Mahmoud Sadeghi: Saeed Tusi, the 'Quranic Child Abuser,' has been acquitted

Mahmoud Sadeghi, a member of parliament, stated on Friday, January 26, that Saeed Tusi, a famous Quran reciter in Iran, has been acquitted of charges of child sexual abuse. Sadeghi reported on his Twitter account that 'Branch 56 of the Tehran Court of Appeals, without the signature of the head of the court, overturned the four-year prison sentence against the voice and tone instructor based on the votes of two advisors from another branch; the documents of the case indicate clear influence in the judicial process. The case had been held by the Director General of Justice for about two years.' This parliament member added: 'The ruling of the temporary advisors of Branch 56 of the Tehran Criminal Court of Appeals to acquit the Quranic child abuser shows that the judiciary has heard the people's protests well.' Mahmoud Sadeghi emphasized: 'There are indications that the Quranic child abuser is supported by individuals who have influence in the office of the Supreme Leader.' This comes as Iranian judicial officials had previously denied any influence in Saeed Tusi's case. Saeed Tusi is a prominent Quran reciter in Iran whose recitations are significant in the presence of the Supreme Leader and at governmental ceremonies such as the opening of the Islamic Consultative Assembly. Meanwhile, several of his students have claimed that Tusi sexually assaulted or abused them in recent years. However, reports indicate influence and a halt in pursuing this case. The judiciary spokesperson also announced that a decision of non-prosecution was issued for him regarding the complaint of 'immoral acts,' but investigations continue regarding 'encouragement of corruption.' In this context, Sadegh Larijani, the head of the judiciary, denied any influence from judicial officials and the office of the leadership in this case and criticized the media coverage of it. Naser Makarem Shirazi, a Shia cleric in Qom, also recently criticized what he called 'rumor-mongering and spreading' and the reports from foreign media regarding this case. In October of this year, Saeed Tusi denied the accusations against him, stating that opponents of the Islamic Republic have made him a 'tool for insulting' the leader of Iran. Tusi is a well-known reciter who performs in official programs of the Islamic Republic, including those of the office of the Supreme Leader. Earlier, Radio Farda had reported on the background of the investigator of Saeed Tusi's case, Reza Kian Manesh Rad. Kian Manesh Rad had called for the case against Tusi to be closed, while he had previously requested heavy sentences for internet defendants, including Saeed Malekpour, who was arrested by the Revolutionary Guards in projects titled 'Gordab' and 'Mudalinin.' Besides Saeed Malekpour, some other internet defendants who were investigated by Kian Manesh Rad, including Hassan Siseh Khati, were sentenced to death, which was eventually overturned. Other internet activists like Hossein Ronaghi Maleki and Abolfazl Abedini, who were also investigated by him, received lengthy prison sentences of over 10 years.