Political prisoner Mohammad Ali Taheri has been on hunger strike for some days now protesting the unbelievable death sentence issued against him. He is a victim of the repressive policies of the religious fascism ruling Iran, sentencing him to death under the pretext of a blasphemy decree issued by Qom-based mullah Nasser Makarem Shirazi.
This cruel ‘blasphemy’ decree, issued to actually support the policies of those in power, not only lacks any religious value or credibility, it is neither of any legal value or authority even under the regime’s own standards. This fatwa could only be considered reliable if mullah Makarem had any credibility as a religious expert – which he doesn’t, as many like him lack any religious credibility – and could be considered as binding only to his followers.
Aside from the fact that Makarem and others like him lack any credible religious expertise, the more important fault is that this individual has never enjoyed the necessary equanimity and virtue to issue any decrees or judiciary orders, and he is only recognized as a jurist consultant to the rulers. Implementing this individual’s fatwa is inadmissible, and even participating in mass prayers led by him and those like him is also considered void. He is neither a religious judge, nor a judiciary official; therefore his verdict on someone’s blasphemy has no legal credibility. This may be hard to understand for foreigners who are unfamiliar with the futile nature of such fatwas, such as the decree issued by Khamenei on sanctioning nuclear weapons. However, for us and all the Iranian people it is crystal clear that these remarks are merely politically motivated and serve in the interest of apparatuses involved in crackdown and plundering.
All these facts are aside from the very vague record of mullah Makarem Shiraz prior to the glorious 1979 anti-monarchy revolution in Iran when in some cases he was praised by the Shah’s regime that came to power through the 1953 shameful coup d’état. He has never asked for forgiveness or to be pardoned before the Iranian nation.
In addition to condemning this decree and mullah Makarem Shiraz himself, the Committee on Religious Freedom at the National Council of Resistance of Iran expresses its sympathy with the family and relatives of Mr. Mohammad Ali Taheri and all the Iranian people. This Commission also expresses its grave concerns over the possible cruel execution of this individual, and calls on all dignitaries, human rights and anti-crackdown associations and organizations to raise their voice against his death sentence and make the political and international costs of these crimes intolerable to the religious fascism regime ruling Iran.

Jalal Ganjei
Chairman of the Committee on Religious Freedom
National Council of Resistance of Iran
August 19, 2015