Mohammad Yazdi, Jurist

Few clerics have been as vocal in their attacks on powerful figures as Mohammad Yazdi (محمد یزدی) and remained safe. Yazdi has managed to go after a number of prominent clerics without ever being held accountable for his comments. He has always enjoyed the support of the Supreme Leader

Yazdi’s father and grandfather were both well-known scholars in Isfahan. Yazdi learned reading and writing from his father and went to the seminary to study ancient science. After many years of studying theology at Kaseh Garan Seminary School in Isfahan, he enrolled at Mullah Abdullah Seminary in Isfahan studying Lom’eh (Islamic content) and other Islamic subjects. Like many seminary students, Yazdi went to Qom to continue his studies.

Yazdi was a student of Ayatollah Borujerdi and Ayatollah Khomeini and got the permission of Ijtihad from Ayatollah Khomeini. After the revolution and return of Ayatollah Khomeini to Qom, Mohammad Yazdi became the Chairman of the Office of the Supreme Leader. This marked the beginning of his power in the Islamic Republic. Soon Yazdi was appointed as Chairman of the Qom Revolutionary Court. He was also a member of the Assembly of Constitutional Law Experts.

In the first election of the Islamic parliament, he was elected as a representative of the Qom constituency. In the following election, Yazdi was elected as a representative from Tehran. During both terms, he served as Vice-President of parliament. He failed to be re-elected to a third term.

In 1988 after the resignation of Ayatollah Safi Golpayegani from the Guardian Council, Ayatollah Khomeini appointed Yazdi to his seat on the Guardian Council.

In 1989, when Ayatollah Khamanei became Supreme Leader, Yazdi became Head the Judiciary and served for ten years. His selection for Guardianship of the Judiciary was unanticipated by many people because of his failure to gain re-election to a third term.

Yazdi’s management of the Judiciary was questioned by Ayatollah Hashemi Shahrudi who followed him as Head of the Judiciary. Sharudi stated, “The Judiciary was in ruins during Ayatollah Yazdi’s leadership.”

In 1999, Yazdi again returned to the Guardian Council. He has been a member ever since.

Background:

• Membership of Jurist of Guardian Council
• Expediency Discernment Council
• Assembly of Experts of Constitutional Law
• Member of Review of Constitutional Law
• Presidency of Supreme Council of Qom Seminary
• The Fifth Assembly of Experts
• Head of Judiciary
• Qom Islamic Revolutionary Court
• Ayatollah Khomeini’s Qom Office
• Vice-President in the first and second round of the Islamic Parliament
• Executive Deputy of Teachers’ Association of Qom Seminary