Ghadiani: The Supreme Leader Has Spread Corruption Throughout Society

Abdolfaazl Ghadiani, a political prisoner and critic of the Iranian government, has stated that the concentrated and lifelong power of Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, is the cause of widespread corruption in the country. In an article published on the website 'Kalameh' on Wednesday, December 7, he wrote: 'As the economic, political, and social crises in Iran worsen and public opposition to the religious dictatorship, led by Mr. Ali Khamenei, deepens and expands, the security apparatus of the dictatorship, increasingly fearful, seeks only to intensify repression.' Ghadiani added: 'This perpetual fear is the fear of losing power, a usurped power that is intertwined with the tyrant's existence, and separation from it is a nightmare that darkens his vision in broad daylight, prompting him to commit any illegal and unethical acts to maintain this power and fully dominate the nation.' Ghadiani and Rajai: The Guardianship of the Jurist is Incompatible with Republic After the death of Ayatollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic, in June 1989, Ali Khamenei was appointed as the leader of the Islamic Republic and has since been the 'first person' of the Islamic Republic of Iran. In this article, the political prisoner pointed out that 'the root of corruption in this context is the lifelong government,' stating: 'It is no secret that power in this country is concentrated in the hands of the Supreme Leader, who, due to being outside the oversight circle and holding a lifelong position, has spread such corruption throughout the fabric of society. The president, who has passed through the filter of vetting supervision, has such a narrow range of powers that he does not have the authority to appoint or dismiss key ministers in his cabinet, and is at most a logistics officer for the leader's office.' Ghadiani concluded his article by stating that 'the way out is resistance and protest,' asserting: 'If such resistance and protest become widespread, the surrender of the dictatorship to public demands and holding a referendum to change the current system to a secular democratic republic (meaning a system where the institution of religion is separated from the institution of government) will not be out of reach.' In his article, Ghadiani addressed the protests and the situation of political prisoners in the country in 15 instances to explain the 'intensification of the repression atmosphere in recent times.' He strongly criticized the treatment and discrimination against religious minorities, especially the Baha'is and Gonabadi Dervishes. Ghadiani also supported the protests of workers, truck drivers, and teachers. He is one of 15 political and civil activists who last year called for a referendum for a peaceful transition from the Islamic Republic to a parliamentary secular democracy.