The head of Iran’s judiciary said it is undeniable that due to sanctions, water shortages, or other reasons, price increases in certain goods may occur, but some price hikes are truly abnormal.
Mohseni Ejei, speaking today (Monday, August 4) at a meeting of the Supreme Council of the Judiciary, referred to the upcoming Arbaeen pilgrimage of Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) and said:
“During the days of Arbaeen, millions of devoted lovers of the Ahl al-Bayt from around the world, including from the Islamic Republic of Iran, will travel to the holy shrines in Iraq and the sacred city of Karbala. Without a doubt, Arbaeen is a display of strength, as well as a political, cultural, and spiritual movement, and we must all strive to honor it. Therefore, all judicial officials in provinces along the routes of the Arbaeen pilgrims should make every effort to offer any form of service—especially legal and judicial services—to the pilgrims. If any legal or judicial issue arises for them during their journey, it must be resolved in the shortest possible time.”
Ejei then addressed the need to confront abnormal price hikes: “It is undeniable that due to sanctions, water shortages, or other reasons, some goods may become more expensive. But some price increases are truly abnormal. Regarding the unusual rise in rice prices, I spoke with the Minister of Agriculture and raised the matter of reports indicating significant hoarding of rice by a certain company. The minister investigated promptly and reported that this company had purchased a substantial quantity of Iranian rice and stored it in warehouses outside the national warehouse registry. This, along with selling products in the market without labeled prices, has led to a case being filed against the company with the Organization for the Investigation of Violations (Ta’zirat). I emphasize to the Minister of Justice and the Ta’zirat Organization to take urgent measures to quickly resolve this case.”
Referring to the demands of wheat farmers, he said: “Farmers across the country are facing problems such as water shortages and delays in payment for their produce. Therefore, I call on the Minister of Justice to seriously follow up on the payment of the wheat farmers’ dues.”
Notably, in another part of his remarks, the head of the judiciary referred to the ongoing brutal crimes committed by the Zionists in Gaza, saying: “One truly feels ashamed at the silence, inaction, and passivity of international organizations and some Islamic states in the face of the all-out crimes of the Zionists in Gaza. The Zionists commit all kinds of crimes against the oppressed people of Gaza—from imposing hunger and famine to directly shooting at the heads and faces of hungry children waiting in line for a small amount of food. Meanwhile, some Islamic countries not only fail to aid the oppressed people of Gaza, but at times even supply the logistical machinery of Israel, and avoid even issuing a statement condemning the crimes of this aggressive and evil regime.”