02.2000 - Source: NetIran

NetIran: 1988 reorganized with the aim "to better coordinate the faithful towards ultimate triumph of the pure Mohammadian Islam, the path of the Imam and velayat-e faqih" ("Parties in Iran") [#10625],  [ID 8316]

"Jamiate Moutalefeye Eslami or the Islamic Coalition Association (ICA) is among the old parties in Iran which was formed through the merger of three religious groups in the Tehran Bazaar. The common objective of the three underground groups was campaign against Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the latest shah of Iran and following up the instructions of Imam Khomeini. The ICA considers itself as the first political-ideological group in the contemporary history of Iran, formed under the leadership of velayat-e faqih and supervision and guidance of the clergy away from Western and Eastern partisan patterns. The ICA advocates commitment to emulation (following a mujtahid) in the real and genuine sense of the word. The ICA reduced its activities after the victory of the Islamic Revolution and most of its members joined the (now dissolved) Islamic Republic Party (IRP). But in 1988, it was reorganized with an aim "to better coordinate the faithful towards ultimate triumph of the pure Mohammadian Islam, the path of the Imam and velayat-e faqih."

The ICA Secretary General is Habibollah Asgar-Owladi, a veteran combatant and representative of the Valiye Faqih at the Imam Khomeini Relief Committee. Assadollah Badamchian, Ali Akbar Parvaresh, Saeed Amani, Mohammad Javad Rafiq-Doust, Habibollah Shafiq and Asghar Rokhsefat, all well-known businessmen of Tehran Bazaar, are among the prominent members of the ICA.

The ICA is among the genuine parties in Iran. The party which is composed of the main conservative groups, enjoys full partisan discipline and its branches are active in various parts of the country. During the May 23 Presidential elections, the ICA supported Ali Akbar Nateq Nouri and played an important role in impeachment of two ministers of Khatami's administration, i.e. Abdullah Nouri and Ataollah Mohajerani in the parliament. "Shoma" weekly is the official organ of the ICA."

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