given the paragraph:

"The demands of the people for reform are increasing, while the hopes for changing the system by conventional methods has been reduced," Razavifaghee said in an interview following his speech to student demonstrators. The hard-line regime is also feeling pressure on its western and eastern flanks from the U.S. military presence in Afghanistan and a possible war against Iraq.

As I see it, the professor didn't say anything against Islam but rather against Islam being solely defined by the senior clerics. If the Iranian people decide that the clerics are not the final authority on Islam (or anything else), then the clerics' days are numbered. That's why they sentenced him to death.

That professor has major league stones. How many people would literally be willing to be executed for thier beliefs?