Continued Saga of 'Saghati'; Director of 'Radio Gilan' Says Authorities Have Targeted His Family

The editor of the Telegram channel 'Radio Gilan' reported on Sunday that 'Gilan intelligence forces' raided the home of his mother and sister. Payman Behboudi, who first published allegations of sexual misconduct against Reza Saghati, the director of the Gilan Cultural Heritage and Islamic Guidance Department, stated that 'Ministry of Intelligence agents have arrested two of his nieces during the raid on his relatives' home.' He also mentioned that despite threats from security agencies, he will not back down from his positions and activities. Behboudi had previously stated that he possesses more images of the 'sexual misconduct' of the dismissed director, which he will publish if necessary. A member of the National Security Commission of the Islamic Consultative Assembly reacted on Sunday to the release of a video showing Reza Saghati in a sexual relationship with a man, calling it 'an insult to the Quran'; however, the Deputy Speaker of Parliament deemed Saghati's dismissal 'hasty' and stated that nothing has yet been 'proven.' The Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance appointed Reza Saghati, a married man with three children, as someone with 'valuable experiences and revolutionary and religious spirit' to head the Gilan Cultural Heritage and Islamic Guidance Department a year and a half ago. Meanwhile, in recent days, the Fars News Agency, affiliated with the Revolutionary Guards, accused actor Mohammad Sadeghi of 'promoting homosexuality' without providing any evidence, while the public relations department of the Gilan Cultural Heritage and Islamic Guidance Department announced that the case of the former director has been sent to the judiciary 'for precise investigation' without any 'prejudice or defamation of individuals' reputation and dignity.' In similar cases where government affiliates have been accused of sexual abuse against individuals and even children, the accused have generally managed to evade judicial punishment. Mohammad Gandamnejad Tusi, known as Saeed Tusi, a Quran reciter close to the leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, was acquitted in 2017 despite several private complaints of 'sexual harassment' against children. A look at the background of Reza Saghati, the dismissed director, whose relationship with a man was filmed, shows reactions to the sexual scandal of the Gilan Cultural Heritage and Islamic Guidance director; a member of parliament called it a 'calamity.' The sexual scandal of a cultural official of the Islamic Republic was investigated 'with the presence of security agencies.' The founder of the 'Chastity and Hijab Workshop' in Gilan was dismissed after reports of a sexual relationship with a young man.