Criticism of the Supreme Leader is Destruction 'Insult', but Criticism of the President is Good

Encouraging criticism, being receptive to criticism, and increasing tolerance towards opponents by Ayatollah Khamenei is commendable. He requested Hassan Rouhani twice during the swearing-in ceremony and the first meeting with the new cabinet to raise his tolerance towards opponents and be open to criticism. This demand and encouragement sparked many reactions and questions. Firstly: What is the status of opponents and critics in the Islamic Republic? What level of freedom of expression and security do they enjoy? Secondly: Does Ayatollah Khamenei's statement about increasing capacity and tolerance towards opponents and critics only apply to the executive branch or does it encompass all branches? Can the leadership - Ayatollah Khamenei - also be criticized and asked to increase his tolerance towards opponents? Is receptiveness to criticism only applicable to elected institutions or does it also include appointed institutions? In elected institutions, does it only include presidents who are at odds with the leadership or does it also include presidents aligned with the leadership? Khamenei uses the term criticism in a specific sense. Firstly: He distinguishes between criticism and destruction, attack, and fault-finding. He states that many critics are 'not receptive to criticism themselves! If someone says why you talk so much and why you only see faults, why do you sit like a fly only on wounds, you should also see the positives, they dislike it.' Secondly: Criticism means simultaneously evaluating the positive and negative performance of an official or institution. Thirdly: Criticism should be aimed at reform. Fourthly: Criticism must be within the framework of the principles of the revolution, Islam, the constitution, the Imam, etc. Fifthly: Opponents who do not disrupt public security, do not resort to violence, do not oppose the foundations of the regime, and do not spread lies and rumors are free. Regarding which individuals and institutions criticism is directed, the record of the Islamic Republic over nearly 39 years is before all, and judging the observance or non-observance of freedom of expression has not been and is not particularly difficult. Propaganda against the regime can lead to up to one year in prison. Insulting the leadership can lead to six months to two years in prison. If we ignore the essence of these two crimes and focus solely on their instances - that is, the statements for which individuals have been condemned - we will see that criticism of the Islamic Republic or some of its institutions and the leadership has been considered propaganda against the regime and insulting the leadership and has been punished. This writing solely reflects Ayatollah Khamenei's views in this regard. Firstly - Criticism of the leadership: Ali Khamenei considers the slightest criticism and difference of opinion with himself as treason. He believes that we are still in the era of the revolution, and if someone believes otherwise, they have committed treason. Ayatollah Khamenei has never encouraged criticism of the leadership - meaning himself. In a student Q&A session on February 23, 1999, in response to a student's question about the impossibility of criticizing the leadership, he differentiated criticism from fault-finding, saying: 'You say why no one criticizes the leadership! Firstly, what benefit is there in fault-finding against the leadership? A leadership that in the Islamic Republic must be able to inspire people to sacrifice at a dangerous and sensitive moment, is it beneficial for someone to stand up and, without right or cause, speak ill of him? Is this a very good thing in your opinion? This is bad; it is better that it does not spread.' Therefore, criticism of the leadership is bad and should not occur. However, Khamenei reminded that, firstly: he is open to dialogue and listening to criticism, and in various meetings he holds with different groups, he hears and responds to criticisms. Secondly: In free Iran, books have been published criticizing and denying the guardianship of the jurist with government permission. Even in those books, the principle of the guardianship of the jurist has been distorted to mean guardianship over minors and the incompetent so that they can easily reject it. At the same time, the authors denying the guardianship of the jurist have faced no punishment. Thirdly: He does not fully agree with the performance of the regime's officials and criticizes them in private meetings. Fourthly: In the leadership domain, if he finds someone guilty, he acts without leniency. Fifthly: Regarding appointed institutions (Judiciary, Broadcasting, Foundation of the Oppressed, etc.), one can only ask the leader: Was there no better person to replace