Emphasis of the Head of the Judiciary on the necessity of safeguarding the People’s rights in the Constitution and strengthening national unity and cohesion

According to the Judiciary’s Media Center, Mohseni Ejei, in his remarks at the Supreme Council of the Judiciary on Monday (August 18), stated: “This year, like previous years, the Arbaeen pilgrimage was held magnificently with the glorious presence of pilgrims from all over the world, in complete security and order. In this massive gathering of millions, there was strong solidarity and a unified voice against the Zionist regime and in support of the oppressed yet resilient people of Gaza. Moreover, millions of Arbaeen pilgrims praised the steadfastness and strength of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the face of the U.S. and the Zionist regime. These were among the distinct features of this year’s Arbaeen.”

Referring to the upcoming anniversary of the U.S.–British coup of August 19, 1953, the Head of the Judiciary stressed the necessity of revisiting history and learning lessons from historical events. He said: “Every line of history must be a source of lesson for all. Everyone must take care to review history and its events. In the events leading up to the Anglo-American coup of August 19, 1953, the Iranian people only sought independence and self-sufficiency in one aspect of national affairs, but the foreigners could not tolerate even that and staged a coup against the then-government. It is only natural that these same foreigners, whose hands were cut off from the resources of the Iranian nation through the Islamic Revolution led by Imam Khomeini (RA), would be enraged and continuously conspire against our revolution for nearly half a century.”

Ejei added: “What is truly astonishing is that some still consider the Americans as the solution to the country’s problems—while every page of history testifies to the deceit and crimes of this regime against the Iranian people and our national interests. It is worth noting that history shows the Americans have never been loyal even to their own agents and mercenaries; when they are no longer useful, they abandon them. We pray to God to grant all human beings—especially those who claim to be elites and activists—the wisdom to understand and grasp the truths and lessons of history.”

Reiterating the necessity of maintaining and enhancing unity and national cohesion, the Head of the Judiciary said: “The 12-day imposed war and the subsequent events revealed the significance of unity and cohesion to everyone. Today no one denies this, but it requires adherence to the law. Every citizen, and especially we officials of the system, must comply with every line and clause of the laws. For instance, in the Constitution—which is our national covenant and a foundational document—Chapter Three outlines the rights of the people, from Article 19 to Article 42. We must safeguard and respect these rights, examine where we have been negligent in enforcing them, and identify areas requiring greater effort: whether regarding lawful freedoms, or prohibitions on unwarranted surveillance, and so on. We must emphasize and preserve these principles. Neither independence can be sacrificed for freedom, nor freedom for independence; both are explicitly enshrined in the law. Of course, all recognize that these constitutional principles are bound by the condition that they must not contradict Islamic foundations—commitment to Islam is itself a constitutional requirement.”

He continued: “No one can claim that, because they disagree with a certain law, they will refuse to implement it. If there are deficiencies in a law, they must be addressed through the legal mechanisms provided. For example, the media community has raised concerns regarding the Press Law. In our recent meeting with them, we stated that if they believe the law requires reform, they should submit their proposed amendments in writing. The same applies to other laws.”

Ejei stressed: “In short, today we all agree that the Islamic Republic must be protected against enemies and adversaries. One way to achieve this protection is through strengthening national unity and cohesion, and one way to strengthen unity is through adherence to the law. We must all be law-abiding, rally around the leadership of the Supreme Leader, and attain the highest degree of unity and cohesion.”

Elsewhere in his remarks, he underlined the need for joint efforts by all officials and state institutions to solve the people’s problems: “Today, some of the issues facing our people and country have become chronic, partly due to the sanctions imposed by the hegemonic powers and partly due to other reasons. Therefore, it is necessary for all responsible officials and institutions to cooperate in resolving them. The people must feel that officials will never become passive, even under enemy pressures. In matters such as water resources and consumption management, we must support the government more actively. These problems cannot be overcome by conservation alone—we also need to increase resources and manage them properly. In regulating markets and fighting corruption and profiteers who seek to disrupt supply through hoarding and price hikes, as well as in enhancing the psychological and physical security of the people, we must intensify our efforts and assist other relevant institutions. Daily tasks or countering the enemies’ conspiracies must not distract us from addressing the chronic issues of the people and the country.”

The Chief Justice further stressed the need for vigilance in the conduct and speech of all, especially officials: “Today, all people—including activists in trade unions, media, and society, and especially state officials—must be more careful in their behavior and words. The enemy is eagerly waiting to exploit our statements for propaganda and psychological warfare, aiming to disturb public opinion. Therefore, we must be careful not to take actions or utter words that serve the enemy’s agenda. If an issue arises in the country, it should not be aggravated through inappropriate speech or actions; rather, it should be addressed with reformist, compassionate, and fair-minded approaches. Our disputes must not turn into quarrels, but should be resolved through consultation and dialogue, turning challenges into opportunities for joint cooperation to solve the nation’s problems.”

Finally, referring to the documentation of crimes committed by the Zionist regime during the recent 12-day imposed war, Ejei said: “Relevant bodies within the Judiciary, under the leadership of the Attorney General’s Office, must give serious attention to the approved measures regarding documentation of the Zionist regime’s crimes during the 12-day imposed war, and fully utilize the capacities of the Judiciary’s branches, including the International Affairs Office, the Media Center, the Bar Association, and others, in this regard.”