Reactions to sexual allegations against Quran teacher

The accusation of rape of teenagers by Saeed Toosi, a famous Iranian reciter, has become one of the hottest news stories on the Internet. So far, websites affiliated with religious forces, the deputy minister of religious guidance, and the accused himself have reacted to the accusations. 

The latest comprehensive report on the alleged sexual abuse and rape of minors by Mohammad Gandomnejad Toosi, also known as Haj Saeed Toosi, was published by the Persian-language Voice of America television network. The report featured eyewitness accounts and a phone recording that allegedly contained Saeed Toosi's voice.

This report repeats what the Amadnews website previously published, including the confused handling of complaints from teenage victims by the judiciary, and the attempts to end these complaints by some officials close to the Leader of the Islamic Republic.

Amadnews wrote in June of this year: "Eighty-three pages of documents and nine CDs are a collection of files that prove the accusations of the famous Quran reciter who is beloved by the Leader of the Islamic Republic. But apparently, in the judicial system, his connections with the Leader's Household are more valuable than the rights of the accused and the mental state resulting from the turmoil of these many years and the twists and turns of the case in the "justice system."

According to Amadnews, "The complaints in the case have been threatened by the judiciary," and Saeed Toosi "has threatened the victims' families with retaliatory action for filing a complaint against him with the Supreme Leader's Office."

The first government reaction

After the publication of the Voice of America television report, Mohammad Reza Heshmati, Deputy Minister of the Quran and the Family of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, reacted to this serious accusation, which is subject to the death penalty, according to the laws of the Islamic Republic.

Heshmati has published a note calling for "confronting such incidents" and not publishing news related to the accusations against Saeed Toosi.
The Deputy Minister of Guidance writes: "Regardless of the nature of the matter and whether or not a crime has occurred, which is entirely within the jurisdiction, publishing it is an example of spreading prostitution."

Heshmati has asked the judiciary to clarify this matter as soon as possible.

The defendant's reaction

Saeed Toosi also responded to the accusations after several months of silence. In a statement published on Iranian websites, he called the accusations “a broad attack by media affiliated with global arrogance and international Zionism” against himself and “the sacred system of the Islamic Republic and even the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution.”

Tusi's statement continued: "I declare that, thank God, I have never indulged in such sins and acts contrary to chastity, and I seek from God and with the blessing of the luminous verses of the Quran, my infallibility and purity until the end of my life."

Tusi also emphasized that "the documents and statements presented on websites, programs, and television shows are completely false and fake."

Rumor of assassination plot

Al-Arabiya website reported, citing "a site close to the reformists," that members of the central council of "a security headquarters" had decided to assassinate Saeed Tusi.
Al-Arabiya writes that the “security headquarters” intends to “prevent the case of his gang rapes of some teenagers with some influential people from becoming public, and also to blame the suspects for this assassination, based on the statements made by one of the suspects on a television program, and to pave the way for their arrest and execution.”

One of the plaintiffs, in an interview with Voice of America, says that if the Islamic Republic's judiciary does not convict Tousi, he will take action against him himself.
Al-Arabiya's report has not yet been confirmed by any media outlet, recognized organization, or official authority.

Saeed Toosi, 46, is a reciter close to high-ranking officials in the Islamic Republic. He says he has been sent to "more than 20 countries around the world to promote Quranic learning," and currently works as a Quran teacher at the Iranian Broadcasting Corporation.

Source: DW