On the anniversary of the death of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Iranian officials and the media typically release statements and make speeches about the legacy of the leader who led the 1979 Islamic Revolution. This year, for the 37th anniversary, the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) conducted a rare interview for the occasion with Khomeini’s grandson Hassan, who is often referred to as the “remembrance of Khomeini” and is tasked with carrying the legacy of the Khomeini name. In the interview, the grandson made controversial remarks about Islam, the hijab and a former president currently under a media ban.
Hassan Khomeini, who registered to run in the Assembly of Experts elections but was controversially blocked by the hard-line Guardian Council, has had a difficult relationship with hard-liners. His political and religious views have mostly been in line with Reformists, though his avoidance of partisan politics and his position as custodian of Khomeini’s mausoleum and thus his legacy has shielded him from the harsh attacks other Reformist-minded clerics received.
