Kazem Sedighi Returns to Friday Prayers Under Ali Khamenei's Authority; Activists React

The introduction of Kazem Sedighi, accused of large-scale land grabbing in northern Tehran, as the "Friday Imam" for this week has faced widespread reactions from activists in Iran. This council, which operates under the supervision of Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, announced on Thursday that the Friday prayers in Tehran will be held under the leadership of Kazem Sedighi on April 13. Meanwhile, the issues of "land grabbing" and "financial corruption" involving Sedighi and his children remain hot topics in media circles. Mohsen Barahani, a "disfavored" law professor, reacted to this news on social media platform X, stating: "A false rumor was spread against the ruler of Egypt. The first Imam of the Shia, respecting public opinion, dismissed him despite the falsehood of the claim. But here, they neither dismiss him nor put him on trial. They don’t even tell him to refrain from delivering sermons for a few weeks." Abdullah Ramazanzadeh, spokesperson for Mohammad Khatami's government, also described Sedighi's return to Friday prayers as "stubbornness against the people," writing on X: "This person illegally registered a 1000 billion tomans garden in his and his family's name, and when exposed, he was forced to return it. In every religion, belief, and law, this act is considered as public asset theft and deserving of punishment, yet in the religion of our rulers, he is made the Friday Imam. They are being stubborn with the people." Ahmad Zeidabadi, a journalist close to the reformist faction, also wrote on his Telegram channel: "If the purpose of inviting Sedighi to lead Friday prayers is to exonerate him from the allegations raised, it is not only ineffective but will be perceived by public opinion as a mockery. Such a decision creates such chaos in people's minds that afterwards, one cannot exonerate an innocent person from unfounded allegations nor can one condemn a guilty person based on credible evidence." Kazem Sedighi, the temporary Friday Imam of Tehran and head of the so-called "Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice" headquarters, previously referred to the reports of his and his children's land grabbing as "enemy-pleasing malice" and claimed that his signature was "forged," asserting that the purpose of these so-called "exposures" was to "discredit the people." However, this cleric close to Ali Khamenei, while continuing to face revelations, accepted some of the accusations and apologized to the "Leader of the Islamic Republic," but deemed all events leading to the acquisition of a 4200 square meter garden in the northern Tehran area of Ozgol as mere "negligence." Investigative report: The budget of the institution headed by Kazem Sedighi is equivalent to the monthly salary of 24,000 workers. New dimensions of the Friday Imam's land grabbing; Sedighi registered the Ozgol garden at 150 times below the regional price in his name. Consequences of land grabbing; social media users demanded judicial action against Kazem Sedighi. Confirmation of the Friday Imam's land grabbing; a seminary: Kazem Sedighi signed the document in the registry office. Support from Raisi's deputy for Sedighi: It is an unfair destruction of a revolutionary figure. Sedighi referred to the exposure of his and his family's "land grabbing" as an "enemy-pleasing malice." Sedighi's reaction to the exposure of his 1000 billion tomans land grabbing: My signature was forged. Exposure of the 1000 billion tomans land grabbing by the Friday Imam of Tehran; transfer of the 4200 square meter garden to Kazem Sedighi and his sons.