The Controversial Man Becomes a Victim
The controversial man becomes a victim. The scent of Rahman’s secretary of the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice has risen after his recent comments, which reiterated the same coercive actions regarding hijab. This time, not his critics, but revolutionary figures and value accounts on social media have started attacking him, and some even report that the former official of Imam Sadiq University is an infiltrator. It seems that the recent protests, if nothing else, have at least resulted in the removal of a figure whose statements in recent months were one of the reasons for the protests to ignite.
Hashemi Golpayegani Becomes a Victim
Given that in recent weeks, the presence of morality police vans and their officers is no longer seen in the city, especially in their usual fixed locations, or at least their presence has become very minimal, the attacks on Hashemi Golpayegani and the possibility of his dismissal can also be seen as a tactical retreat in response to public demands and protests.
It can even be said that he is supposed to be sacrificed so that all sins are attributed to him. Many Twitter users have also pointed to this scapegoating game, noting that the attacks and criticisms are not about the content of his statements but their timing. No one among them says Hashemi Golpayegani’s words are wrong; rather, they believe that because his words can now lead to inciting people, it’s not the right time. One person wrote that it’s not at all obvious that you want to sacrifice Hashemi Golpayegani and then take credit for it with the nation.
In recent weeks, after the death of Mahsa Amini, Mohammad Saleh Hashemi Golpayegani had completely retreated into his shell and said nothing until he spoke again, saying that if internet taxis knew they would be fined for picking up unveiled individuals, 50% of the hijab problem in cars would be solved. After that, the flood of attacks this time came from the value-oriented individuals towards him, to the point that one user wrote that most of the tweets with the hashtag Hashemi Golpayegani, condemning his recent statements, were written by those who, before recent events, were supportive and sympathetic to the policies of this headquarters.
This retreat can be better understood because a member of the office for the preservation and publication of Ayatollah Khamenei’s works called Hassan Abbasi’s stance against athletes and Hashemi Golpayegani’s statements about dealing with bad hijab unreasonable and damaging, stating that the Leader has also rejected such positions and opinions in the past.
Hashemi Golpayegani: The Engine of Hatred Production
Interestingly, the situation has become so sour that even government officials have voiced their concerns. The secretary of the government’s information office addressed Hashemi Golpayegani, saying that your positions and those like you, which cause division and discord among the people, are the greatest wrong themselves. Please be silent. Ehsan Salehi, a member of the government’s information council, also said that a few days after the Leader emphasized that the issue is not about hijab, today Hashemi Golpayegani reopened the same file with a solution that pits people against each other. This engine of hatred production, which has been fueling the enemy’s polarization project in recent months, is natural and merely out of ignorance; it is not supposed to be silenced.
Another value-oriented user wrote that the talk of infiltration was mentioned, but the presence of such thoughts is more dangerous than any infiltrator or traitor. Hashemi Golpayegani’s statements are a clear example of polarizing society and causing more division, leading to hatred among people. Do not issue nonsensical fatwas in matters you are not knowledgeable about and do not incite people against each other.
The Secretary of the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice is an Infiltrator
Some value-oriented accounts, to prove he is an infiltrator, have pointed to his collaboration with Kavous Seyed Emami at Imam Sadiq University. Some have compared him to Kashmiri and Kolahi, and others have predicted that he will soon end up in London and the BBC. An account attributed to Ali Akbar Raefi Pour on Twitter wrote that I hope it is ignorance and not betrayal. Hashemi Golpayegani’s statements, the Secretary of the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, are a precise example of fueling the fire of division, hatred, and anger among the people. If the responsible authorities do not control him, there is no choice but to expose him to defend the country.
But what is this exposure that Raefi Pour has mentioned? Mohammad Hossein Pouyanfar, a media figure, accused Golpayegani of being an infiltrator and wrote, ‘Does an infiltrator have horns and a tail? Why doesn’t anyone silence this foolish man? Secretary of the Promotion of Virtue, be quiet.’
A journalist known for exposing on Twitter has said stranger things about the Secretary of the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice. He wrote that security agencies should investigate where the great wealth of Mohammad Saleh, which was inherited from his father, came from. What properties did Mohammad Saleh’s father buy from Iranian Jews in 1979, and at what price?
Hashemi Golpayegani Threatened with Arrest
Some, like Seyed Mahmoud Razavi, close to Ghalibaf, have called for legal action against him. Justice is that alongside reminding artists and athletes about recent events, security and judicial agencies should quickly and severely deal with individuals like Mr. Hashemi Golpayegani who make provocative and irrelevant statements. Curse the mouth that opens at the wrong time.
Mojtaba Amini, the producer of the ‘Gando’ series, also wrote, ‘As a well-wisher of the system and a citizen, I request the country’s intelligence agencies to investigate the file and background of Mr. Hashemi Golpayegani, the Secretary of the Promotion of Virtue. The project of hatred production and polarization is evident, and traces of sabotage and infiltration are seen.’
Two articles provided on Iran Gate that give you a better perspective on this issue
- Morality Police or Death Chariot
- From Maryam Rajavi to Masih Alinejad: No Seizure Allowed