The ‘Ayatollah’ opposing US imperialism and Iran’s Islamic ‘regime’ | Mohsen Kadiver | UNAPOLOGETIC

Video Description

In this episode of UNAPOLOGETIC, we speak to Mohsen Kadivar - Iranian scholar, Shia mujtahid, dissident cleric, and former political prisoner - about the Islamic Republic, its origins, and its contradictions. Kadivar offers a rare insider critique of Iran: opposing US imperialism and Israeli aggression, while also challenging the authoritarianism of the Islamic Republic from within Shia theology itself. He traces his own journey - arrested under both the Shah and the Islamic Republic - and explains how the revolutionary promise of freedom, democracy, and justice was only partially realised. We explore the theory of velayat-e faqih (guardianship of the jurist), how it reshaped Iran’s political system, and why Kadivar argues it is only one interpretation among many within Islamic thought. He also reflects on elections, reform movements, repression, and the limits of political freedom in Iran today. Throughout the conversation, Kadivar builds a compelling case for why Muslims - in both majority and minority contexts - should embrace democracy as the most just and viable form of governance for themselves and others. This is conversation takes a deep look into how power, religion, personalities and competing visions of destiny have interacted to make Iran, Iran 00:00 Episode highlights intro 03:00 Arrested by Shah & Republic 09:30 Why Iranians back Iran 13:52 How Iran was shaped 18:27 Inside Shia power structure 23:20 Why Khomeini was popular 27:34 The birth of velayat-e faqih 33:00 Islam, state, and history 38:05 What Khomeini really promised 42:34 The constitution changes everything 47:17 War, crackdowns, survival 52:54 How Khamenei took power 59:14 Writing, prison, reform era 01:03:17 How elections are controlled 01:09:35 Can Iran change system? 01:19:20 What should replace it? 01:30:00 Religion vs modern state 01:36:23 Sharia in today’s world 01:46:00 Gaza, region, consequences 01:52:00 Final reflections Iran Support stories that matter. Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCR0fZh5SBxxMNYdg0VzRFkg/join Catch previous episodes of MEE LIVE, our biweekly news programme exploring the stories shaping our world through breaking coverage, expert analysis, and hard-hitting interviews. Originally airing Tuesdays & Thursdays at 12pm ET | 5pm BST Got a story tip or question? Reach us at [email protected] Subscribe to our channel: http://ow.ly/AVlW30n1OWH Subscribe to MEE Telegram channel to stay up to date: https://t.me/MiddleEastEye_TG Middle East Eye Website: https://middleeasteye.net Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@middleeasteye Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/MiddleEastEye Like us on Facebook: https://facebook.com/MiddleEastEye Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MiddleEastEye