TEHRAN | June 2025 — Two sons of Iranian cleric Kazem Sedighi have been arrested by the Revolutionary Guard’s Intelligence Organization on charges of corruption and collusion, according to Iranian state media reports published Sunday.
The arrests come over a year after Sedighi himself was implicated in a land appropriation scandal involving a $20 million property in northern Tehran.
Fars News Agency, affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), reported that the arrests took place two weeks ago. An informed source cited in the report stated: “The case is being pursued with great care and sensitivity. The judiciary will respond firmly and professionally, and the final verdicts will be announced upon completion of legal procedures.”
Sedighi, widely known as “the weeping sheikh,” was accused in 2024 of seizing a 4,200-square-meter garden that originally belonged to a religious seminary. Leaked documents showed that the property was transferred to an entity controlled by Sedighi and his family.
Initially, Sedighi denied the allegations, claiming the documents were forged. However, mounting evidence forced him to admit wrongdoing. In a public apology addressed to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, he confirmed the land had been returned to its rightful owner. Despite the scandal, Sedighi remained the interim Friday Prayer Imam of Tehran.
A Deepening Scandal
Critics have questioned whether Sedighi’s sons acted independently or were protected by his influential clerical position.
BBC Persian journalist Hossein Bastani asked, “Were these collusions unrelated to his role as Tehran’s Friday Prayer Leader appointed by the Supreme Leader?” He also raised concerns over the unresolved status of Sedighi’s own alleged “1,000-billion-toman” ($20M) land grab.
The controversy has sparked public outrage, particularly across Iranian social media. Many Iranians have voiced disillusionment with the lack of accountability among elite clerics and officials.
For now, the judiciary claims the investigation is ongoing and promises transparency—but public skepticism remains high.
