Mashaei: I Will Not Attend the Court

Despite the statements of the head of the Tehran judiciary regarding the public nature of the court for Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei, he referred to his ruling as 'predetermined' and announced that he would not attend the court due to its lack of transparency and the absence of an opportunity to read the indictment. According to the government website, Mashaei, the chief of staff for former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, stated in a phone call from prison that he had not received the indictment and had not spoken with his lawyer. He emphasized that the judge lacks the authority to handle his case and that he will not attend the court session. According to Fars news agency, the first session of Mashaei's court is scheduled to be held on Saturday in the first branch of the Revolutionary Court, presided over by Moussa Ghazanfari Abadi, who is also the head of the Tehran Revolutionary Court. Mashaei faces charges of 'propaganda against the regime' and 'collusion and participation against the internal and external security of the country.' Gholamhossein Esmaeili, the head of the Tehran judiciary, stated on August 20 that the decision regarding the public or private nature of the court sessions is up to the presiding judge, but it was agreed in a consultation that Mashaei's court would be public. However, Mashaei claimed that the judge informed him that due to the 'security' nature of the case, the court is 'not public' and 'we will not allow you to advertise there.' In a recorded phone call, Ahmadinejad responded to Mashaei's statements by saying that 'they do not dare to hold the court publicly and want to play a public trick, meaning they will broadcast their own words on television but not the rest of the court.' The former president of Iran and his chief of staff emphasized that a public trial means that attendees should also have the opportunity to film or broadcast the session live, including on Instagram. Mashaei also mentioned in this phone call that the judge has already 'issued his ruling.' According to Mashaei, the judge explained the reason for his continued detention, stating that there is 'tension in society, and you are adding to the tension.' Ahmadinejad responded to these remarks by saying, 'They arrest and imprison secretly and conduct one-sided propaganda and then condemn.' Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei was arrested on March 15, 2018, after burning Hamid Baghaei's ruling in front of the British embassy in Tehran. Ahmadinejad's office accused the judiciary on April 1 of 'intending to kill' Hamid Baghaei and Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei by violating all legal and even humanitarian standards. In a phone conversation with Mashaei, Ahmadinejad also stated that he intends to appear in front of Mashaei's court and declare that this court is a 'political game.' However, Mashaei asked Ahmadinejad to reconsider this decision. Hamid Baghaei, Ahmadinejad's executive assistant, has also been sentenced to 15 years in prison for 'embezzlement' and 'misappropriation of public funds' and has been in prison since March 13, 2018. Baghaei has repeatedly announced that he has gone on hunger strike in protest of his sentence.