In an article entitled "Solitude of the Leader", the "Jomhoori Eslami" (Islamic Republic) newspaper which is owned by Ayatollah Ali Khameneh’i, angrily observed that the Judiciary, though under the direct control of the leader, "deliberately" ignored his order concerning the case of Dr. Hashem Aqjari, the university professor and a war disabled condemned to death on charges of blasphemy.

Observers noted that it was the same paper that two weeks ago revealed that Mr. Khameneh'i had instructed the Judiciary to "review" the death sentence.

Informed sources had told Iran Press Service that the decision, taken amidst mounting campaign by the students protesting the death sentence, had angered the hard line camp of the ruling conservatives who saw it as having "bowed" to the student.

But Mr. Aqajari had said he would not appeal, for the simple reason that he considers himself as being innocent and does not regard the court that has condemned him to death as competent.

Mr. Nima Rashedan, an Iranian political analyst in Switzerland says Mr. Aqajari "would prefer the gallows rather than allow someone like Mr. Khameneh’i to pardon him".

The ruling surprised every one, above all the reformists who were hoping that the decision, which, in such cases, has the weight of a "State Commandment" and its execution mandatory, would appease the students and end their three weeks-long protest movement before it got out of control.

But observers say the criticism is targeting Ayatollah Mahmood Hashemi-Shahroodi, the Iraqi-born Head of the Judiciary, who, despite the fact that he had been appointed to this position by Mr. Khameneh'i, is now taking the power out of the control of the leader in favour of the radical wing, led by Ayatollah Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, the Chairman of the powerful Expediency Council.

Another fact that confirms the division among the conservatives is that while the paper opposes the controversial death sentence, several Friday preachers, though named by Mr. Khameneh'i, insist on the hanging of the outspoken academic.