Kazem Sedighi, A Khamenei Ally, Exposed to Have Grabbed Billions Worth of Land in Iran’s Capital

Amir2018Taghati4 weeks ago
Kazem Sedighi, A Khamenei Ally, Exposed to Have Grabbed Billions Worth of Land in Iran’s Capital
In a revelation that could have far-reaching socio-political consequences in an impoverished society

Written by
Farid Mahoutchi

In a revelation that could have far-reaching socio-political consequences in an impoverished society, newly leaked documents suggest Kazem Sedighi, the interim Friday prayer leader of the Iranian capital, along with his sons, has purportedly acquired vast stretches of land in the affluent northern district through a family-owned enterprise.

Two decades ago, Sedighi established the Ozgel Seminary on a sprawling 20,000-square-meter plot near Tajrish, Tehran. Much of the land comprising this complex reportedly belonged to the Awqaf Organization and the Municipality of Tehran.

Documents brought to light by state media indicate that Sedighi has allegedly seized a 4,200-square-meter garden adjacent to the seminary. This garden’s land has been registered under the company name “Peyrowan Andishehaye Qaem” [followers of the faith of Shiites 12th Imam] founded on June 4, 2023, by Sedighi and his sons, Mohammad Mehdi and Mohammad Hossein.

According to the disclosed papers, Mohammad Mehdi Sedighi serves as the chairman of the board of directors, with Mohammad Hossein as a board member.

Javad Azizi, the former head of Tehran Municipality’s property department during Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf’s tenure, is purportedly the vice-chairman of the board and a stakeholder in this company. Rezvaneh Ghavami, Sedighi’s daughter-in-law, reportedly oversees the family enterprise as an inspector, while Fazlollah Bigordi, the head of Sedighi’s security team, acts as an alternate inspector.

Just one month after its incorporation, the company allegedly acquired the deed for the 4,200-square-meter land, valued at approximately one trillion tomans, formerly designated as the “Imam Khomeini Seminary.”

Additionally, Sedighi’s sons, along with Hesamoddin Mahdavi Ebrahimi, a close confidant, purportedly serve on the board of directors of “Aria Madan Pargas,” a mining company.

Moreover, Mohammad Hossein Sedighi, alongside Hamid Shakibmehr, the former commander of the Revolutionary Guards in Qom and owner of a prominent hotel, reportedly engaged in the hospitality sector through two companies.

In response to the land-grabbing accusations, Sedighi has denied personal involvement, redirecting blame elsewhere, as per a report in the state-run newspaper Shargh. His claims that “a friend has forged his signature” and exploited his name to acquire the lands have caused a lot of controversy inside Iran.

In his inaugural response, Kazem Sedighi labeled himself a “servant of the revolution” and claimed that the individuals behind the publication of these documents were deliberately aiming to undermine “people’s beliefs.”

Meanwhile, fresh revelations emerged on March 17, exposing Kazem Sedighi and his son Mohammad Mehdi’s direct receipt of one billion tomans in rental income from Hotel Jahan in Mashhad, northeast Iran.

Recent weeks have seen the exposure of confidential documents from Iran’s regime Parliament, shedding light on a stark reality: MPs claiming to champion the people’s interests are themselves pocketing large sums while passing legislation that funnels billions to support the regime’s terrorist agendas abroad.

The new revelation, amidst ongoing sermons decrying poverty and corruption by Friday Prayer Leaders, may not add groundbreaking elements to the Iranian people’s understanding of the ruling elite, but it certainly fuels public indignation and unrest.

Abbas Abdi, a former intelligence interrogator turned “reformist,” criticized Sedighi’s response on social media, suggesting that “the major embezzlement case of the Debsh Tea Company dealt a severe blow to the government’s anti-corruption rhetoric and now the new incident has discredited the Friday prayer sermons for good.”

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