Former Advisor to Ahmadinejad: Hamid Baghaei's Health Condition Has Reached a Critical Point

The website 'Dolat Bahar,' close to former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has reported that Hamid Baghaei's health condition in prison has reached a 'critical point.' Ali Akbar Javanfekr, Ahmadinejad's former media advisor, announced this based on 'medical and hospital reports.' Baghaei, who served as Ahmadinejad's executive assistant during his presidency, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for 'embezzlement' and 'misappropriation of state property.' According to his supporters, Baghaei has been on a hunger strike since his arrest on March 13, 2018, to serve his sentence. Mehran Abdollahpour, Baghaei's lawyer, stated on April 7 that his client's condition has become 'very serious and dangerous' due to the hunger strike and refusal to drink water. Abdollahpour noted that although Ahmadinejad has called for the end of Baghaei's hunger strike, Baghaei remains 'very determined' in his decision. Javanfekr, referring to Baghaei's hunger strike, which he described as lasting nearly '50 days,' stated that his physical condition has raised 'alarm bells' and that delays in addressing his legitimate and legal requests could be likened to a remedy after Sohrab's death. According to Javanfekr, Baghaei's only request to end the hunger strike is for 'fair handling of his case and the judicial authorities' agreement to reopen the case and hold a public trial.' Ahmadinejad, who has criticized the Islamic Republic as a whole in open letters and various notes following pressure on Baghaei and Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei, his senior managers during his presidency, reiterated on April 26 that Baghaei is 'innocent.' Ahmadinejad's note, written 45 days after the start of Baghaei's hunger strike, described his physical condition as 'bad' and mentioned his request for 'minimum judicial rights, namely a fair and public retrial.' The Dolat Bahar website reported earlier in April that Ahmadinejad is also 'fasting' in solidarity with Baghaei. On April 23, Asghar Jahangir, head of the Prisons Organization, confirmed Baghaei's hunger strike, stating that he had developed a 'physical problem' due to not eating, but had been transferred to the hospital due to what he called the 'humanitarian perspective' of the Prisons Organization. Two days later, Jahangir announced that based on a report he received, Baghaei has 'no issues.' He did not comment on whether Ahmadinejad's former assistant had returned to prison or remained in the hospital. Dolat Bahar, following the initial reports about Baghaei's transfer to the hospital and his refusal to receive IV fluids, stated that 'the way the relevant authorities are handling this issue indicates that apparently some individuals welcome the life-threatening situation for Mr. Baghaei and his potential coma.' Ahmadinejad, in his latest remarks, reiterated his criticism of the institutions under the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, considering the proposals made in his letters to Ayatollah Khamenei as 'last opportunities' for the Islamic Republic. The former president of Iran stated in an interview with the 'Javdaneh Bahar' publication that the leader and other officials of the Islamic Republic must explain their 'actions to the people' and convince them. He, who had previously refrained from commenting on the country's situation or the crackdowns following criticisms of the 2009 presidential election results, has turned to criticize the system and officials of Iran after increasing pressures on the managers of his presidency and Khamenei's opposition to his candidacy in the elections. In two letters to the Supreme Leader written on February 19 and March 11, he severely criticized the country's situation, calling for structural reforms in some institutions, including the Guardian Council and the Judiciary, determining the fate of parallel institutions, establishing a constitutional court, and removing armed forces from political affairs and economic activities.