The death of President Ebrahim Raisi will not change the political orientation of the Islamic Republic. Ayatollan Khamenei is the country’s supreme leader and has a decisive influence on how the country develops and foreign policy is largely controlled by the Revolutionary Guard, according to foreign affairs commentator Rolf Porseryd.
During his relatively short time as president, Raisi has become known for his very harsh policy against the country’s opposition, and the feminist revolution – “Woman, Life, Freedom” – was brutally crushed under Raisi’s leadership. Many oppositionists were killed and thousands were imprisoned.
Last year, 853 people were executed in Iran. The contempt for Raisi among the country’s liberal opposition, not least young women, is very widespread and on social media Raisi’s death is celebrated behind the scenes.
Nicknamed “The Butcher of Tehran”
The headscarf requirement and the religious “decency law” have been tightened. During the 80s, Raisi was nicknamed “The Butcher of Tehran” where he was part of the so-called “death commission”, which arrested, imprisoned, tortured and executed thousands of political opponents.
Among those responsible was Hamid Noury, who in 2022 in a unique sentence in Sweden was sentenced to life imprisonment for war crimes.
“Rarely agree”
Who will succeed Raisi will be decided in an election after 50 days, until further notice the vice president will step in.
The conservative clergy rarely agree on who is most suitable for the post, except that a more liberal reformist candidate is unthinkable.
Raisi was one of several possible candidates to succeed Ayatollah Khamenei, who is 85 years old and frail. It may pave the way for Khamenei’s son to step into Iran’s most powerful position.