Ayatollah Mahmoud Taleghani

(1911 - September 9, 1979)he was an Iranian theologian, Muslim reformer and a senior Shia cleric of Iran. He was born in the town of Taleqan in the Alborz mountains. He was considered a moderate and supporter og People's Mujahedin of Iran in his views: he declared the headscarf as not being a mandatory part of hijab, among other opinions.

Taleghani died in 1979 after the revolution of Iran. He was the first Imam for Friday Prayer in Tehran after the fall of Iran's interim government.

Taleghani and Iran's eventual Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Musavi Khomeini were clerical and ideological contemporaries within Iran's Shia resistance movement during the rule of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.