Description
Hossein-Ali Montazeri Biography (1922–2009) was a prominent Iranian Shi’a cleric, human rights advocate, and a central figure in the 1979 Iranian Revolution. Born in Najafabad, Isfahan Province, he studied under Grand Ayatollah Mohammad Hossein Borujerdi and later Ayatollah Khomeini in Qom. Montazeri was a key member of the Islamic Revolution and was designated by Khomeini as his successor in 1985. However, he was dismissed in 1989 due to his outspoken criticism of government policies, particularly following the 1988 mass executions of political prisoners. This event led to a significant rift between Montazeri and the ruling clerical establishment.e an advocate for political reform, democracy, and human rights within Iran. He was an early critic of theocratic rule and argued for a more accountable government. His advocacy for civil rights, women’s rights, and the rights of religious minorities, including the Baháʼí community, made him a symbol of resistance against authoritarianism. Montazeri spent his later years under house arrest but remained a respected figure among reformists and civil society activists. He passed away on December 19, 2009, in Qom, Iran
