Family of Rafsanjani Protests Judiciary's Silence on 'Shameful Accusations'

The family of Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani reacted to the criticism from the head of the judiciary regarding the release of a farewell video of Mehdi Hashemi, protesting the 'publication ban' on his defense while alleging the dissemination of 'lies and slanders' about the case on state television and military-affiliated media. Meanwhile, Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, the first deputy of the judiciary, labeled Mehdi Hashemi's claims that 'he has been wronged' as 'a crime and a form of defamation,' emphasizing that Mehdi Hashemi 'cannot communicate with the public through the media.' After Mehdi Hashemi was imprisoned on Sunday, August 8, a video of his farewell with his father before going to Evin Prison was published on Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani's official website. In response to this video, Ejei stated that 'we should not create an environment where anyone who has been in a position can make farewell videos to undermine the judiciary.' In response to these statements, the family of Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani issued a statement on Wednesday, August 10, asserting that there is 'much to say' about the 'stages of the trial, the appointment of the judge, and the determination of the sentence' for Mehdi Hashemi, but Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani has remained silent about this ruling to avoid creating tension and controversy 'on the eve of the implementation of the nuclear agreement.' According to the Alif website, the statement indicated that the Hashemi Rafsanjani family also 'follows' his example by 'sealing their silence on thousands of unspoken points and remarks about this case.' The statement further noted: 'It is surprising how judicial officials are astonished and react quickly to the unofficial and limited release of images of a father bidding farewell to his son, but remain silent in the face of dozens of instances of video releases from state television and social media linked to regime organizations over the years, where clear lies and slanders have been directed at revolutionary allies, despite complaints.' The family of Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani also criticized the 'publication ban' on Mehdi Hashemi's defense in court, referring to the release of 'a case with tens of thousands of pages of lies and slanders' on state television and news agencies and newspapers that 'are funded by the country's defense budget.' Before reporting to Evin Prison, Mehdi Hashemi had requested the full broadcast of his trial sessions on state television, but Davood Nematian Anaraki, the director of public relations at the state television organization, stated that broadcasting this trial 'requires obtaining the necessary permits from the judiciary.' The Hashemi Rafsanjani family's statement also emphasized that the judiciary has not shown an adequate response to the disruption caused by 'extremist groups' during Hassan Khomeini's speech and the 'dangerous attacks by paramilitary pressure groups' on Ali Motahari, a representative from Tehran in the parliament, and the distribution of 'vicious pamphlets filled with insults as official newspapers and publications.' This statement expressed surprise at what the authors described as 'discrimination in the enforcement of the law,' adding that 'the absolute freedom promised to the people has so far only benefited the hardliners and extremists, who are tirelessly working to sink the ship of the Islamic Republic, and no official is addressing them.' The statement concluded by emphasizing: 'The public's expectation from officials is not to behave in a way that even supporters of the regime cannot defend this performance, which, in a sense, turns society into a city of the dead.' Two days before the release of the Hashemi Rafsanjani family's statement, Faezah Hashemi, the daughter of the head of the Expediency Discernment Council, stated that her brother's prison sentence was aimed at 'reducing' Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani's presence and influence in the Assembly of Experts and the Islamic Consultative Assembly elections. Mehdi Hashemi also stated before entering prison that he does not consider the court's ruling 'fair and legal' but sees 'political motives as the main factor.' In response to these remarks, Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, the spokesman for the Iranian judiciary, said on Wednesday: 'If Mehdi Hashemi claims he has been wronged, using this phrase is also a crime and a form of defamation.' According to the state-run IRNA news agency, he emphasized that 'no special privileges have been designated for Mehdi Hashemi in prison, and he cannot communicate with the public through the media.' Before reporting to Evin Prison, Mehdi Hashemi promised on his Facebook page that he would soon publish a 'detailed' piece about the 'trial process' and would also share photos or memories related to prison on his Facebook page.