this official? But regarding the wrongful performance of appointed institutions, the leader cannot be questioned or criticized. Ayatollah Khamenei, on November 6, 2009, was again questioned about the impossibility of criticism of the leadership by some elites. In response, he said: 'What they said about not criticizing the leadership, you go tell them to criticize. We never said that no one should criticize us; we have no objection. I welcome criticism; I welcome criticism. Of course, criticism does happen. Now is not the time to explain; there is plenty of criticism, it is not little; I also receive it, understand it, and comprehend the criticisms.' To what extent does this claim align with reality? Do not Friday prayer leaders, military personnel, and leaders of the judiciary constantly label those at odds with the leadership as infiltrators of enemies? Ayatollah Khamenei considers the slightest criticism and difference of opinion with himself as treason. He believes that we are still in the era of the revolution, and if someone believes otherwise, they have committed treason. On September 6, 2017, he told clerics: 'The revolution continues. The fact that some convey this idea, write and say that 'well, the revolution was an event, it is over; let us return to normal life,' is treason to the revolution; the revolution does not end.' He is completely opposed to the cultural policies and actions of Hassan Rouhani's government. For this reason, he even boycotted the Tehran International Book Fair and did not participate. He coined the term 'cultural laxity' for Rouhani's government. Consider the following three examples: a- Khamenei said on March 21, 2014: 'Freedom is not the same as laxity; freedom is not the same as releasing all regulations... How can they expect us to ignore the ideological and revolutionary red lines of our country and our youth? If someone targets the spirit of national independence and wants to theorize dependency, mock independence, and undermine the hearts of young people for independent living, we cannot remain indifferent to him; we must react. One insults the moral and religious necessities of society... Those who undermine Islamic foundations in minds, those who seriously attack the main slogans of the revolution, those who devalue the family institution and portray marriage as meaningless... we cannot remain indifferent to these.' b- Khamenei told members of parliament on June 5, 2016: 'In cultural matters, I feel a laxity... No one dares to say that a certain type of film or book or video game is harmful for fear of being accused of blocking freedom of information and the free flow of information... As soon as a film is banned or, for example, a video game is limited or banned, they immediately raise a fuss, we also believe it; we also believe that we have made a mistake. No, we must be careful! Our duty is to produce useful cultural goods and prevent harmful cultural goods. I feel a laxity in this regard.' c- Khamenei told members of Hassan Rouhani's cabinet on August 25, 2016: 'Free thinking is different from laxity, it is different from allowing the enemy to use the corridor of free thinking and free action to strike at [the country]... Suppose a theater or a film is produced that undermines the faith of these young people; is this good? Is this something that one should not feel threatened by? ... Suppose there is a cultural figure who has devoted his entire life to the revolution, and there is another cultural figure who has always attacked the revolution; how do you behave with these two? ... If we do not pay attention to these points and, due to the atmosphere, go after, for example, someone who is fundamentally opposed to the Islamic revolution and the Islamic government and the Islamic system, this is contrary to a wise cultural movement.' Secondly - Criticism of appointed institutions: Criticism of the Guardian Council, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Basij, the Judiciary, the Assembly of Experts, the Expediency Discernment Council, the Supreme Cultural Revolution Council, the management of seminaries, the Society of Teachers of Qom Seminary, etc.; is at least considered an enemy conspiracy. For example, consider Ayatollah Khamenei's remarks about criticism of the Guardian Council: Khamenei defended the Guardian Council on May 17, 1999, saying that unfounded attacks on the Guardian Council's 'supervisory oversight' are made so that the enemy can infiltrate the Islamic and Imam's oppositional elements into the parliament, government, and system. He considered the critics' criticisms of the supervisory oversight as a psychological war designed by the enemy. The Guardian Council disqualified over two thousand candidates for the seventh parliamentary elections. Many reformist representatives of the sixth parliament