Minister of Culture: Nowhere in the World Are National Assets Damaged Like This

Ali Jannati, the Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance, defended Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani and criticized extremism, stating that he does not believe that anywhere in the world are national assets harmed as they are in Iran. According to ILNA news agency, during a ceremony marking the anniversary of Ayatollah Khomeini's return to Iran, Jannati described Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, the head of the Expediency Council, as one of the 'pillars and assets of the revolution.' In this ceremony, the Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance referred to his and Rafsanjani's past 'struggles' against the regime of Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi, mentioning that due to 'tortures by SAVAK,' he and several others were forced to leave the country in 1975 and went to 'Syria and Palestine.' He added, 'The person who helped us during those years to act against the Shah was Ayatollah Hashemi, who assisted us during his trips to Syria, France, and the USA and was in contact with all activists.' Jannati continued by stating that while Ayatollah Khomeini always emphasized 'unity and integrity' among the people and 'self-discipline' among officials, these 'recommendations' are not being followed, questioning, 'Have we preserved the assets of the revolution? I do not think anywhere in the world are national assets harmed like this.' Conservatives opposed to the government and close to Ayatollah Khamenei have launched severe verbal attacks against Rafsanjani, especially since he announced his candidacy for the Assembly of Experts elections, and these attacks have intensified in recent days following Rafsanjani's defense of Hassan Khomeini's candidacy in the Assembly elections. Concurrently with the Minister's remarks, Rafsanjani himself criticized the Guardian Council's performance in disqualifications, asking, 'Where did they get their qualifications from, and who gave them the right to judge?' Jannati also emphasized the government's desire to provide opportunities for 'all committed and loyal individuals' to be active, stating that the government is striving for 'everyone to be able to write books, write in the press, make films, and produce theater. We must work to open up the space so that loyal and cultured forces remain inside and do not go abroad and to satellite networks.' He expressed regret that 'in recent years, due to the mismanagement of some, we have sidelined our assets; you see that several million Iranian specialists are abroad, and others are utilizing those assets.' The Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance has repeatedly emphasized the government's efforts to 'open up the space,' but attacks by groups described as 'self-directed' against reformist political gatherings, music concerts, and cultural and artistic sessions have continued, and officials in Hassan Rouhani's government say they do not have the ability to deal with them. In one of the latest incidents, Jannati last week also reacted to the attack by some 'self-directed' individuals on Fatemeh Motamed-Arya in Kashan, defending the actress and acknowledging that the government does not have the 'authority' and power to deal with these individuals. However, in an interview published on the Jamarān website on Tuesday, Jannati stated that 'it is surprising and regrettable that a scholar and jurist who also holds the title of representative of the Supreme Leader declares a public mourning due to the presence of a representative of the country's cinema.' He added that 'if such statements are not made by some official figures, self-directed elements would not feel entitled to disrupt sessions, but now they feel they have strong backing if they act this way.' Jannati further urged Friday prayer leaders and representatives of the Supreme Leader to 'be careful in their speeches and not say things that could be exploited by the enemy.' On Sunday, February 4, Motamed-Arya traveled to Kashan to participate in a Q&A session for the film 'Yahya Did Not Remain Silent,' where a group attempted to disrupt the session, but law enforcement prevented it.