Hadi Khamenei

In the 1990s, Hadi Khamenei spoke at seminaries across Iran and launched a reformist newspaper to provide alternative coverage to the state media. In late 1990s, hard-line opponents of the reform movement, organized a campaign targeted at him, by physically attacking him during lectures which were critical of the hard-line leadership, (he required hospitalization for head injuries suffered at a Qom mosque), banning his newspaper, disqualifying him from running for the Assembly of Experts.^[13] On 11 February 1999, around one hundred people attacked Hadi Khamenei in Qom.^[14] The attackers fractured his skull.^[15] The mob used "stones, sticks, iron rods and shoes" to attack Khamenei.^[14] The Iranian police arrested 45 people who were suspected to be involved in the attack.^[15]

The editors of the newspapers Salam, Khordad, Sobh-i Imruz, Hamshahri, Akhbar, Iran, Etelaat, Iran News, Zan, Arya, and Kar va Kargar signed a letter condemning the attack on Hadi Khamenei.^[16] The Ministry of Islamic Guidance and Culture and the "Society of Lecturers and Researchers at Qom's Theological Seminary" also condemned the attack.^[16]

Some conservatives blamed Khamenei for the attack. The member of the Iranian Parliament Rajab Rahmani argued that Hadi Khamenei staged the attack to get attention and pity.^[16] Mohammad Mohajeri of the Kayhan newspaper suggested that Hadi Khamenei's comments were "the root cause of violence."^[16]

Khamenei was the publisher of various newspapers, including Hayat-e-No.^[17] The Special Court for the Clergy, a tribunal appointed by the Supreme Leader, accused Hayat-e-No of "press offenses."^[18] The newspaper was accused of insulting Ruhollah Khomeini in a cartoon. In parliament, Hadi Khamenei said that he would have rather died than be accused of insulting the imam.^[19] The Special Court for Clergy temporarily banned Hayat-e No in January 2000.^[20] According to the Guardian, Hayat-e No is a reliable paper.^[21] Financial Times stated that Hayat-e No was a pro-reform daily.^[22] The paper was banned in December 2009 by the Press Supervisory Board "for working outside the regulations".^[23]

Hadi Khamenei's other newspaper, Jahan-e Islam, was shut down in 1995. The newspaper was accused of insulting Islamic beliefs and publishing false information.^[5][6] According to The New York Times, Jahan-e Islam was a moderate daily.^[3] However, in 1995, The New York Times characterized Jahan-e Islam, as a "hard-line Islamic newspaper."^[24]