali, a Political Leader or a Religious Model?”.[4][5] He was accused of "blasphemy" for implicitly challenging Iran's Supreme Leader.[6]