Respected Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran
Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei
After greetings and respect,
On the date of the twelfth of Tir this year [July 2, 2016], during an event where you met with students, a PhD student of law named Mohammad Ali Kamfirouzi, the son of a martyr from the Karbala-5 operation, expressed objections questioning why criticism or questioning of you or the institutions under your authority would bring the critic to court. In response, you stated that speaking against me is not at all subject to interrogation nor considered a crime and with an example, you attributed such approaches to the era of the Pahlavi dynasty.
The remarks by Mr. Kamfirouzi and your explanations gave me and maybe some other citizens the courage to express our criticisms in society without fear of legal prosecution.
Undoubtedly, the goal of all critics is not to reform matters, but motivation is a subjective matter and not easily discernible. Even if we cannot uncover the critic’s intent from expressing criticism, we can listen to his words kindly, welcome them if there is any goodness or benefit, and if not, leave them and his criticism to himself and realize that nothing is gained from confinement and prison.
The purpose of this writing is to assert that all human laws may need to change and be re-evaluated over time, and the constitution of Iran, which has had about thirty years passed since its last revision, is no exception, as foreseen in Article 177 regarding the method for its revision.
Should the Iranian constitution be revised in the not-too-distant future due to some necessities, in my opinion, for reasons I will mention, the mechanism of selecting the leader should ensure that a leader, no matter how good a person, is limited to serving one or two terms, such as five-year terms, and it should not be possible for one person to hold the country’s fate in their hands for longer because:
1) All humans, in terms of physical and mental abilities, are unable to display all their innate capabilities when they reach old age. Doctors recommend more rest and avoidance of stress for the elderly.
2) A ruler or a king, like a famous footballer, is better off stepping aside at the peak so that his name remains forever honored. Like if we had accepted the end of the war at its peak, Imam Khomeini would not have been forced to drink the cup of poison and accept the resolution after consecutive defeats.
3) The term ‘lifelong’ inadvertently conjures up the word ‘tyranny’ in people’s minds, even if the ruler is just, kind, and prudent like you.
4) Nations have shown throughout history, regardless of the services a ruler has provided for the people or the harms he caused, they engage in disobedience against lifelong governments in the second and third decades onward. Recent examples include Tunisia, Iraq, Libya, and Egypt.
5) Whatever a leader possesses in terms of knowledge and abilities, he can present at the most within ten years. Over time, with the advancement of countries, the need for new and innovative managerial methods will be felt. A caring leader should also value the opportunity for others to express their talents.
6) If the Assembly of Experts makes a mistake in selecting a leader and chooses an unworthy individual, the people can hope that ultimately, after a limited period, his leadership will end, and the people can rectify the past by appointing a competent and worthy leader through a new Assembly of Experts.
7) Someone who knows they will rule over a country for life is likely to develop despotic traits over time.
8) Anyone who governs a country will eventually have opponents. Opponents try to take power from the ruler using destructive or even armed methods, but if these groups know that the ruler will step down after a not-too-long period, they will exercise patience and in future terms elect a leader from their own ranks using positive methods.
9) If a lifelong ruler is deposed by the people’s pressure before death, experience has proven that he will most likely be tried by the people, where his virtues are ignored, and he is punished for his wrongdoings.
My perspective on presenting the above opinions is a conventional, empirical, and historical one rather than philosophical and religious.
I wish you a long and blessed life.
Yours sincerely,
Mohammad Mahdavifar
Deminer and diver of the Sacred Defense
9th Mordad 95 [July 30, 2016]