Yousef Saanei

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You cannot deliberately kill innocent people.

Grand Ayatollah Yousef Saanei (born 1937) was the first head of the Guardian Council of the Islamic Republic of Iran for 1980–1988. He is currently teaching Qom seminarians and is considered a leading reformist cleric.

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It is my interpretation from the Koran that all people have equal rights. That means men and women, Muslims and non-Muslims too, and in a society where all people have equal rights, that means all people should make decisions equally. ... This doesn't mean that we're changing God's law, It just means we're reinterpreting laws according to the development of science — and the realities of the times.
- As quoted from interviews in Tehran (June 2000), published in Sacred Rage (2001) by Robin Wright, p.280

There is complete consensus on this issue. It is self-evident in Islam that it is prohibited to have nuclear bombs. It is eternal law, because the basic function of these weapons is to kill innocent people. This cannot be reversed … You cannot deliberately kill innocent people.
- As quoted in "Nuclear weapons unholy, Iran says" in SFGate (31 October 2003)

Undue enmity with enemies does not serve the interests of the system. Enemies must be dealt with wisely and prudently.
- Ahmadinejad under fire for making enemies March 2007

The leaders of the Pahlavi regime, in an attempt to forestall the rising tide of the Islamic revolutionary movement, were hard at work to cast doubt on the question of the Imam Khomeini's position as a Marja'a (a top religious authority) and in this way, undermine public faith in his academic, political and religious competence.
- http://www.saanei.org/page.php?pg=showbiography&lang=en&id=13

The Exploitation of Religion Must Be Opposed.
- Human Rights in Iran (2): Persecution of Intellectuals December 2006

Unfortunately, the source of all this conflict between the Sunnis and Shia is some major powers that do not want religious unity amongst Muslims.
- The Women’s Mufti: Interview with Grand Ayatollah Yousef Saanei, Asharq Alawsat, April 2007