Ali Khamenei's Order for Greater Restrictions; Judiciary to Confront Social Media

Ali Khamenei, in a meeting with judges and staff of the judiciary, emphasized his long-standing demand for the restriction and purification of the virtual space and called for the judiciary to confront those who reflect current news and events in Iran in both virtual and non-virtual spaces. In this meeting held on Tuesday, Khamenei stated: 'It is wrong for some individuals to disturb the nerves of the people using virtual or non-virtual spaces, disrupt the mental security of the people, and scare them; this contradicts the revival of public rights. The judiciary must intervene with planning, discipline, and rules.' The Supreme Leader also criticized the external image of the judiciary, saying: 'The media image of the judiciary is not good; this image must be corrected.' Khamenei downplayed corruption within the judiciary, stating: 'There is a small minority that abuses their position; they tarnish the image of the judiciary in the eyes of the people.' In recent years, the judiciary has been a focal point for news regarding corruption, particularly following the discovery of a widespread corruption network within it, revealing further dimensions of ongoing corruption. The indictment of Akbar Tabari, the executive deputy of former judiciary chief Sadegh Larijani, included direct bribes amounting to tens of billions of tomans, including illegal acquisition of 'a 300 square meter land on Karim Khan Street', 'a 1,657 square meter wooded land located in Lavasan', 'an office apartment of 108 square meters in Qeytarieh, Tehran', 'five plots of land and a villa in Babolsar', 'three residential units in the Floray Tower in Farmanieh', and 'three residential apartments in Kamranieh Northern.'