Dismissal of Guilan Culture and Islamic Guidance Director Following Sexual Relationship with a Young Man

“Reza Soghati,” Director General of Culture and Islamic Guidance in Guilan, was dismissed from his position due to a sexual relationship with a young man.

Reza Soghati was appointed as Director General in Guilan by the Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance in December 2021. Following the release of reports in recent days, he was dismissed from his post and Abdolreza Alipanah was appointed as the head of the Culture and Islamic Guidance Department in the aforementioned province.

Videos released of his sexual relationship with a young boy on social media networks have sparked widespread reactions, but the Islamic Republic’s official authorities have not yet responded to these videos.

The Telegram channel “Radio Guilan” with hundreds of thousands of followers wrote: “Soghati’s dismissal was carried out by order of the Culture and Islamic Guidance Minister of the Raisi government.”

Sexual abuse or assault of young boys is not a new issue. In the past, many boys and adolescents have been sexually abused by clerics and Quran reciters, to which the Islamic Republic system has shown no particular response regarding these assaults. It appears that assault against children, adolescents, and youth, whether girls or boys, is considered inevitable and Islamic, and according to the clergy who commit these acts, the victims are granted great rewards.