What is the Iranian judicial branch like?

• A. Judges are elected by popular vote
• B. All members are appointed by the Supreme Leader and all laws based on Islam
• C. It operates independently of religious law
• D. It is chaired by the Prime Minister

Answer: (B)

In Iran, the judiciary is tightly controlled by religious authority and operates within a Sharia-based legal framework. The Supreme Leader holds ultimate authority, and the Head of the Judiciary is appointed by the Supreme Leader; that head then appoints judges. Because the system is grounded in Islamic law, the laws themselves are based on Islam, and the judiciary applies interpretations of Sharia in its decisions. This means the judiciary is not elected by popular vote and is not chaired by a Prime Minister. It is not independent of religious law; rather, it functions as part of the theocratic structure overseen by the Supreme Leader. That combination—appointments by a religious authority and laws grounded in Islam—best describes how the Iranian judicial branch operates.