Editing Theocracy (section)

==== Iran ====
[[File:جوان پیشرو، دلیل امید.jpg|thumb|500px|[[Supreme Leader of Iran|Supreme Leader]] [[Ali Khamenei]] propaganda poster]]
[[Iran]] has been described as a "theocratic republic" by various sources,<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tzUlDwAAQBAJ&dq=%22theocratic+republic%22+%22iran%22&pg=PA27 |title=Iran: Stuck in Transition (The Contemporary Middle East)|via=Routledge |date=2017 |isbn=978-1-351-98545-1 |last1=Ehteshami |first1=Anoushiravan |publisher=Taylor & Francis }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nyUMNew7j70C&dq=%22theocratic+republic%22+%22iran%22&pg=PA137 |title=Iran|via=Benchmark Books|date=2004 |isbn=978-0-7614-1665-4 |last1=Rajendra |first1=Vijeya |last2=Kaplan |first2=Gisela T. |last3=Rajendra |first3=Rudi |publisher=Marshall Cavendish }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=05GNDwAAQBAJ&dq=%22theocratic+republic%22+%22iran%22&pg=PA195|title=Iran and the West : cultural perceptions from the Sasanian Empire to the Islamic Republic|via=Benchmark Books|date=2018 |isbn=978-1-83860-876-7 |last1=Whiskin |first1=Margaux |last2=Bagot |first2=David |publisher=Bloomsbury }}</ref> including the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] [[The World Factbook|World Factbook]].<ref name="wfbiran">{{cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/iran/ |title=CIA World Factbook – Iran |publisher=[[CIA]] |access-date=2009-08-10 |archive-date=2021-01-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210110162554/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/iran |url-status=live }}</ref>  Its constitution has been described as a "hybrid" of "theocratic and democratic elements" by [[Francis Fukuyama]].<ref>While articles One and Two vest sovereignty in God, article six "mandates popular elections for the presidency and the Majlis, or parliament." source: [https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052970203946904574300374086282670 July 27, 2009, "Iran, Islam and the Rule of Law". Francis Fukuyama] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150102204314/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052970203946904574300374086282670 |date=January 2, 2015 }}</ref> Like other Islamic states, it maintains religious laws and has religious courts to interpret all aspects of law. According to Iran's constitution, "all civil, penal, financial, economic, administrative, cultural, military, political, and other laws and regulations must be based on Islamic criteria."<ref name=servat>{{cite web |title=Iran – Constitution |url=http://www.servat.unibe.ch/icl/ir00000_.html |publisher=International Constitutional Law (ICL) |access-date=21 April 2015 |date=24 October 1979 |archive-date=21 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180821093931/http://www.servat.unibe.ch/icl/ir00000_.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In addition, Iran has a religious ruler and many religious officials in powerful governmental positions. The head of state, or "[[Supreme Leader of Iran|Supreme Leader]]", is a ''[[faqih]]'' (scholar of Islamic law)<ref>article 109 of the constitution states that among the "essential qualifications and conditions for the Leader" are "scholarship, as required for performing the functions of mufti in different fields of fiqh" [http://www.iranonline.com/iran/iran-info/government/constitution-8.html Chapter 8 – The Leader or Leadership Council] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101123063337/http://www.iranonline.com/iran/iran-info/Government/constitution-8.html |date=2010-11-23 }} Constitution of Iran</ref> and has more power than [[President of Iran|the president of Iran]]. Iran's current Supreme Leader is [[Ali Khamenei]], a role he has held since 1989. The Leader appoints the heads of many powerful governmental positions: the commanders of [[Military of Iran|the armed forces]], the director of the [[Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting|national radio and television network]], the heads of powerful [[Bonyad|major religious and economic foundations]], the [[Chief Justice of Iran|chief justice of Iran]], the attorney general (indirectly through the chief justice), special tribunals, and members of [[Supreme National Security Council|the supreme national security council]] who are dealing with defense and foreign affairs. He also co-appoints the 12 jurists of the [[Guardian Council]].<ref name="who">"Who's in Charge?" by Ervand Abrahamian ''London Review of Books'', 6 November 2008</ref>

The Leader is elected by the [[Assembly of Experts]]<ref name="wfbiran"/><ref>[[Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran]], [http://www.iranonline.com/iran/iran-info/government/constitution-8.html ''Articles 107–112''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101123063337/http://www.iranonline.com/iran/iran-info/Government/constitution-8.html |date=2010-11-23 }}.</ref> which is made up of [[Ijtihad|mujtahids]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dur.ac.uk/resources/iranian.studies/Policy%20Brief%201.pdf |archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20070630133328/http://www.dur.ac.uk/resources/iranian.studies/Policy%20Brief%201.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=2007-06-30 |title=Understanding Iran's Assembly of Experts |access-date=2012-07-28 }}</ref> who are Islamic scholars competent in interpreting ''[[Sharia]]''. The [[Guardian Council]], has the power to reject bills passed by [[Islamic Consultative Assembly|the Parliament]]. It can also approve or reject candidates who want to run for the Presidency, Parliament, and the Assembly of Experts. The council supervises elections, and can allow or ban investigations into elections.<ref name="wfbiran"/> Six of the twelve council members are [[Faqīh|faqih]] and have the power to approve or reject all bills passed by [[Islamic Consultative Assembly|the Parliament]], whether the faqih believes that the bill is in accordance with Islamic laws and customs (''Sharia'') or not. The other six members are lawyers appointed by the chief justice, who is a cleric and appointed by the Leader.<ref>[http://www.iranonline.com/iran/iran-info/government/constitution-11.html Constitution of Iran] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080410013835/http://www.iranonline.com/iran/iran-info/Government/constitution-11.html |date=2008-04-10 }}, Article 157:
''In order to fulfill the responsibilities of the judiciary power in all the matters concerning judiciary, administrative and executive areas, the Leader shall appoint a just Mujtahid well versed in judiciary affairs and possessing prudence, and administrative abilities''</ref>