Iran News: Internal Strife Grips Clerical Regime Over Exposed Senior Official’s Corruption Scandal
Written by
Mansoureh Galestan
Amidst mounting criticism and internal strife within Iran’s clerical regime, Kazem Sedighi, the temporary leader of Tehran’s Friday prayers, delivered his sermon on April 12, despite growing objections from state media and political figures in the country. This follows the controversy surrounding Sadeghi’s involvement in a recent “land-grabbing scandal.”
The renewed controversy surrounding Sedighi’s leadership emerged against the backdrop of dwindling support and sparse attendance at the weekly gathering, which typically draws regime loyalists. Images shared by Tabnak, a news outlet associated with former IRGC Chief Mohsen Rezaee, showed minimal presence of regime officials and supporters, demonstrating systemic tolerance of negligence and corruption.
Gholamali Jafarzadeh Imenabadi, a former member of parliament, voiced criticism regarding Kazem Sadeghi’s reinstatement to lead the Friday prayers in Tehran following the revelation of his corruption. In an interview with the state-run Ruydad 24 website, he mentioned that some worshippers opted not to participate in the prayer led by Sadeghi and instead chose to pray separately. He characterized Sadeghi’s return as a “mockery of the people.”
In a statement, Mohammad-Ali Abtahi, an advisor to former regime president Mohammad Khatami, condemned Sedighi’s leadership of the sermon, highlighting the regime’s inability to deceive the public, particularly in the era of social media.
Meanwhile, Mohammad Mohahajeri, an editorial board member of the state-run Khabar Online, remarked, “Some believe that inviting Sedighi to lead the Friday prayer sermon violated its sanctity. Was it worth it? Speculation suggests that the Friday prayer headquarters allowed Sedighi’s presence to witness the scant turnout of worshippers and repent for his actions. However, his lack of remorse upon arrival is striking.”
#Iran News in Brief
Calls for Kazem Sadeghi's resignation amplify following his confession to embezzling a staggering 1,000 billion tomans from Ozgol Gardens. Sadeghi, an influential Friday prayer leader in #Tehran, has held high positions in the regime and has been a close… pic.twitter.com/nSqJ3Qss7V— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) March 31, 2024
Trying to distance himself from Sedighi, Mohsen Rezaee stated, “Every official must understand that the position they hold is under constant public scrutiny and judgment, requiring a high level of sensitivity and caution. There is no excuse for errors, and trying to justify transgressions with flimsy excuses or explanations only serves to further mislead public opinion. In today’s age, attempting to deceive the aware Iranian populace is an egregious mistake that cannot be forgiven.”
The state-run newspaper Ham-Mihan described last Friday’s prayer sermon in Tehran as resembling the congregational prayer of an ordinary mosque. It warned against the detrimental impact of such incidents on the entire regime, leading to the dispersal of its dwindling followership.
The controversy surrounding Sedighi’s leadership role coincides with allegations of corruption and land seizure involving substantial sums. Despite claims of forgery regarding his signature on land transfer documents, the Tehran seminary later confirmed Sadeghi’s involvement in the property transfer agreement.
Sedighi, while not directly addressing the land-grabbing allegations, expressed regret over the public outcry, attributing it to a “lapse” that deeply affected the people. He offered apologies to the regime’s Supreme Leader for what he described as “tarnishing the state’s reputation.”
The decision to reinstate Sedighi as the Friday prayer leader has triggered widespread criticism and outrage within regime circles, fearing further societal discontent. The escalating internal discord comes amid ongoing calls by the regime’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei for “unity” and efforts to address the regime’s internal challenges while thwarting external pressures.
Iran News: Internal Strife Grips Clerical Regime Over Exposed Senior Official’s Corruption Scandal