Ayatollah Khamenei on Referendums: Good for Palestinians, Bad for Iranians

While receiving a group of university students on the occasion of the month of Ramadan, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s head of state, faced unpleasant questions regarding the state of the economy and the plight of Iranians, bad governance and widespread corruption, and more. The most controversial question and answer dealt with referendums as a solution to issues dividing the Iranian public, or, more accurately, dividing the people and the state. Khamenei dismissed the idea, arguing that the people have no insight into such matters, but he appears to have forgotten that the Islamic Republic itself was established by a constitutional referendum in 1979. Khamenei must also have forgotten about the 1989 referendum that amended the constitution and reduced leadership requirements, allowing him to become the leader of the revolution. In the more recent past, Khamenei suggested a referendum as a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It is not clear why Khamenei believes referendums were good in the past but bad in the present or good for Palestinians but bad for Iranians.

• May 7, 2021: Khamenei suggested a “referendum” as a solution to the “Palestine issue” and argued: “Palestinian fighters can propose a referendum in which all original inhabitants of Palestine can participate. Such a referendum can decide the political order of the state, and the original inhabitants, regardless of ethnicity and religion, including Palestinian refugees, can participate in it. This political order will bring the refugees back into the land and decide the destiny of the aliens who currently reside in it. This demand is based on democracy, which is globally recognized and the progressive nature of which is above any doubt. The Palestinian holy warriors should forcefully continue their moral and legitimate struggle against the usurping regime until it accepts this demand.”
• April 16: According to Khamenei’s official website, in response to a student who appears to have suggested holding referendums to solve the problems of Iran’s political system, Khamenei said: “One of the brothers said ‘referendum.’ He said as much – that ‘if you organized referendums whenever there was an issue, organizing referendums would not have been a politically sensitive issue.’ As if different problems of the state can be solved with referendums! Are all the people who are supposed to participate and end up participating in a referendum capable of analyzing such matters? What kind of statement is this? How can we organize a referendum when everyone can engage in propaganda and any argument can be made? What would happen is that the state would be polarized and entangled in discussions until the referendum. Should we organize a referendum when it comes to any issue? I mean, the matters are not such that we can easily accept them.”
• April 16: Video footage of Khamenei’s meeting with the university students, which has since been released on the supreme leader’s website, shows considerable tensions during his address. When Khamenei quoted Grand Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic, as saying, “Administering the country is hard work,” a student shouted: “Why is there no transparency? When we complain, the authorities label us!” Khamenei responded: “If we keep interrupting each other, we will not get anywhere.” As Khamenei was about to finish his address, there was widespread murmuring among the students, who demanded answers to their questions. A visibly shocked Khamenei said: “We … we … we love all of you … we pray for you … we … wish that, God willing, your future is … I did not hear you.” But the students rose to their feet, and the murmurs continued. In an attempt to restore calm, a few pro-Khamenei students planted among the group shouted, “God is great,” but the protests continued and Khamenei abruptly ended his speech.

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