Insulting the Supreme Leader: The mullahs regime’s accusation against of its opponents

Nora Bandari

The Iranian regime continues to use its repressive methods against anyone who opposes it or expresses its opinion internally or externally, and this was illustrated by the Public Prosecution in the province of Khorasan, in northeastern Iran, on December 21, 2019, by pursuing the signatories to a statement issued by 14 political and civil activists, demanding the resignation of the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and the change of the republic’s system

Mullahs concern

According to the Iran International website, the prosecution sent to the court 9 accusations that it directed against the activists, among which were: insulting the leader, disseminating lies, insulting Islamic sanctities, propaganda activities in favor of groups opposing the regime, forming and managing channels with the aim of destabilizing the country, disturbing public opinion, and joining the anti-regime groups.

After publishing the statement of Iranian activists demanding the resignation of Khamenei last August, the security forces arrested a number of those who signed it, and prevented their families from visiting them, and denied detainees access to their lawyers, but this did not prevent 14 activists in the field of women’s rights from issuing a statement.

Likewise, they called upon the masses of people, activists, and thinkers to move away from utilitarian tendencies that led to the destruction of the country’s culture, civilization and wealth, and to be demanders of constitutional amendment and the resignation of the guide. They affirmed that the ruling regime insists on continuing its tyranny as they described the ruling system as an anti-woman system.

They demanded that the constitution be changed, especially Article 177 (regarding mechanisms for changing the constitution that are limited to the will of the guide). They said, “This article has diminished the role of the people who cannot participate freely in choosing the heads of authorities, parliamentarians, and other key institutions in the country.

It is worth noting that when the Iranian constitution was drawn up after the Islamic revolution in 1979. The founder of the revolution, Ruh Allah Khomeini, affirmed the sanctity of the position of the guide, and after the amendment of the 1989 constitution was adopted, his primary function was to preserve Khomeini’s thought, and the guideline’s immunity by claiming that he was “the deputy of the Mahdi”.

Holy position

Ahmed Qabal, a researcher specializing in Iranian affairs at the Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, explains that the leader represents the highest head of authority in the Iranian regime, and the leader’s term is the accurate translation of this position, and the guide is used informally and promoted by Iranian propaganda and advertising. Another indication is to improve the system’s image.

Qabal said in a statement to the Reference that the position of the Iranian guide is a higher position than all three powers (executive, legislative and legal), and according to the Iranian constitution, it may not be removed except through the Assembly of Experts (Council of Guardians), which includes a group of senior religious men, which is the council responsible for monitoring the performance of the guide and removing him or appointing a new guide according to legal and legal controls. According to the constitution, the decision to isolate the guide is only taken after proving his ineligibility.