Conflicting reports are swirling around Kazem Seddiqi, a prominent Iranian official and cleric, with leaked documents supporting allegations of his involvement in public land grabs and forgery.
Seddiqi, linked closely with Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, faces accusations of unlawfully acquiring government land and registering it under his and his children’s names.
The leaked documents suggest Seddiqi’s involvement in appropriating a park adjacent to his family’s company and integrating it into a religious school he oversees.
This has stirred significant debate among Iranians, particularly within political and media circles.
After days of silence, Seddiqi denied the allegations, attributing them to forgery and betrayal by someone he trusted. He downplayed the criticisms as mere distractions.
Seddiqi, who heads Iran’s morality police, admitted to procedural issues within the religious institution’s management, hinting at the departure of those involved.
The government-affiliated ISNA agency wrote that Seddiqi’s comments added to the mystery of the case, also pointing to another “suspicious issue” regarding the transfer of another park’s ownership also away from regulatory bodies’ oversight.
The agency expressed regret that Seddiqi “did not familiarize himself with the issues related to his reputation,” stating that “the public opinion demands the judiciary and relevant authorities to review the case and similar files promptly.”
ISNA concluded that “any official should be aware that they are under scrutiny by the public opinion, requiring heightened sensitivity, and no neglect justification can be accepted.”
Activists questioned the motives behind the alleged forgery and land registration.
Regarding Seddiqi’s reported resignation, one conservative activist clarified that the cleric has not yet stepped down from his positions.
Masoumeh Ebtekar, Iran's Environmental Organization chief and former Vice President during Mohammad Khatami and Hassan Rouhani's terms, revealed she had warned about tree cutting near the park years ago.
The leaked documents, originally published online by Yashar Soltani, emerged following a government and Revolutionary Guard-backed anti-corruption campaign.
In 2016, Soltani also published documents that unveiled Tehran Municipality property sales at below-market rates to officials, labeled as “celebrity estates.”
