Alavi Green Movement (Farsi)

This is a response to claims over the past weeks from those who used to work close to him. These sources provided a very detailed account of every aspect of his routine, money and possessions:

Translation of Makhmalbaf’s article on “The secrets of Khamenei’s life”. Makhmalbaf is a leading opposition figure in exile in France.

I think the fact that Khamenei has been forced into a denial suggests he is worried about the number of people who are learning the truth about his riches while others suffer due to the regimes bad economic management. This seems more likely than what Khamenei wants us to think, if we look at the terrible things he has allowed to happen since the election.

Papa Khoshdamagh

Its not clear why the Iranian Cyber Army chose the blog for its most recent attack. Maybe it was because of cartoons of Khamenei and Ahmadinejad?

Now we have another leader who is no longer wanted by the people because of what he has begun to do. He has allowed protesters to be arrested, inprisoned, tortured and raped. He has allowed the economy to become destroyed, even though Iran should be a wealthy country with its oil and gas and large population of inteligent people. He has made himself rich, with his family and other clerics, using money that should belong to the people of Iran.

I found this video which points out comparisons between the situation with Khamenei now and the situation just before the shah escaped from Iran:

It is a funny video but also very serious. The shah stole money from the Iranian economy and put it in banks in other countries so he would be able to continue his rich lifestyle if he ever left Iran. There is information that Khamenei has done the same. There are also stories about him having prepared his plane so it is ready for him to leave.

Perhaps history will repeat itself and again Iran will see the end of a corupted leader. But he should be prevented from taking too much of the countrys money with him.

Is it true? Those who say he leads a simple life point to him having come from a poor background and to his great faith, but neither of these are inconsistent with having a lot of money. He may have started out poor and have great faith, but like so many leaders, he may have become corrupted by the huge powers given to him. As the Supreme Leader he controls much of the Iranian economy through the IRGC, the religious foundations and other organizations. It would not be surprising if he decided to use a small part of this to better himself and his family.

Maybe that is natural and we should not accuse him of something we might do ourselves, but there are two things that make this situation different. First, Khamenei claims to live a simple life, so it would be dishonest. Second, and much worse, the economy is Iran is in a terrible state because of bad management. In this situation, to take so much money while so many of his own people are in desperate need is no defensible. And if more economic sanctions come as a result of his decisions, will he show himself to be a great leader and give up his money to suffer alongside his people? I cannot imagine him doing so.