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Ebrahim Raisi, the Head of Iran’s Judiciary, debated a student at Tehran University in a video that was published by SNN.ir (Iran) on December 7, 2019. The student, who described himself as a believing Shiite who dislikes the West, argued that the posters of Imam Khomeini and Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei should be replaced with the slogan: “Justice is the foundation of governance.” He pointed out that before the Islamic Revolution, posters of the Shah had also been publicly displayed. The student also complained about Supreme Leader Khamenei, arguing that he should be accountable to the public, that he is more removed from the public than Ali bin Abu Talib had been, and that Iran’s government should be transparent. In addition, the student said that there should be a general assembly that represents the public proportionally. Raisi responded that the difference between the Shah and Iran’s Supreme Leaders is that the Shah was a tyrant and that Khomeini and Khamenei are the manifestations of the word of God. He also rebutted with a claim that Supreme Leader Khamenei is sufficiently accountable and that he is a very popular leader. Members of the audience chanted: “You are my spirit, Khomeini! You shatter the idols, Khomeini!”
Ebrahim Raisi: Go ahead, sir.
Student: In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful. Please forgive me for coming here and talking nonsense.
Ebrahim Raisi: No, no. Say correct things…
Student: I am also nervous. I am a Muslim. In general, I do not believe in the West’s humanities and natural sciences. I study all of them, but I do not believe in them. I will try to quote the Emir of the Believers [Ali bin Abu Taleb] and the Quran, in ways that serve the Islamic nation. In addition, I dislike the West and all that.
Ebrahim Raisi: On that we agree.
[…]
Student: I say that if we adhere to the Emir of the Believers, we must remove the posters of Imam Khomeini and the Leader [Khamenei]. People used [to hang posters] of the Shah. This is a simple thing, but it is what the public sees. We should remove those posters and hang instead [the slogan]: “Justice is the foundation of governance.”
Ebrahim Raisi: No problem. [Khomeini and Khamenei] agree that justice is the foundation of governance.
This is what the Imam taught us.
Applause and cheers from the crowd
Student: Mr. Raisi, it’s inconceivable that the regime has changed while the old patterns remain the same –we remove posters of the Shah and replace them with posters of the Imam.
Ebrahim Raisi: Sir, the Shah was a tyrant, whereas the Imam delivers the words of God. The Leader [Khamenei] delivers the words of God.
Applause and cheers from the crowd
Crowd chants: You are my spirit, Khomeini! You shatter the idols, Khomeini!
You are my spirit, Khomeini! You shatter the idols, Khomeini!
You are my spirit, Khomeini! You shatter the idols, Khomeini!
Student: With regard to the Emir of the Believers, I… No problem. If he delivers the words of God, he should continue to do so.
Ebrahim Raisi: Of course. [Khomeini and Khamenei] are manifestations of the word of God.
Student: Mr. Raisi, let me speak…
Moderator: Wrap it up as quickly as possible.
Student: I am…
Organizer: You have one minute, my friend.
Student: I have one complaint.
[…]
Based on the Emir of the Believers, I would like to complain to the head of the justice system about Mr. Khamenei, the Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Based on the ruling of the Emir of the Believers, I would like a general assembly of the public to be convened. It can include Basijis, but proportionate to their number in the general public – not that 99% of them will wear the chador and 1% will not. It should be just like on Jomhouri Street, next to the Leader’s house. The Leader, my only hope, must be accountable to the public. Everything must be transparent. If the Leader says that the senior officials must be held accountable, he himself must be the first to be held accountable. Believe me, there is blessing in this.
[…]
The Emir of the Believers did not have buffers between him and the people. The Emir of the Believers gave his life so that there would be no such buffers. Your blood is not redder…
Ebrahim Raisi: Thank you.
[…]
People like me, students of religion, have learned from [the Leader] how to be accountable.
Applause and cheers from the crowd
[…]
When the Leader became a little ill – how many text messages were sent to him? I refer only to the text messages, not to spoken messages. He received over 400 million messages. What is the population of Iran? How did God make the Leader beloved by those 400 million people? God supports those who support Him.
[…]
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