To the Honorable Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, May his esteemed name be perpetuated,
Following greetings and respects;
You are aware that the Constitution is the result of the endeavors of freedom fighters and the sacrifice of thousands of martyrs who shed their blood.
After the victory of the Islamic Revolution, the most knowledgeable, elite, and pious people, selected by the public, gathered in a council called the Assembly of Experts for the Constitution. As we remember, they engaged in hours of discussion over every sentence and even every word of the Constitution, striving to ensure all principles are explicit and not open to varied interpretations. Moreover, none of the Constitution’s principles have been included for ornament or to make the legal book voluminous; there is wisdom embedded in each.
The purpose of writing this letter and once again taking up your valuable time is because, for several years, I have realized that two major and well-known principles of the Constitution have been neglected from the outset, and perhaps this matter has been a concern for you as well.
The first is Article 27 of the Constitution, which states:
“Public gatherings and marches, without carrying weapons, are permitted provided that they do not violate the principles of Islam.”
The second is Article 59 of the Constitution, which states:
“In extremely important economic, political, social, and cultural matters, legislative power can be exercised through a referendum and direct recourse to public votes. The request for recourse to public votes must be approved by two-thirds of all members of the parliament.”
I have some suggestions for putting these two important and disregarded principles into effect, hoping they will be welcomed and accepted by you, and considered alongside other proposals.
Regarding Article 27 of the Constitution, my suggestion is that you, in complete humility and modesty, take the first step and allow the first real march to start this phase be against yourself. Allow the people, without any threat or danger, to gather on any day they announce—particularly in Tehran and other major cities—and chant whatever they wish against you.
Undoubtedly, you, like myself, believe that slogans against yourself, although seemingly unconventional and unexpected, are nonetheless not contrary to the principles of Islam.
In my opinion, the legislator, in drafting the Constitution, considered that although street slogans and gatherings are necessary in a free and Islamic society, they are insufficient for determining a country’s fate. The complement to street demonstrations is a referendum, meaning the destiny of governance and its foundations should be determined through recourse to public votes.
Regarding the subject of a referendum, I propose that initially, only extremely important topics be subjected to a referendum, and in subsequent phases, matters of lesser importance could be considered.
Among the important political issues of the country, I suggest the following two subjects for the first referendum:
A) Stripping the significant powers of the Leadership as stated in the Constitution and transferring them to the elected President.
B) Relations with the United States.
For you and your advisors, who, despite having important governance concerns, hopefully devote special attention to my letters, I wish health and longevity from God.
Your well-wisher, loyalist, and admirer,
Mohammad Mahdavifar
Demolition Specialist and Diver of the Sacred Defense
15/9/1394 [December 6, 2015]