“Tawabsazi” and the misuse of religion in service of the government and power, seems to have been initiated by Assadollah Lajvardi – also known as Evin’s executioner – from the early years of the revolution, and reached its peak during the massacre of the Mojahedin and individuals associated with leftist groups in 1988. Television confessions, collaboration with interrogators, betraying comrades, participating in intelligence raids to identify and attending religious ceremonies inside prison cells were among the conditions for accepting repentance after arrest and torture.

With such a background and history, minds are drawn towards the 1960s and its atrocities, and once again the culture of confession is being discussed in the judicial system. The mention of “effective collaboration of the perpetrator in the discovery of crime by introducing accomplices and assistants in the crime” (paragraph T of Article 5 of the Confession Verification Procedure) is reminiscent of the same security and torture methods under the name of “enhancements”.

Religious repentance is based on absolute awareness of the Creator’s hidden and manifest creations, but political repentance is subject to the reports of interrogators of the Revolutionary Guards and information and judges who are often unaware of judicial standards and are influenced by partisan biases, which is far from true justice. In the words of Imam Ali, “The judicial system has become captive to the wicked and is being led by the desires of worldly greed.”

In addition, the imprisonment of prisoners in the Chief Justice’s directive to “commitment to fulfilling religious duties” and “providing public services or participating in charitable activities” opens the way for prisoners to use prayer, fasting, charity, and kindness as a means of hypocrisy, deceit, and pretense to be released from prison, which are matters of faith and are revealed in solitude.

Shari’a repentance is a type of spiritual awakening and conscious and voluntary change in behavior after committing a sin, which a person goes through in a process related to their Creator. If their crime has a personal aspect, repentance is achieved through changing behavior and the past will be cleansed and concealed.

But if someone has attacked someone’s life, property, or honor, it is considered a legal “right of the people” that neither God forgives nor the government and ruling power have the authority to forgive. The condition for repentance in these cases is only achieved by obtaining the satisfaction of the victim, returning the property, apologizing to the accused person, and publicly acknowledging the mistake and deception.

Repentance, although it may seem easy on the surface, is like making a decision to change consumption patterns, lose weight, reduce fat or blood sugar, and other elements that require strong determination, precise planning, and perseverance. Repentance cannot be achieved with momentary decisions and Arabic verbal expressions. If we have become accustomed to and addicted to a certain action, giving it up requires sincere determination. Repentance is actually like a U-turn in driving, correcting the wrong path and heading towards the right destination.

The Quran (in verses 53-55 of Surah Zumar) gives glad tidings to those who have indulged in excess and harm to themselves: “Never lose hope in the mercy of God, for He is the most forgiving and merciful. He forgives all sins and negates their negative effects, on the condition that: 1- You have a continuous return (to the right path with every deviation from the goal), 2- If you have been submitting to the desires of your ego until now, from now on, submit to the true purpose you have chosen, 3- Follow the guidance of the book (the model for change and improvement).”

Such a mechanism is implemented in most countries around the world without being called repentance. As soon as they see that the prisoner has been following reasonable and peaceful methods in prison for a while, they include them in the customary pardons on national or religious holidays.

Before the revolution, on the occasion of Nowruz or religious holidays, some of the prisoners were granted amnesty and did not have to pay for their religious beliefs. Generally, the integration of religion into the government promotes lying, deceit, and corruption, which is detrimental to both the institutions of religion and government.

In fact, the “Guidelines for Repentance” which has been communicated to the Attorney General of the country by the head of the judiciary in 9 articles, is a clear example of the fusion of religious and customary domains, this world and the hereafter, earthly and heavenly affairs, and the management of material and spiritual life in the state religion.