The Luxurious Life of the Children of the Islamic Republic's Elite Under the Microscope of Iranian Users

The revelation of the extravagant wedding ceremony of the son of an Islamic Republic ambassador has sparked public criticism regarding the affluence of the elite's children, especially at a time when the country's population is facing economic hardships. Even before the broadcast of the wedding video of Amir Hossein Moradian, the son of Iran's ambassador to Denmark, and Anashid Hosseini, a model and designer, criticism of this situation was widespread. Apparently, the wedding ceremony was held in the summer of 2017 at a venue in West Tehran, described as one of the 'most luxurious and beautiful' halls in the city. The value of the rial has been declining for a long time, but it has sharply decreased in recent months following Donald Trump's decision to withdraw from the JCPOA and impose new sanctions against Iran. Last year, protests erupted in several Iranian cities against the rising prices of many consumer goods, with some protesters chanting against Ayatollah Khamenei, the leader of Iran. Employment and social and economic issues were among the main topics of the 2017 presidential election, in which the relatively moderate politician Hassan Rouhani was elected president for a second term. Recently, other signs of concern about the worsening situation have emerged, including protests against inflation in Tehran, Isfahan, and Karaj. Images of the wedding ceremony of Amir Hossein Moradian and Anashid Hosseini were broadcast under such circumstances, and critics reacted by estimating, likely unrealistically, that 'billions' of rials were spent. Published photos show that several government officials also attended the ceremony. The popular website Fararu reported that this 'glamorous' wedding takes place while 12 million Iranians of marriageable age cannot afford to get married due to economic problems. For some, this is a sign of increasing injustice and inequality in Iran, and for others, it is an example of abandoning revolutionary values and ideas by government officials. This has once again led to increased criticism of 'Aghazadeh,' a term used by Iranians to describe the children of privileged individuals, who are perceived to benefit from high-level jobs and government contracts due to family connections. A conservative cleric reacted to the publication of the wedding photos, stating that such events could signify the end of clerical rule, which has always promoted simplicity and defended the rights of the poor. Seyyed Mohammad Mahdi Sadr al-Sadat, in an Instagram post addressed to over 200,000 followers, questioned whether the thoughts of Imam (Ayatollah Khomeini) regarding the lifestyle of officials were wrong and superficial. Mr. Sadr al-Sadat, who resides in Qom and advocates for transparency 'without political considerations,' was reportedly one of the first to criticize this wedding ceremony as 'excessive luxury.' He added in another part of his post that in a situation where only a small fraction of Iranians can hold their weddings in 'one of the most luxurious halls in the country' with a 'Mercedes Benz,' how can a government official allow such a ceremony to take place? After Mr. Moradian complained that these images were published without his permission, Mr. Sadr al-Sadat deleted this Instagram post. He further asked, 'Do you not feel responsible? Is this the end of the Islamic Republic?' and quoted Ayatollah Khomeini, stating, 'If government officials live in palaces instead of huts, it will be the end of the Islamic Republic.' Most criticisms have been directed at Anashid Hosseini, who stated in an interview that she wears foreign branded clothes and travels abroad to shop for clothes. She said, 'We really have nothing in Iran, we have no brand.' Many Iranians shared photos from her Instagram page, showcasing her stylish clothes, bags, shoes, and scarves, adding price tags using Photoshop. One user wrote that Anashid Hosseini is a symbol of 'decadence,' especially as she promotes expensive foreign clothing while being a model of Islamic hijab. Saeed Sarraf, a sociology graduate, also tweeted that 'luxury hijab ladies, with a hundred makeup items, are followed by revolutionary youth.' He then referenced an Iranian mathematician who won the Fields Medal, who abandoned hijab and settled in America, stating, 'If Khomeini were alive, I wish he would say whether he thinks more of Maryam Mirzakhani or Seyyed Anashid Hosseini.' State media have also unusually criticized this incident, with a host of a Tehran radio program sharply criticizing rumors about the exorbitant costs of this wedding and Anashid Hosseini's comments about wearing foreign clothes that most Iranians cannot afford. The host pointed out recent reports about a young boy committing suicide in a southern Iranian city due to poverty, asking whether they feel 'ashamed' to see this contradiction. Before the broadcast of his voice was cut off, the host angrily stated, 'You should go die. You have trampled on the blood of martyrs.' In response, Mr. Moradian stated that his son's wedding was held 'according to the customs' of Iranian society and accused Mr. Sadr al-Sadat of spreading false accusations against his family. The bride and groom also denied claims about the exorbitant costs of the wedding, stating that they personally covered the expenses. Anashid Hosseini, meanwhile, claimed that many of the bags shown on her Instagram page are copies and fakes. She stated that her father is not a government official and sees no need to explain her personal life before marriage. In a live video message on Instagram, she said, 'These are all nervous and hollow words about Aghazadehs. But I don't think we are Aghazadehs. Someone who has a car worth 30 to 40 million tomans and lives in a 90-square-meter rented apartment is not an Aghazadeh.' A few months ago, the son of a reformist politician stirred controversy by stating that his success in life is due to 'good genes.' Meanwhile, the wedding incident occurs at a time when it is said that the sons of several politicians have been entrusted with important positions despite lacking experience. Ahmad Naghibzadeh, a sociologist, recently stated in an interview with the Etemad website that 'the publication of such news about the elite in Iran can lead to a loss of public trust. The Islamic Republic is losing its biggest support base, namely the people. The public is developing a very negative view of the elite.' Mahsa Amrabadi, a journalist who was imprisoned after the crackdown on protests following the disputed 2009 presidential election, tweeted, 'I am surprised that there are still people whose minds are preoccupied with principlists and reformists.' She added, 'Reformist Aghazadehs are more visible due to using tools like Instagram and the desire to show off, while principlist Aghazadehs do not display themselves. Otherwise, they swim well too.' Social media has increased public scrutiny or at least open discussions about the lives of the elite's children, some of whom live and study in Western countries, including the United States. Most try to avoid a noisy public life, but some are exceptions. Mohammad Sasha Sabahi, the son of a former Iranian ambassador to Venezuela, is among the few who openly talk about their luxurious lives. Mr. Sabahi, who resides in Dubai, recently told IranWire that he has been financially independent since the age of 15. He added, 'I made good friends in Venezuela. The son of Hugo Chavez, the late president of Venezuela, is one of my close friends. All of this is the result of my own intelligence and has nothing to do with my father's embassy position in Venezuela. My business is my own, but some uncultured Iranians claim that this person has stolen money.'