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Special Clerical Court, or Special Court for Clerics (Persian: ?????? ???? ???????) is an Iranian court for trying Muslim clerics to eliminate rivalrous versions of the clerical regime which could arise and potentially compete with the current version. It was established in 1987[1].
Some of the early controversial trials included the trials of Mohsen Kadivar and Abdollah Noori, both of whom questioned the legality of the court, suggesting it was illegal and unconstitutional. However Iranian Conservatives believe that Iran's Supreme Leader has the power to make new courts if he wishes - they say that according to Iran's Constitution, the Supreme Leader has absolute power, and the constitution represents the least of the powers he is allowed to exercise.
The parallel between the Special Clerical Court and the Star Chamber at the Palace of Westminster is too close to escape notice. The Chamber met in secret, without a jury, wielded arbitrary powers, and dealt severely with opponents of the King who were too powerful for ordinary laws. The message of the Clerical Court was especially chilling in the sense that Musavian [a dissenting mullah] was a stalwart upholder of the régime and the principle of the clergy's right to rule. It would be hard to imagine a step the authorities could take which would cause greater unease and insecurity amongst its supporters.[2]
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