Hashemi Shahroudi: An Infection Discovered in Germany That Was Not Identified in Iran

Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi, the former head of Iran's judiciary, who has recently been in the news due to his treatment process and the protests regarding his presence in Germany, announced that a new infection was discovered during his treatment in Germany that had not previously been identified in Iran. In a press conference on Sunday, January 14, which was his first public appearance following his controversial trip to Germany, this senior political figure from Iran acknowledged that he had undergone surgery three times in Iran due to a tumor in his large intestine, and ultimately, disagreements among his treating physicians led to his trip to Germany. He also stated that doctors in Germany discovered a new infection that 'had not been detected in Iran,' and 'in Germany, they said that if treatment had not been done there, the infection would have reached the blood and there would have been no cure.' According to Mr. Shahroudi, for this reason, and despite his 'insistence' for a quicker treatment process and return to Iran, he was forced to continue his treatment in Germany. Mr. Shahroudi confirmed that his treatment in Germany was conducted at the clinic of Dr. [Majid] Samii and added that 'in Germany, he was with our doctors like Dr. Najabat and Samii.' Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi had also undergone surgery in May, and at that time, while some websites reported the reason for his hospitalization as 'cancer,' Mohammad Sadegh Fazeli, Mr. Shahroudi's doctor, stated that he had undergone surgery due to a 'relatively common gastrointestinal disease.' Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi, who currently holds membership in the Guardian Council and the presidency of the Expediency Discernment Council, has been in Hanover for several weeks for what has been described as 'completing his treatment process,' and a few days ago, the German government confirmed that he was allowed to receive treatment in the country due to 'serious illness' and 'valid medical reasons.' Mr. Shahroudi's presence in Germany has sparked protests among opponents of the Islamic Republic in the country, and at several protests in front of the hospital where this former judicial official was staying, demonstrators called for his arrest and trial due to his role in human rights violations in Iran. Meanwhile, the German prosecutor's office also confirmed that it had received complaints against Mr. Shahroudi, and it has been reported that his early return to Iran on January 10 was due to 'fear of legal prosecution.' Among the evidence presented to the German prosecutor's office for prosecuting Mr. Shahroudi were his role in issuing 'thousands of death sentences' during his tenure in Iran's judiciary. Germany, like other European countries, opposes the death penalty. However, the German prosecutor's office cannot personally act on lawsuits related to executions in other countries, and according to Reuters, any potential arrest warrant in such a case must be issued by the German Constitutional Court. When Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi took over the judiciary, he severely criticized this institution, stating that he had inherited a 'ruin.' He has yet to respond to the allegations against him. However, ISNA reported that he 'appreciated the cooperation and coordination of the German government and police regarding the movements of royalist and opposition elements.' Mr. Shahroudi was born in Najaf, Iraq, and is currently 69 years old. After the February 1979 revolution, he came to Iran from Najaf and fought against Saddam Hussein's regime by establishing the 'Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq.' He has been mentioned as a potential successor to the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, following his appointment to the presidency of the Expediency Discernment Council a few months after the death of Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani.