Najafi's forgiveness and reactions on social media

The news was brief: "Mitra's family forgave Professor Mohammad Ali Najafi." But the reaction to it and the suspicion behind the former mayor of Tehran's early acquittal from the retribution verdict still continues. 

On the morning of Wednesday, August 14, a short piece of news topped the Iranian media news, which, like the news published on June 29, 2019, drew attention: "Najafi was forgiven by the Mitra family."

Mitra Ostad, a candidate for the fifth term of the Islamshahr City Council elections and the second wife of Mohammad Ali Najafi, the former mayor of Tehran, was shot dead by Najafi on June 27 of this year, according to Najafi's confession.

This murder and the way it was covered in the news sparked public debate from its inception to its execution.

Some, such as Ahmad Zeidabadi, a well-known reformist activist, have written in praise of the pardon. He wrote on his Telegram page: “The pardon of Dr. Mohammad Ali Najafi by the family of Professor Ravanshad Mitra is worthy of respect and appreciation in every way. May God reward them for saving the life of a famous and distinguished figure.”

Dr. Mahin Barkhodari, a university lecturer and educational expert, also praised the decision on her Instagram page, saying: “Our violent and angry society needs kindness and compassion.” She laments that “but now Instagram and social media are full of criticism of Najafi’s pardon. Users who were against the death penalty in similar situations are now saddened by the fact that they don’t see Najafi on the gallows!”

But apparently it is not the forgiveness itself that is the focus of discussion on social media, but rather the forgiveness of the “rich” and a certain class that has stirred up users. Human rights activist Nima Pouriaqoub tweeted that the poor are “being executed, but the rich like Mohammad Najafi” are “escaping” this sentence.

A few weeks after Mitra's murder, Iranian Judiciary Spokesperson Gholamhossein Esmaili announced on August 28 that a "retaliatory" sentence had been issued for him.

The court ruled that the murder of Mitra Ostad, Najafi's second wife, was "intentional" contrary to the defendant's statements, and Najafi's release from the "retaliation" sentence was then left to the decision of her parents.

A day before the issuance of the preliminary verdict against Mohammad Ali Najafi, the newspaper "Sharq" published the text of an interview with the lawyers of Mitra Ostad's family, in which the possibility of reconciliation between Mitra Ostad's family and Mohammad Ali Najafi was mentioned. 

Masoud Afraza and Mahmoud Hajiloui, Najafi's lawyers, told this newspaper: "We consider it our duty to address this issue after the verdict is issued, provided that the spiritual and psychological atmosphere prevailing in the professor's family is adjusted and at the first available opportunity. If reconciliation or forgiveness is achieved, the spiritual status of the professor's family will definitely be higher than before." 

Finally, this reconciliation was made, and 46 days after the murder of his brother, Masoud, he announced Najafi's forgiveness on his Instagram page.

He wrote: "We have forgiven Mr. Mohammad Ali Najafi and forgiven the blood of our beloved, and we are pleased that we did not make any deal with the blood of that noble man."

Masoud Ostad expressed his hope that Najafi “will spend the remaining few days away from politics to cultivate his soul.” He also emphasized: “But as for me, who was once called the Unknown General and one day the General of the Guard, I say that I now have neither a job nor an official position that I have received from anyone… I studied to a doctorate degree in aerospace at the most prestigious universities in the country without any rent… and now I am just a university lecturer.”

It had previously been rumored that the professor's family had agreed to pardon him in exchange for 10 billion tomans. However, Masoud Ostad denied the accusation and threatened to sue those who spread such news.

However, traces of speculation, such as Mitra Ostad's possible "connection" with the Ministry of Intelligence and the question of "who is his real killer," can still be found on social media.

Users and their reactions

A user calling himself "Ashna" wrote in a tweet: "I don't know why I feel like Najafi himself didn't pull the trigger on this weapon and that the physical elimination of Mitra Ostad was really outsourced?!"

Nafiseh, another user, posted a photo of a smiling Najafi on Twitter and wrote: "I'm happy I was released, grandma - God willing, intentional murder will be everyone's lot."

There are also users who, according to a report on the "Sazandagi" newspaper website, called "passing through the blood of the heart" "great" and admirable.

But the flood of negative reactions is not slowing down, and many, like one Twitter user, have questioned the entire scenario: "A political scenario; from greetings and drinking tea to the approval of the parents."

One user wrote: "Thank you all for distracting us from Najafi and his story for a while." Another wrote: "From the beginning, from the laughter, from the compliments, from the bowing, it was clear that forgiveness was the end of this story."

A user praises this pardon, writing: "The good thing is that the culture of forgiveness is taking root in society and becoming a role model." Another writes: "How quickly you forgave." It seems that the story of this case is over and Najafi was released from retribution, but speculation about the why and how of this case continues.

Source: DW