Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi Left Germany Due to 'Fear of Legal Prosecution'

Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi, the former head of Iran's judiciary, who had traveled to a medical clinic in Hanover, Germany for treatment, cut his trip short and returned to Tehran on Thursday. This news was reported by Reuters on Thursday evening, citing an unnamed official from the German government. Mr. Shahroudi, who currently holds membership in the Guardian Council and the presidency of the Expediency Discernment Council in Iran, had been in Hanover for several weeks for what was described as 'completing his treatment process.' 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.' However, Mr. Shahroudi's presence in Germany sparked protests among opponents of the Islamic Republic in the country, with demonstrators at several protests outside the hospital where he was staying calling for his arrest and trial for his role in human rights violations in Iran. In this context, the National Council of Resistance, an opposition group, stated that Mr. Shahroudi had issued 'thousands' of death sentences and committed 'crimes against humanity,' urging the German prosecutor's office to investigate his case. Meanwhile, the German prosecutor's office confirmed that it had received complaints against Mr. Shahroudi, and it was reported that his early return to Iran was due to 'fear of legal prosecution.' Among the complaints received by the German prosecutor's office was one filed by Volker Beck, a politician from the German Green Party. Following the announcement of these complaints, the National Council of Resistance reported that Mr. Hashemi Shahroudi and his accompanying delegation had booked return tickets and were leaving Germany, with Reuters also quoting Javad Dabiran, a spokesman for this group, stating that Mr. Shahroudi and his companions were seen leaving the hospital. Germany, like other European countries, opposes the death penalty. However, the German prosecutor's office cannot personally act on petitions related to executions in other countries. Reuters noted in its report that a potential arrest warrant in such a case would need to be issued by the German Constitutional Court. Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi himself had previously criticized the judiciary when he took office, stating that he had inherited a 'ruin.' He has not yet responded to the allegations against him. Mr. Shahroudi, who was born in Najaf, Iraq, is currently 69 years old. After the February 1979 revolution, he moved from Najaf to Iran 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 since his appointment as head of the Expediency Discernment Council a few months after the death of Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani last summer.