Mashaei Burns Baqai's Prison Sentence in Front of British Embassy

Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei, the head of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's office during his presidency, protested the imprisonment of Hamid Baqai by burning Baqai's court ruling in front of the British embassy on Thursday. Hamid Baqai, Ahmadinejad's executive assistant, was arrested on Tuesday evening, March 13, to serve a 15-year sentence. Baqai, accused of financial crimes during his tenure in Ahmadinejad's government, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison, a fine of 43 billion tomans, and lashes. His charges include unauthorized appropriation, embezzlement, and collusion in government transactions. His trial was held in private despite his request for a public hearing, and he has denied the charges. In protest of this ruling, Mashaei, along with Ali Akbar Javanfekr, Ahmadinejad's media advisor, and several supporters, burned Baqai's ruling in front of the British embassy on Thursday, March 16. Mashaei claimed that Boris Johnson's visit to Iran was related to the removal of Ahmadinejad and his associates, alleging that Baqai's sentence was dictated by the British Queen, Prime Minister, and Foreign Minister to the Iranian judiciary. He criticized the judiciary again, expressing confidence that they would seek revenge against him as well. He described Baqai as 'simple' and 'humble' and claimed that Britain ordered Baqai's arrest to prevent 'fundamental reforms' in the country. Mashaei labeled those who arrested Baqai as 'godless,' 'heartless,' 'cruel,' 'unfeeling,' and 'oppressive,' stating that Baqai told him he would 'martyr' himself through a hunger strike in prison. Mashaei also expressed his readiness to 'give his life for Iran.' Supporters present at the scene chanted slogans such as 'We will die, we will die, we will take back Iran,' 'We do not want the English judiciary,' and 'Baqai in prison, order from England.' Previously, Ahmadinejad and his associates had accused the daughter of Sadegh Larijani, the head of the judiciary, of spying for Britain, an accusation that the judiciary denied. Mashaei did not provide evidence linking Baqai's arrest to Britain, and the British embassy has not yet responded to this news.