Khamenei Approves Special Court for 'Economic Corruptors' Without Right to Appeal

The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic has agreed to the proposal of the head of the judiciary to establish a special court with three revolutionary court judges to address the cases of 'economic corruptors.' According to this directive from Ayatollah Khamenei, the verdicts issued by this court, except for death sentences, are 'final and enforceable.' This directive contradicts the judicial laws of the Islamic Republic regarding the right to appeal court rulings. Under normal laws, convicted individuals have the right to request an appeal, but Khamenei's directive does not grant such a right to the convicts. In this regard, read: Is the judiciary's 'fear therapy' a show of anti-corruption? Sadegh Larijani, the head of the judiciary, proposed in a letter to the Supreme Leader that branches of the Islamic Revolutionary Court be formed with three judges to handle the cases of 'economic corruptors.' According to this proposal, the court is official with the presence of two members, and 'the verdicts issued, except for death sentences, are final and enforceable,' while 'death sentences can be appealed within a maximum of 10 days in the Supreme Court.' Ayatollah Khamenei also wrote in a letter dated Saturday, August 10, in response to the judiciary head's proposal that 'the proposal is approved. The aim is to ensure that the punishment of economic corruptors is carried out swiftly and fairly. Please ensure the accuracy of the court's rulings.' This directive from Ayatollah Khamenei will be enforceable for two years. According to this proposal, which Ayatollah Khamenei has approved, these courts will be established in Tehran, and the first deputy of the judiciary will send related cases to them. Additionally, all accusations against 'individuals, legal entities, and state and military entities related to the referred case, including direct perpetrators, accomplices, and assistants, will be handled in one branch.' The proposal states that 'any suspension or reduction of punishment for disruptors and economic corruptors is prohibited.' Iran's economy has faced severe turbulence and tensions in recent months following Donald Trump's final decision to withdraw from the JCPOA. The rial has significantly lost value against the dollar, the prices of gold coins and other goods have risen, and a wave of protests has emerged in several cities across Iran. Close associates of the Supreme Leader attribute the country's economic problems not to U.S. sanctions but to the 'weak' performance of the government and, according to them, the 'exploitation by opportunistic individuals.' The head of the judiciary also wrote in his letter to Ayatollah Khamenei that 'the current special economic conditions are considered a type of economic war.' Following a sudden increase in currency prices in Farvardin (March-April) of this year, the police and judiciary announced the arrest of 'currency and gold coin brokers.' These individuals have been arrested while, according to the regulations of the Central Bank of Iran, there are no restrictions on purchasing gold coins, and Iranian laws do not mention any crime related to the buying and selling of foreign currencies. Many analysts have stated that 'security measures,' while they may prevent a short-term increase in currency prices, will have no long-term effect, just as currency prices continued to rise despite 'security measures in the previous government.' Ahmad Iraqchi, the currency deputy of the Central Bank of Iran, is among those who have been arrested in recent weeks. In recent weeks, reports have also emerged regarding 'violations' in the import of mobile phones, cars, and other goods that have been imported with government currency, and judiciary officials have reported the arrest of some individuals in this regard.