Even during earlier decades, Hussein’s alignment or sympathy with reformist or dissenting figures caused internal rifts. For instance, in 1980, Ayatollah Khomeini reprimanded his grandson Hussein for backing President Banisadr in political disputes. Hussein Khomeini’s importance lies not only in his bloodline but in the fact that a descendant of the founder of the Islamic Republic openly opposes or questions the system. He thus presents a symbolic challenge to the regime’s narrative of religious legitimacy.
Because of his dissent, he is largely sidelined from formal political roles. He has not held major office, and his ability to speak publicly is constrained by the state. By contrast, Hussein’s more radical criticisms place him outside the tolerated spectrum, which limits his political leverage. His critiques resonate with some segments of society disillusioned with clerical rule, and his lineage gives him symbolic weight that many critics lack. But the risks are severe in an authoritarian system: suppression, censorship, even worse.
