The New Montazeri

Josh Shahryar profiles Grand Ayatollah Yousef Sanei, the most prominent of the remaining opposition clerics:

Sane’i is the perfect man to replace Montazeri. He represents the same brand of moderate Islam that Montazeri espoused. This includes his stance that women have equal rights with men and can be judges and sources of jurisprudence. He has denounced suicide bombings, considers nuclear weapons as being against the soul of Islam and forbidden and perhaps shockingly, even believes that followers of other religions if they are sincere would go to heaven. These are the qualities that endeared him to the late Montazeri and this is the reason why today, thousands of people from around Iran announced their willingness to defend him against the government.

And he'll need it; Sanei's offices were attacked by Basiji militiamen yesterday.