Khamenei: People's Criticism of the Leader Does Not Contradict Standing by the System

The leader of the Islamic Republic emphasized that he is aware of the "complaints and grievances of the people" and stated that people may criticize him as well, but this criticism "does not contradict standing by the system." According to the state news agency IRNA, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in a speech on Sunday, February 18, that "people's criticism is not only directed at the government, parliament, and judiciary" and that they may also "criticize the leader of the Islamic Republic," but this criticism "does not contradict standing by the system." He claimed that people, despite their criticisms, "defend the essence of the system with all their being" by distinguishing between the "revolutionary system of the community and leadership" and "bureaucratic organizations." Morteza Kazemian, a journalist and political analyst based in Paris, told Radio Farda, "Although the leader's apparent acceptance of criticism directed at him is significant and thought-provoking, unfortunately, Ayatollah Khamenei's political behavior as the highest authority of the system does not align with his claims. Many political activists (like Ahmad Zeidabadi) have faced security and judicial violence for writing open letters to him." He added, "The house arrest of the leaders of the Green Movement is also tied to Ayatollah Khamenei's intolerance and personal vendetta. Furthermore, while the leader claims to hear criticisms against himself, there are no signs of openness in the political and media space, and he still considers Iran in need of no political development, focusing solely on the economy." In another part of his speech, the leader stated that the Islamic Revolution in Iran has no meaning without the Islamic Republic system and that it is incorrect for some to think that "in the name of the revolution, one should protest and criticize everything and all parts of the Islamic system." He emphasized that "the revolution means the Islamic system, religious democracy, and the community and leadership system must have revolutionary goals and direction." Khamenei's remarks about the distinction between administrative organizations and the Islamic Republic system come as a recent survey in Iran, conducted in light of the nationwide protests in January, showed that "74.8%" of the population is dissatisfied with the country's conditions, and "31%" have lost faith in reforming the Islamic Republic, believing that reform is only possible through fundamental changes. Meanwhile, Hessameddin Ashna, head of the Strategic Studies Center of the Presidency, stated in a meeting presenting the survey results that "people do not easily distinguish between the government and the system" and that it cannot be said that "the government is ineffective but the system is legitimate." Previously, close associates of the leader have repeatedly emphasized that the roots of the January protests were primarily economic issues; a claim that Hassan Rouhani has denied, insisting that protesters also had political, social, and cultural demands. Khamenei's remarks about criticism directed at him come at a time when several political activists have been imprisoned for criticizing the leader in recent years. Some analysts believe that the murder of Ali Akbar Saeedi Sirjani during the serial killings of writers and dissidents in the 1990s was due to his letters to Ayatollah Khamenei, which were not published at the time they were sent to the leader. "We must apologize to the people regarding justice" Khamenei also stated on Sunday that "progress has occurred in all areas, but we must work on justice and apologize to the people and God." He also mentioned that "enemies" are aware of "the achievements of the past four decades, but the nations are not well aware of these achievements," and officials must "practically and artistically, not with exaggeration or merely verbal reports, convey the various advancements of the country." In another part of his speech, he labeled "the elitism and privilege-seeking of officials," "carelessness towards public assets," and "indifference to the underprivileged class" as "anti-revolutionary actions" and stated that "all organizations of the system must move towards the goals of the revolution with this perspective." Ten days ago, Khamenei also referred to the protests in over 100 cities in Iran, stating that "the people's words are complaints about corruption and discrimination." He also called for a "tougher and more serious" response to oppression and corruption among government officials, adding that "the fight against oppression and corruption is very difficult." However, after the onset of street protests in Iran, he labeled these protests as a "counterattack by foreign enemies" and claimed that a "wealthy government" in the region funded these gatherings. Morteza Kazemian believes that "while Ayatollah Khamenei speaks of the necessity of pursuing justice, a significant part of the country's economy is under his control or the institutions and organizations subordinate to the leadership of the system. He does not show accountability regarding these institutions and only criticizes the governments. Furthermore, the head of the judiciary is also appointed by the leader of the system; an institution that could play an effective role in fighting corruption and achieving justice but lacks the necessary independence, fairness, and courage." This journalist and political analyst points out: "One leg of the fight against corruption and injustice is the freedom of critics, journalists, and elites; a situation that is currently absent in Iran, and the political repression and threats against independent media and political groups have become a cause for the reproduction of corruption and injustice, and the dominance of government agencies (especially those related to security and ideological institutions)." Previously, Ahmad Tavakoli, a former member of parliament, and Mahmoud Sadqi, a member of parliament, have stated that corruption in government institutions in Iran has reached a stage of "systematic corruption" and that "the responsible institutions for fighting corruption have also become afflicted with degrees of corruption." However, Ayatollah Sadegh Larijani, head of the judiciary, and Ali Larijani, head of parliament, have rejected these statements. Meanwhile, in the latest report by Transparency International, Iran ranked 131st out of 178 countries surveyed in terms of corruption. Transparency International assessed the Islamic Republic as significantly more corrupt than some countries in the region, ranking Iran 113 places more corrupt than the United Arab Emirates, 56 places more corrupt than Turkey, and 23 places more corrupt than Egypt. Additionally, previous reports have also highlighted financial corruption among senior officials of the Islamic Republic, including Fazel Larijani, brother of the heads of the judiciary and parliament, Hossein Fereydoun, brother of the president, and several close associates of former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. A report by the seventh parliament's investigation into the judiciary also indicated widespread corruption within this institution.