You cannot imagine a stronger mix of religion and politics than the news out of Iran today. According to the LA Times, Ayatollah Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani has been prevented from leading the Friday Prayers in Tehran on the occasion of Quds Day. The alleged reformist leaders are being warned to avoid protesting tomorrow, and apparently Rafsanjani’s sermon may well lead to more demonstrations. It is always remarkable to watch when the power of government steps in and prevents religious speeches. Of course, Quds Day is really more of a political statement in support of the Palestinians and a demonstration against Israel’s policies. Nonetheless, it is religion that suffers if sermons are restricted – particularly at the end of the holy month of Ramadan. Finally, the LA Times breaks down the rest of the week’s incredibly important news about Iran:
A Sunni cleric loyal to Ahmadinejad was shot dead early Sunday morning in the city of Sanandaj, in western Iran, where he led Friday prayers. A prosecutor in Sanandaj was shot in the neck this morning in an apparent assassination attempt, the official Islamic Republic News Agency reported. Another prosecutor in the mostly Kurdish city escaped an assassination attempt a week ago.