Asghar Schirazi is research associate in the Department of Political Science, Middle East Studies Section at the Free University of Berlin.

• Part 1 Contradiction in the constitution of the Islamic Republic: the composition of the constitution; the genesis of the constitution; the clash over velayat-e faqih. Part 2 The suppression of the democratic elements: the power of the leader; the impotence of the people; the suppression of fundamental rights; the power of the clergy. Part 3 The fate of the constitution's Islamic legalist elements: the unavoidable acceptance of laws alien to the shari'a; circumventing the shari'a through the rule of emergency; circumventing the shari'a through secondary contractual conditions; state ordinances; the interests of the ruling system as a standard for legislation; a problematic criterion of legitimacy. Part 4 The crisis of the shari'a: an awareness of crisis; the search for solutions; criticism from outside. Conclusions: the constitution in historical perspective; the real distribution of power; the importance of the people; the separation of the state and religion.