Jomhuri Eslami Newspaper: Eliminate the budget for seminaries

In an editorial, the newspaper Jomhuri Eslami suggested that the budget for seminaries and religious and cultural institutions be removed and added to the education budget. The author of the editorial emphasized that the goal is to strengthen seminaries, not weaken them.

In an editorial in its latest issue, the newspaper Jomhuri Eslami suggested that the 13th government, in its first budget bill, take a “courageous step” to cut the budget of “theological seminaries and institutions affiliated with them, as well as foundations and institutions that are outside the apparatuses related to the three branches of government and belong to specific individuals and specific subjects.”

The author of this editorial noted that these institutions did not have a line item in the country's budget at the beginning of the revolution, and this became a gradual issue. He also claimed that Ayatollah Khomeini was against allocating government funds to seminaries.

This editorial points out the importance of the independence of seminaries and their lack of dependence on the government, stating: "Throughout history, seminaries were run independently of governments, and their budgets were financed by religious funds and donations from the people. This very characteristic led to the independence of seminaries and the Shiite clergy, and paved the way for the spiritual power and extraordinary influence of religious authorities and scholars in the hearts of the masses."

The author of the editorial in the Islamic Republic considered the dependence of seminaries on government funding to be the reason for the gap between these institutions and the people, writing: "This gap should not be allowed to widen, and the groundwork should be laid for the elimination of the gap created by cutting off the government funding of the seminaries."

In addition to seminaries, this article also mentions other institutions whose budgets should be cut, including “foundations established to promote individuals,” which could be a reference to the “Foundation for the Preservation and Publication of Imam Khomeini’s Works,” as well as cultural institutions that, according to the editorial writer of the Islamic Republic newspaper, “not only do they not serve culture, but they also only delay certain buildings, vehicles, and other facilities and pay salaries to individuals whose presence or absence makes no difference.”

The author of this article, referring to the numerous problems of education, suggested that the budget of these institutions be cut and allocated to education. The editorial concludes: “The 13th government should take this courageous step from the very first budget it formulates. The entire country’s budget requires deep surgery. If you don’t perform this surgery today, tomorrow will definitely be too late.”

According to a table published by Tejarat News newspaper, the budget of many religious institutions in 1400 has increased significantly compared to the previous year. For example, the Seminary Service Center has seen a 25 percent increase in budget, the Endowment and Charity Organization has seen a 41 percent increase, the University of Quranic Sciences and Education has seen a 48 percent increase, and the Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization has seen a 64 percent increase in budget.

Source: DW