The organizers of the Aug. 16 rally at the iconic Feizieh Seminary in the holy city of Qom would have probably not anticipated such a widespread backlash. Their event was meant to be “a gathering for economic justice” in Iran, with a large banner reading “Clerical community in solidarity with the people.” Little seemed out of the ordinary.
The controversy arose after a photo showed one participant holding a placard that seemed to reflect a threat against President Hassan Rouhani while also raising suspicion surrounding the death of former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani. It read, "Oh you, whose slogan is negotiations, Farah's pool is awaiting you," referring to Rouhani’s rhetoric about the need for “constructive engagement” with the world. Some hard-liners have alleged that Rafsanjani died in a swimming pool on premises previously belonging to the shah’s regime. The reference to Farah is Farah Pahlavi, the widow of late Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. The official line about Rafsanjani is that he died of a heart attack.