Ahmadinejad's Harsh Speech Following the Sentencing of His Former Officials

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad described the sentences issued for his former chief of staff and media advisor as 'oppressive' and threatened that 'soon the case of those who ordered, executed, and issued these sentences will be addressed.' In a recently released video, the former president of Iran rejected the judges' claim that these sentences were based on 'orders from above,' stating that 'such an excuse is unacceptable.' Ahmadinejad added, 'Soon a queue of the regretful and a queue of those who apologize will form in this country, and soon the people's court will also be established.' On Wednesday, September 12, it was announced that Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei, Ahmadinejad's chief of staff during his presidency, was sentenced to 5 years in prison for conspiracy to commit a crime against national security, 1 year for propaganda against the regime, and 6 months for insulting judicial officials in the course of their duties. It was also announced that Ali Akbar Javanfekr, Ahmadinejad's former media advisor, was sentenced to 4 years in prison for conspiracy to commit a crime against national security, and this sentence is subject to appeal. Hamid Baghaei, Ahmadinejad's executive deputy during his presidency, was also sentenced to 15 years in prison for embezzlement and misappropriation of state property. One day after the sentences for Mashaei and Javanfekr were announced, a video of Ahmadinejad's speech on this matter was published on his official Telegram channel. The original date of this speech was August 16, and it took place 'in a meeting with media and cyberspace activists,' but it was released on Thursday, one day after the aforementioned sentences were issued. In this speech, Ahmadinejad stated, 'The scene is clear that this is a case fabrication. A political confrontation in the guise of security titles.' He severely criticized the judiciary of the Islamic Republic, saying that if his associates were, as he claimed, 'part of a plundering gang, no one would have done anything to them.' Ahmadinejad further stated, 'If you are men, come and debate Mr. Mashaei on television. If you are men, come and compete with the people. Let the people choose. If you are men, let’s compete in management.' He even used an unconventional tone to emphasize his position, saying, 'If they have the courage, let them hold a debate on television to prove who [is corrupt] in this country.' The former president referred to the judiciary, saying, 'Someone told the head of the judiciary that so-and-so will be arrested that night'; he addressed the judges, saying, 'Using government resources for personal opinions is the height of dishonor.' Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei, Ahmadinejad's chief of staff during his presidency, was arrested on March 15, 2018, after he burned Hamid Baghaei's sentence in front of the British embassy in Tehran. In his recent speech, Ahmadinejad referred to this incident, saying, 'If Mashaei had not burned it, I would have gone and burned it.' The former president also stated, 'You take an innocent person and imprison them for five months, contrary to all laws and citizens' rights... and even inside the prison, they are punished again.' Ahmadinejad's remarks come at a time when during his presidency, the suppression of protesters was accompanied by imprisonment and even death in custody. Some of Ahmadinejad's critics question why he remained silent during his presidency regarding the actions of the judiciary and the suppression of protests in 2009. However, he has told a group of students that 'we did not know about some issues. We really did not know, and we later became aware.'