Khamenei’s Lavish Arbaeen display amid economic crisis stirs controversy

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Staff Writer
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The recent extravagant Arbaeen celebration organized by the Khamenei regime has sparked both local and international debate.
The recent extravagant Arbaeen celebration organized by the Khamenei regime has sparked both local and international debate.

The recent extravagant Arbaeen celebration organized by the Khamenei regime has sparked both local and international debate.

 

Critics have lambasted this hypocritical gesture, accusing the regime of exploiting religious and spiritual ceremonies for political gain, especially amidst the dire economic situation in Iran.

Imam Hussein, who is deeply venerated among Shiite Muslims, stands as a symbol of justice and resistance against tyranny. The fortieth day after his martyrdom is commemorated as Arbaeen, an occasion with deep religious significance. However, in a year where societal conditions in Iran teeter on the edge, this year’s Arbaeen spectacle has drawn much criticism.

Hassan Bahramnia, the governor of Ilam province, openly disclosed that “6.4 trillion tomans were spent on Arbaeen’s infrastructure.” This comes at a time when the nation is grappling with poverty and economic challenges.

Moreover, the Ministry of Labor under President Ebrahim Raisi declared substantial incentives for employees participating in the Arbaeen procession. This has caused alarm among various quarters, with reports highlighting that such funds could have been allocated to pressing social welfare needs. The state-run Didban Iran, for instance, noted that the money spent on the Arbaeen trip for Welfare Ministry employees alone could have funded the construction of thousands of housing units, creating a significant number of jobs.

 

 

 

Ramezan Sharif, the spokesperson for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, proudly stated the extensive resources devoted solely to the procession, a move questioned by many. Internal criticisms have emerged. Hossein Mousavi Tabrizi, the Secretary of the Assembly of Researchers and Lecturers of the Qom Seminary, commented, “These excessive budgets are sinful when people are starving.”

President Raisi’s own words may shed light on the regime’s motivations. “Your presence has generated strength,” he said during the Arbaeen procession. Similarly, Rahman Jalali acknowledged that the regime utilizes religious ceremonies, including the Arbaeen procession, as a “security narrative.”

There’s a consensus among experts that these excessive expenditures and overt displays are aimed at projecting strength and authority to a domestic and international audience. With social unrest on the horizon, Khamenei aims to assert dominance, potentially compensating for a predicted low turnout in the forthcoming elections.

 

 

Additionally, Khamenei’s attempts to commandeer the Arbaeen procession, traditionally a significant event in Iraq, reveals ambitions to expand influence in neighboring Iraq. This move is perceived as a strategy to intertwine paramilitary and religious intervention.

However, with rising anti-regime sentiments, the echoing cries of “Death to Khamenei” might soon reverberate even beyond Iran’s borders, signaling a tide of change.

 

 

 

MEK Iran (follow us on Twitter and Facebook), Maryam Rajavi’s on her site, Twitter & Facebook, NCRI  (Twitter & Facebook), and People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran – MEK IRAN – YouTu

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