Confirmation of Land Grabbing by Tehran's Friday Prayer Leader; A Seminary: Kazem Sediqi Signed the Document in the Notary Office

The Khomeini Seminary confirmed that the transfer of the land deed of the Ozgol garden to Kazem Sediqi's company and his sons was done "by Sediqi himself in the presence of a notary" following his claim of "forgery of his signature." The seminary emphasized that upon becoming aware of the violations, an "order to return the land to the seminary" was issued. According to a letter published in some domestic media, including the newspaper "Ham-Mihan" and the website "Eghtesad 24," the seminary acknowledged the essence of the news, stating: "There were some formal issues that have been resolved." Journalist Yashar Soltani published this statement on Friday, April 2, which stated that Kazem Sediqi "trusted" a person who was tasked with registering the institution and "in the presence of a notary, transferred a part of the seminary's land to the mentioned institution and signed it." According to this statement, Kazem Sediqi "has intended to establish a cultural and educational complex for cultural activities and attracting teenagers under the seminary since 2003. For this purpose, registering a cultural and educational institution affiliated with the seminary was planned to enable the benefits of educational institutions." The seminary's statement noted that due to "lack of conditions and facilities," this issue was delayed until November 2023, claiming that "a person who had been trustworthy to the seminary for years and had served the seminary was tasked with the work, but during the process of registering the statute, the signature of the respected custodian and some other members was forged, and a statute titled non-commercial but with commercial duties and shares of real individuals was prepared and registered for this institution." However, the statement emphasized: "After the registration of the mentioned institution under the title 'Non-commercial Institute of Followers of the Thoughts of Qaem,' the custodian of the seminary [Kazem Sediqi] trusted the mentioned individual in preparing the statute based on the agreements and defined policies, and in the presence of a notary, transferred a part of the seminary's land to the mentioned institution and signed it." The seminary announced that currently "the mentioned property is fully under the control of this seminary" and claimed that "after becoming aware of the violations, an order to return the land to the seminary was issued, and the administrative steps are underway, and after finalization, it will be announced." Kazem Sediqi, the temporary Friday prayer leader of Tehran and head of the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice Headquarters, after the land grabbing issue was exposed, called the report "an enemy-pleasing malice" and claimed that his signature was "forged," asserting that the purpose of these "disturbances and disclosures is to discredit the people." Previously, Yashar Soltani had uncovered a land grabbing case at the "Imam Khomeini Seminary," according to which the ownership of a 4,200-square-meter garden valued at approximately "one trillion tomans" was transferred to a company owned by Kazem Sediqi and his relatives. The exposure of multiple corruption cases involving Islamic Republic officials and their affiliates comes at a time when daily protests by various sectors, retirees, and workers in Iran are ongoing, with protesters chanting against "poverty and corruption."