Assembly of Qom Seminary Scholars and Researchers

Political party in Iran

Not to be confused with Society of Seminary Teachers of Qom.

Qom Seminary

The Assembly of Qom Seminary Scholars and Researchers (also Association of Researchers and Teachers of Qom)[1] is a political party and association of Shia Islamic clerics in Iran's religious capital of Qom. It was founded in 2001, as a support group for the Reformist movement and then-President of Iran Mohammad Khatami. Many of its members were students of Ayatollah Montazeri, who was a major patron of the association until his death in 2009.[2] Ayatollah Musavi Tabrizi serves as its Secretary-General and representative to the House of Parties of Iran. He became their leader in 2004 when their first leader Ayatollah Abayi Khorasani died.[2] It has been linked to the marājiʿ Ayatollah Sane’i and Ayatollah Ardabili.[2]

## International notice

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The Assembly became more widely known outside of Iran after its criticism of the 12 June 2009 Iranian presidential election. The group criticized the election vote counting system and the Iranian Guardian Council in a statement saying the Council no longer had the "right to judge in this case as some of its members have lost their impartial image in the eyes of the public."[3] The Assembly also released a joint statement demanding new elections[4] as well a statement condemning the state-sponsored detention and killing of anti-Mahmoud Ahmadinejad protesters.[5]

In November 2024, the Assembly caused controversy by appearing to endorse the two-state solution, which would tacitly imply an acceptance of the existence of the State of Israel, contrary to the hardline official Iranian position which completely rejects its existence.[6]

## See also

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* Seyed Hossein Mousavi Tabrizi
* Iranian reform movement

## References

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1. ^ Opposition Holds Firm in Iran. Robert Dreyfuss on 6 July 2009, Retrieved 10 July 2009
2. ^ a b c "Assembly of Researchers and Lecturers of Qom Seminary | Iran Data Portal". 26 August 2011. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
3. ^ Pro-reform clerical body protests Iran elections 5 July 2009, Retrieved 10 July 2009
4. ^ The Daily Beast, Reza Aslan
5. ^ "Important Statement of "Assembly of Qom Seminary Scholars and Researchers" Regarding Illegal Detention Facilities and Martyrdom". 5 August 2009.
6. ^ Wintour, Patrick (5 November 2024). "Reformist clerics imply Iran should back two-state solution for Israel and Palestine". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 5 November 2024.

## External links

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* (in Persian) Official website

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Political organizations in Iran

* Politics of Iran
* House of Parties of Iran

Principlists|

* The Two Societies
* Combatant Clergy Association
* Society of Seminary Teachers of Qom
* Front of Followers of the Line of the Imam and the Leader
* Islamic Coalition Party
* Islamic Society of Engineers
* Islamic Association of Physicians of Iran
* Islamic Society of Students
* Islamic Society of Employees
* Islamic Society of Athletes
* Zeynab Society
* Front of Transformationalist Principlists
* Society of Devotees of the Islamic Revolution
* Society of Pathseekers of the Islamic Revolution
* Association of Islamic Revolution Loyalists
* Summit of Freethinkers Party
* Fadayeen of Islam Society
* Ansar-e Hezbollah
* Front of Islamic Revolution Stability
* Resistance Front of Islamic Iran
* Development and Justice Party
* Green Party
* Progress and Justice Society of Islamic Iran
* Modern Thinkers Party of Islamic Iran
* YEKTA Front

Reformists|

* Council for Coordinating the Reforms Front
* Association of Combatant Clerics
* Executives of Construction Party
* Assembly of Qom Seminary Scholars and Researchers
* Islamic Association of Teachers
* Islamic Association of Engineers
* Islamic Association of Iranian Medical Society
* Islamic Association of University Instructors
* Association of Followers of the Imam's Line
* Islamic Iran Solidarity Party
* Democracy Party
* Will of the Iranian Nation Party
* Association of the Women of the Islamic Republic
* Islamic Assembly of Ladies
* Office for Strengthening Unity
* Islamic Labour Party
* Worker House
* Islamic Iran Freedom and Justice Organization
* Popular Party of Reforms
* Iranian Call and Reform Organization
* Kurdish United Front
* Moderation and Development Party
* National Trust Party
* The Green Path of Hope
* NEDA Party
* Union of Islamic Iran People Party

Anti-establishment|

* National Front
* Iran Party
* Party of the Iranian People
* Freedom Movement
* Movement of Militant Muslims
* Council of Nationalist-Religious Activists
* Pan-Iranist Party
* Nation Party of Iran

* Electoral lists
* Banned/Exiled parties
* Historic parties

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