were among them. The reformists of the sixth parliament staged a sit-in, and Mehdi Karroubi (the Speaker of Parliament) and Mohammad Khatami (the President) went to meet Khamenei and expressed their protest. The Ministry of Interior was under pressure not to hold the elections. Khamenei, on January 13, 2004, in a meeting with members of the Guardian Council regarding widespread disqualifications, said: 'What comes to my mind regarding the issue of qualification is that it is the duty of the Guardian Council to ascertain qualifications, and it must ascertain qualifications... I certainly do not recommend that anyone yield to individuals [the representatives of the sixth parliament] who want to act arrogantly against the law; I told both the gentlemen and some of those [Karroubi and Khatami] who came to complain to us... Individuals who have a loud voice and everyone hears their voice... are not important.' Khamenei, on the eve of the 2013 presidential elections, defended the Guardian Council on May 7, 2013, saying: 'The fact that some people are protesting here and there is really illogical; it is really out of place. The presence of the Guardian Council in the constitution is truly a blessed presence. The Guardian Council's determination is the determination of a group of just, impartial, and insightful people regarding qualifications; this is a blessed thing for us and for all people.' Khamenei said on February 17, 2016, that undermining the actions of the Guardian Council and destroying the Guardian Council is America's program from the beginning of the revolution to shut down the legislative bodies of the Islamic Republic. Because if the decisions of the Guardian Council become illegal, the elections, parliaments, and governments will be illegal. Internal forces have also unwittingly or out of treason joined this program. He said: 'One of the things they are pursuing seriously today is to destroy the Guardian Council... The meaning of destroying the Guardian Council is this, and the enemy wants this. Of course, those who resonate with the enemy inside are mostly unaware of what they are doing. I do not accuse anyone of treason; they are unaware... Destroying the Guardian Council, questioning the Guardian Council, and saying that their decisions are against the law.' Khamenei elaborated on this issue again on March 10, 2016, during a meeting with members of the Assembly of Experts, saying that he was complaining about individuals who, unwittingly and unknowingly following the enemy, 'point out some flaws in the Guardian Council.' They 'criticize the qualifications,' while in all countries, qualification for responsibilities is common. 'Why is the Guardian Council attacked so much... I am surprised that some begin to write in newspapers and elsewhere against the Guardian Council, asking why you disqualified us; we were qualified... The Guardian Council cannot be destroyed... One of the few important centers that from the beginning of the revolution, the devilish propaganda apparatus of the Zionists and Americans has tried to destroy is the Guardian Council. We should not help and destroy the Guardian Council because of this [disqualification]... Slandering the Guardian Council is truly an un-Islamic, un-Sharia, illegal, and anti-revolutionary act.' Khamenei said on January 9, 2017: 'The enemy seeks to weaken the institutions and entities that are symbols of the country's power and the nation's power. You see that the IRGC, Basij, and the Guardian Council are attacked.' Khamenei has always considered criticism of the Judiciary, the IRGC, Basij, etc., as a conspiracy of America and Israel. For example, after Ayatollah Khamenei's speech at the beginning of 2000, in which he called the press 'the enemy's base' and demanded the Judiciary to deal with them, the Judiciary shut down about a hundred media outlets and imprisoned many honest journalists. The representatives of the sixth parliament also protested this trend. Ayatollah Khamenei, on September 7, 2000, during a meeting with Khatami's cabinet members, addressed this issue and warned: 'If someone does not trust a judicial ruling, they should not destroy the Judiciary. The worst behavior with the Judiciary of a country is to question and insult the entire Judiciary and justice system because of disliking the issuance and execution of one ruling out of hundreds and thousands of rulings. One person does not accept one ruling, another does not accept a third ruling; this does not justify insult. Insulting and destroying and unjustly questioning the legislative branch - whether the parliament or the Guardian Council, which is part of the legislative branch - is against the interests of the nation and ungrateful to the people's vote.' Ayatollah Khamenei, on March 2, 2001, told students who criticized the Judiciary and courts...