| Saeed Toosi | |
| Birth Name: | Muhammed Gandomnejad Toosi[1] |
| Birth Date: | [2] |
| Nationality: | Iranian |
| Occupation: | Qāriʾ |
| Criminal Penalty: | 4 years in prison (court of first instance)[3] |
| Criminal Charge: | Lavat Child sexual abuse |
| Criminal Status: | Acquitted (appellate court) |
Saeed Toosi 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.
Toosi has been referred to as Ali Khamenei's "favourite Qu'ranic reciter".[4] [5] In 2016 Toosi was accused of "sexually abusing underage trainees", which was considered the first case of its kind in Iran.[6]
In October 2016, VOA-PNN shed light on Toosi's case in which he was accused of sexually abusing nineteen[7] 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] [8]
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”.[3]