Late Rafsanjani one of key figures in Islamic Revolution: Sunni cleric

Ayatollah Hashemi-Rafsanjani passed away on January 8 at the age of 82 after having an acute heart attack.

Born on August 25, 1934, the influential Iranian politician and writer was the fourth president of the Islamic Republic, serving from 1989 to 1997.

The Iranian Sunni cleric added that Ayatollah Hashemi-Rafsanjani strived hard and suffered greatly both before the victory of the 1979 Islamic Revolution and during the era of the Shah and after the formation of the Revolution and after the victory of the Revolution.

Molavi Salami pointed out that Ayatollah Hashemi-Rafsanjani is considered one of the key figures in the Islamic Revolution and added that the fact that he played prominent role in the Revolution during all eras has been evident for people both inside and outside the country.

He said the immense dimensions of the character of the Chairman of the Expediency Council are many and his patience and forgiveness can be considered as his most important characteristics.

He added that Ayatollah Hashemi-Rafsanjani had excellent thinking and opinions that had made him very distinct.

Molavi Salami spoke of Ayatollah Hashemi-Rafsanjani’s kindness and cooperation with the late founder of the Islamic Revolution, Imam Khomeini, and the Islamic Revolution and said, “This valuable personality has always sympathetic toward the people, the government and the Revolution.”