Hashemi Family Pursuing Retirement Request for Mohammad Reza Rahimi

Fatemeh Hashemi, the eldest daughter of Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, says she is following up on one of two requests made by Mohammad Reza Rahimi, the former first vice president of Iran, during the first night of Mehdi Hashemi's stay in Evin Prison. Mehdi Hashemi, the youngest son of Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, reported to Evin Prison last Sunday, August 18, to serve his sentence, and according to Fatemeh Hashemi's interview with Shargh, he spent his first night in 'Mohammad Reza Rahimi's suite' in Ward 241 of Evin Prison. In the interview published on Tuesday, August 26, Fatemeh Hashemi stated that Mohammad Reza Rahimi made 'two requests' of Mehdi Hashemi during his stay, one of which was related to 'following up on his retirement.' Fatemeh Hashemi refrained from disclosing the second request but mentioned that she has made 'follow-ups' for Mr. Rahimi's retirement. The limited vice president under Ahmadinejad was transferred to prison by law enforcement officers in Bahman 1393 after refusing to report to Evin Prison to serve his sentence, but less than ten days later, he was granted leave due to his wife's deteriorating health. Later, in Khordad, following the death of Mr. Rahimi's wife, he was again granted leave to attend her funeral, but some news sites reported that he did not return to prison and remained on leave. However, Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, the spokesman for the Iranian judiciary, denied these reports on Sunday, stating that Mohammad Reza Rahimi has returned to prison. Fatemeh Hashemi also mentioned in another part of her remarks that she visited her brother on Saturday and added that Mehdi Hashemi is in a '73 square meter hall in the basement' along with '28 other prisoners,' some of whom are political prisoners and some are financial prisoners. This statement comes as Fars News Agency reported on Tuesday that according to 'rumors,' Mehdi Hashemi requested a transfer from the 'economic' ward of Evin Prison to the 'political and security' ward. The news agency also reported on Saturday that Mehdi Hashemi is in one of the rooms of Guidance Hall 7 of Evin Prison with 14 other inmates. According to Fars News Agency, 'Despite the rumors, Mehdi Hashemi is not in the same ward as Mohammad Reza Rahimi and Babak Zanjani and does not even share a common yard.' On Tuesday, just hours after the Kaleme website, close to Mir Hossein Mousavi, reported the dismissal of the head of Evin Prison due to 'respectful treatment' of Mehdi Hashemi, the director of Tehran prisons confirmed the dismissal of Ali Ashraf Rashidi from this position but denied any connection between this dismissal and Mehdi Hashemi's case. The Kaleme website reported that Ali Ashraf Rashidi was dismissed due to 'the manner of Mehdi Hashemi's entry' into prison. However, according to ISNA news agency, Sohrab Soleimani, the director of Tehran prisons, confirmed Mr. Rashidi's dismissal but stated that this change has 'no connection' to Mehdi Hashemi's case and was made in line with 'management policies in prisons.' According to this report, the director of Tehran prisons named Mohammad Rahim Yousefi, the former head of Shahr-e Rey prison, as the new head of Evin Prison.