Rouhani's Strong Criticism of 'Spread of Accusations, Insults, and Narrow-Mindedness'

The President of Iran, Hassan Rouhani, strongly criticized what he described as the 'spread of accusations and insults' and 'narrow-mindedness' in the country's political atmosphere, stating, 'Look at what is happening in society.' He also added that 'some cannot see the greatness and welfare of the nation.' According to the state news agency IRNA, Rouhani emphasized in a speech on Saturday, March 13, that 'some want to speak up, while others are afraid of what they might say, fearing it might insult me, my tribe, my family, or others.' He further remarked, 'Unfortunately, some newspapers are like insult letters. From the very beginning, one opens the newspaper with fear and trembling to see where they have insulted and accused us. Is this Islam and an Islamic society?' Additionally, according to ISNA news agency, Rouhani stated, 'Some cannot see that the eleventh government has been able to accomplish a great task alongside the nation during this time due to their narrow-mindedness.' He emphasized, 'Whether this party or that party, this faction or that faction wins, they are all our brothers; there is no difference.' Rouhani has previously criticized the 'spread of immorality, lies, and accusations' against political figures and groups. The Iranian president also protested against the labeling of the reformists' electoral list as 'English' by some conservatives before the elections held on February 25, considering it a way to 'diminish' the Iranian nation. One day before the elections, the government’s information council requested that the judiciary and the Guardian Council address the 'accusations' and 'slander' made by some parliamentary candidates against the government and 'associates of officials.' Two days before this statement, four members of parliament accused Rouhani's brother, Hossein Fereydoun, of being involved in 'brokerage, especially in the currency sector in previous years' and also 'brokerage' in foreign contracts after the Vienna nuclear agreement. Officials in Rouhani's government have repeatedly criticized the 'lying' and 'slander' against political figures and the government in media and bulletins. For instance, Ali Jannati, Iran's Minister of Culture, criticized the widespread 'lying, breach of trust, backbiting, and unfounded accusations' in Iranian society, stating that 'even our elites, who run the media, easily make unfounded and false accusations against those they have enmity or disagreement with.' Jannati had also mentioned that some bulletins prepared by certain institutions with government funding are 'full of lies.' Mohammad Ali Jafari, the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, previously described the 'cultural and moral situation of society' in Iran as 'very concerning,' stating that 'we have not made progress in these areas.'