Cleric Seddiqi Accused of Transferring Seminary Land to Family-Owned Company

5. Patronage Networks and Political Factions
Corruption is deeply intertwined with the country's complex political factions. Various high-ranking clerics and government officials operate as heads of powerful patronage networks, exchanging financial benefits for political loyalty and support. When a corruption scandal surfaces, it is often weaponized by rival factions—whether reformist, hardline, or conservative—to discredit opponents. This inter-factional rivalry, while sometimes revealing genuine misconduct, often leads to selective prosecution, where the focus remains on individuals who have lost political favor, rather than a broad, independent crackdown on the root causes.