Hamid Baghaei Resumes Hunger Strike After Returning to Evin Prison

Hamid Baghaei, former deputy to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Iran's former president, returned to Evin Prison on Saturday, June 8, after a week of leave, and according to the Telegram channel 'Dolat Bahar', he has resumed his hunger strike. Baghaei, who had been on leave since the previous Sunday, challenged judicial officials' comments regarding his good health by publishing naked photos of his upper body. These photos, shared on the 'Dolat Bahar' Telegram channel close to Ahmadinejad, indicate significant weight loss. The channel reported that Baghaei returned to Evin Prison in 'critical' physical condition, and the Tehran prosecutor did not approve an extension of his leave. Baghaei informed Dolat Bahar that upon his return to Evin Prison, he would continue his hunger strike 'in protest against the ongoing oppression of the judiciary.' Dolat Bahar further stated that reports indicate Baghaei has resumed his hunger strike in prison. Baghaei was arrested in 2015 on financial charges, and after that, close associates of Ahmadinejad reported that he was released by the order of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic. He was arrested again last July and released on a bail of 20 billion tomans. Baghaei had run for the presidential election in 2017 alongside Ahmadinejad, but the Guardian Council disqualified both of them. His charges include 'requesting a total payment of 300 million tomans to 16 members of the government,' 'assistance to the International University of Iranians,' 'assistance to the Iranian House Organization,' 'assistance to the state newspaper Iran,' and 'collusion in contract and transactions of five companies.' According to the Tehran prosecutor's office, Mr. Baghaei is accused of 'embezzling' 3 million 766 thousand euros and 590 thousand dollars from funds delivered to him by the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. He has denied these accusations. Baghaei, who was sentenced to 15 years in prison for 'embezzlement' and 'misappropriation of state property,' was arrested on March 13, 2018, to serve his sentence and claimed he went on a hunger strike. Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei, Ahmadinejad's chief of staff during his presidency, was also arrested two days after he burned Baghaei's sentence in front of the British embassy in Tehran. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has accused Iranian judicial officials of 'conspiracy' against him and his associates and has called for reform of the judiciary and the dismissal of Sadegh Larijani, its head, in open letters to Ayatollah Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic.