Mahdi Hashemi Sent to Evin Prison

According to reports, Mahdi Hashemi, the son of Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, the head of Iran's Expediency Council, entered Evin Prison on Sunday, August 18, to serve his 10-year sentence. Meanwhile, Fars News Agency reported, citing an 'informed source,' that he was summoned to the prosecutor's office last week and was supposed to present himself at Evin Prison on Sunday. According to ISNA, before entering prison, Mahdi Hashemi stated that he does not consider the court's ruling to be 'fair and legal' but rather believes that 'political motives are the main factor.' He emphasized that for the 'protection and defense of the dignity and character' of Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, and considering the 'rejection' of his previous request for public court sessions, he once again requests the complete and unedited broadcast of all his trial sessions by the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting. He added, 'I hope this request will be accepted, and I firmly believe that this action will prevent the exploitation of extremist and malicious individuals and harm to one of the important pillars of the Islamic Republic.' According to the report, Iffat Marashi, his mother, along with his siblings Mohsen, Yasser, and Fatemeh Hashemi, accompanied him to Evin Prison. Additionally, according to Tasnim News Agency, 'a large number' of journalists, photographers, and videographers from various Iranian media were present in front of Evin Prison. Mahdi Hashemi was charged upon his return to Iran at the airport on October 24, 2012, and was arrested after presenting himself to the prosecutor's office. He was released on bail on December 17, 2012, after nearly three months in custody. Ultimately, after several court sessions, his sentence was issued, but officials from the judiciary and Mr. Hashemi's lawyers did not announce the issued sentence. Eventually, Gholamhossein Mohseni Eje'i, the first deputy of the judiciary, announced on June 11 that Mahdi Hashemi's sentence had been confirmed, and 'the highest penalty of 10 years in prison will be enforced against him.' The handling of Mahdi Hashemi's case has repeatedly sparked controversy in Iranian media, and the first deputy of the judiciary alluded to this case in his Friday prayer sermon on July 6, stating that a 'powerful individual' threatens the judiciary. While some members of the Iranian parliament and some conservative media have accused Mahdi Hashemi of involvement in economic corruption in the Statoil and Crescent contracts, Mahmoud Alizadeh Tabatabai, Mahdi Hashemi's lawyer, stated that the 'main issue' of his client's case is Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani himself, not Mahdi Hashemi. Meanwhile, Mostafa Tajzadeh, a jailed member of the Participation Front, wrote in a letter to Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani on August 25, 2014, regarding Mahdi Hashemi's trial that 'the problem of the gentlemen is more with you than with Mr. Mahdi Hashemi.' Iffat Marashi, Mahdi Hashemi Rafsanjani's mother, also described the Islamic Republic's court ruling against her son as 'fraud and treachery' on June 21. Meanwhile, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani mentioned on Tuesday, July 14, that during his visit with Mahdi Hashemi in Evin Prison, interrogators had asked his son to either request clemency from the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic or continue his lengthy and thousands of pages case. Following the publication of these statements, Fars News Agency, affiliated with the Revolutionary Guards, reported on July 21, citing 'an informed individual,' that Mahdi Hashemi, after the discovery of 'new documents and evidence' that made his crime 'very serious,' had requested his father to ask the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic for clemency. However, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani's office on August 1 described this report as 'a blatant lie' and 'news fabrication' aimed at 'neutralizing the effects' of Mr. Hashemi Rafsanjani's previous statements about his meeting with his son.