Saeed Toosi

Saeed Toosi (Persian: سعید طوسی, romanized: Saʿīd Tusi) is a prominent Iranian Qur'an reciter and teacher. He is winner of the several first prizes in both local and international competitions, notably the 1998 International Quran Recital Competition.

Saeed Toosi
Born
Muhammed Gandomnejad Toosi[1]

1970 (age 52–53)[2]
NationalityIranian
OccupationQāriʾ
Criminal charge(s)Lavat[3]
Child sexual abuse[3]
Criminal penalty4 years in prison (court of first instance)[4]
Criminal statusAcquitted (appellate court)[4]

Toosi has been referred to as Ali Khamenei's "favourite Qu'ranic reciter".[5][6] In 2016 Toosi was accused of "sexually abusing underage trainees", which was considered the first case of its kind in Iran.[7]

Child sexual abuse lawsuit
Ali Khamenei and Saeed Toosi

In October 2016, VOA-PNN shed light on Toosi's case in which he was accused of sexually abusing nineteen[8] of his prepubescent Qur'an students over the past years (four plaintiffs are confirmed). It is unknown whether the charges could include homosexual rape, which could carry the death penalty.[2][3]

Senior members of the Iranian government, including Ali Khamenei, tried to "cover up the scandal for four years when the victims and their families filed complaints with the judiciary." Also journalists were warned not to publicize the investigation.[9]

The anonymous plaintiffs claim that complaints made through legal channels were covered up or ignored by the authorities in order to protect the reputation of the Iranian government.[10]

Toosi issued a denial statement rejecting all of the claims, which he called “total lies”. The allegations were "aimed at discrediting the state’s religious foundations and its supreme leader, Ali Khamenei," Toosi said.[10] He stated he had never engaged in "such sins" and "actions incompatible with chastity."[2]

In 2018, Tehran's court acquitted Toosi of charges concerning "sexually molesting and raping four of the victims who filed complaints with the judiciary against him"; stating that “even if it is proved that the defendant has committed the act, it does not mean that he has committed a crime for which the law and the judiciary will be held accountable”.[4]

References
  1. "South Africa welcomes Iranian Quran reciters". Islamic Culture and Relations Organization. September 21, 2005.
  2. Esfandiari, Golnaz (October 24, 2016). "Prominent Iranian Koran Reciter Accused Of Sexual Abuse". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
  3. Kamali Dehghan, Saeed (October 26, 2016). "Iran rocked by abuse allegations against top Qur'an reciter". The Guardian. Retrieved October 26, 2016.
  4. "Iran judiciary slammed for freeing reciter accused of raping 19 kids". The Baghdad Post. 2018-01-28. Retrieved 2018-01-28.
  5. "Top Qu'ran reciter accused of sexually abusing teenage students in first case of its kind case in Iran". The Independent. 26 October 2016.
  6. "Quran Reciter Accused of Child Abuse Back In The Spotlight". Radio Farda.
  7. "Iran rocked by abuse allegations against top Qur'an reciter". The Guardian. 26 October 2016.
  8. "Child rape: Iran's top Quran reciter to face court". News of Bahrain. October 25, 2016.
  9. "Custom Report Excerpts". State.gov.
  10. McKernan, Bethan (October 26, 2016). "Top Qu'ran reciter accused of sexually abusing teenage students in first case of its kind case in Iran". The Independent. Retrieved October 26, 2016.

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