The state TV appearance of former Iranian Industry Minister Reza Fatemi-Amin, impeached and dismissed during the previous administration, has sparked criticism for the station's platforming a potential criminal.
Fatemi-Amin, currently free on bail, is implicated in the high-profile "Debsh Tea" scandal, a multi-billion-dollar corruption case involving tea imports.
His appearance on the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) has been interpreted by many as a platform for self-defense, sparking public outrage and accusations of preferential treatment.
The public reaction has been swift, with many questioning the propriety of giving airtime to someone facing serious corruption charges.
Journalist Hossein Saremi wrote on X, "How can you bring a defendant, a member of the shadow government and former minister to the IRIB?!"
The reference to the shadow government is to ultra hardliners who maintain a an alternative cabinet to that of President Masoud Pezeshkian.
Amir Tanha, a reformist media activist, echoed the same sentiment, writing, "Where in the world does a country's national television give live airtime to a defendant, whose case has reached a final verdict, to defend himself?!"
The timing of Fatemi-Amin's appearance is particularly sensitive. It coincides with increased scrutiny of the judiciary's handling of the Debsh Tea case.
Earlier this week, the presiding judge of the ongoing Debsh Tea case issued a strict warning against the public disclosure of any information about the 61 defendants before a final verdict is reached for the entire case.
The trial, which began in December, involves allegations of significant financial irregularities within the tea import industry, implicating individuals connected to the Debsh group, as well as officials from several ministries and bank managers. The case involves allegations of the company receiving cheap US dollars from the government to import tea, but pocketed some of the exchange rate difference and also imported low-quality tea.
The judiciary spokesperson has confirmed that Fatemi-Amin and his then deputy were summoned and presented their defense, and are currently free on bail. However, the case is still ongoing.
