Hamid Baghaei: We Know You Will Soon Be Overthrown

Hamid Baghaei, the executive assistant to former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, on Wednesday evening, August 4, shortly after his release, called the statements of the spokesperson for the judiciary regarding himself "lies" and criticized the officials of this body, saying, "We know you will soon be overthrown." According to released videos, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei, and several of their supporters welcomed Mr. Baghaei. Reports indicate that he was released on a bail of 20 billion tomans, and the website 'Dolat-e Bahar', close to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, also wrote that "the popular supporters of Dr. Ahmadinejad provided the necessary bail for Baghaei's release." In the presence of this group, Hamid Baghaei called the remarks of Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, the judiciary spokesperson, that he himself did not agree to be transferred to a public cell, "lies," stating, "Mr. Ejei is lying now just as he lied during his time in the Ministry of Intelligence." He added, "Mr. Ejei must answer many questions. I hope a day comes when there is no oppression in the Islamic Republic." Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei had stated that the judge ordered Hamid Baghaei's transfer to a public ward, but he said, "I am very comfortable in this suite, and it is better for me to stay here." Hamid Baghaei also reassured Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei and his supporters, saying, "Rest assured, I did not eat the unlawful bread of the judiciary." The executive assistant to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad also emphasized: "I did nothing to go to prison. I participated in the elections and wrote the name of another person. We know where it hurts you, and we know you will soon be overthrown." On the presidential election day, May 29, he wrote the name of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the disqualified candidate, on his ballot. Ali Akbar Javanfekr previously stated on July 18 that Hamid Baghaei was arrested in front of his house by order of his former case investigator and was imprisoned after a bail of 50 billion tomans was set and not provided. Mr. Javanfekr later announced on July 22 that Hamid Baghaei had gone on a hunger strike in protest against his "illegal" detention. On Tuesday, August 3, some news sites reported that Hamid Baghaei was transferred from prison to a hospital in Tehran due to "poor physical condition." Meanwhile, the 'Dolat-e Bahar' website reported that Mr. Baghaei's condition after 16 days of hunger strike was "very critical, and after being hospitalized at Baqiyatallah Hospital, he refused treatment." After that, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad visited Baqiyatallah Hospital to meet with Hamid Baghaei, but officials prevented the meeting. In this context, Hamid Baghaei told Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, "The hospital president and staff apologized and said that the judiciary officials prevented this meeting." Mr. Baghaei also mentioned in another part of his remarks after his release that the case investigator told him that Hossein Fereydoun, the brother of Hassan Rouhani, received "60 billion tomans to be appointed to this position" from the former CEO of Bank Mellat. Previously, Iranian judiciary officials had announced that Ali Rostgari was appointed as the CEO of Bank Mellat with the support of Hossein Fereydoun. However, officials from Hassan Rouhani's government have denied this claim. Hamid Baghaei also commented on the state of prisons in Iran, saying, "A person in our cell was imprisoned for 13 months without interrogation and was not allowed to make phone calls. Our youth did not shed blood for these corrupt individuals to come to power." Two days after Hamid Baghaei's arrest, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad described his detention in a letter as "illegal" and a "great injustice," calling for his immediate release. In response, the Tehran prosecutor warned on Friday, July 22, against "any unprofessional and uninformed comments" regarding Hamid Baghaei's case. Hamid Baghaei had previously been arrested in June 2015 on charges of "embezzlement" and was released in January of the same year.