Statement from Ahmadinejad's Office Regarding the Situation of Baghaei and Mashaei in Prison

The office of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the former President of Iran, accused the judiciary officials of intending to 'take the lives' of Hamid Baghaei and Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei 'by trampling all legal and even human standards.' According to the website of the government of Bahar, Ahmadinejad's office on Tuesday, April 1, issued a statement accusing the judiciary officials of 'arresting Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei and Hamid Baghaei as a result of implementing a targeted plan' and subjecting them to 'illegal and malicious behavior.' The statement emphasized that 'judicial officials have gone beyond destruction and, by violating all legal and even human standards, intend to take the lives' of Hamid Baghaei and Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei. This statement was released following conflicting reports about the continuation of Hamid Baghaei's hunger strike. While judiciary officials announced that Hamid Baghaei had ended his hunger strike, Mr. Baghaei denied these reports, stating that he is in 'very good' mental condition and has no intention of 'committing suicide.' Hamid Baghaei, who has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for 'embezzlement' and 'misappropriation of public funds,' was arrested on March 13, 2018, to serve his sentence. According to his supporters, he has been on a hunger strike since that time. Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei, Ahmadinejad's chief of staff during his presidency, was also arrested two days after he burned Baghaei's sentence in front of the British embassy in Tehran. Meanwhile, Ahmadinejad's office stated in its statement: 'Why should an Iranian's protest against British interference in Iran's affairs be dealt with harshly and secretly by the judiciary, especially in Tehran?' The office also demanded the publication of 'the text of the negotiations and recommendations made by the British Foreign Secretary during his recent visit to Tehran.' Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei linked Boris Johnson's visit to Iran with the removal of Ahmadinejad and his associates, claiming that Baghaei's sentence was 'dictated' to Tehran's judiciary by the British. Ahmadinejad also mentioned in a letter to the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, published on January 25, 2018, that the British Foreign Secretary had 'made recommendations to some individuals' during his recent visit to Tehran. Ahmadinejad's office further called for an end to the 'illegal actions' of the judiciary and the release of Hamid Baghaei and Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei. The statement concluded: 'The palace of the oppressors' wishes is very weak, and we have no doubt that spring is on the way and that this oppression will soon be addressed before the nation; then it will be too late for regret.' Ahmadinejad, on April 1, again described the sentence issued for Hamid Baghaei as 'pre-determined' and 'political' in a video message. Following the arrest of Hamid Baghaei and Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei, websites close to Ahmadinejad published the texts of two previous letters he had written to the Supreme Leader, in which he severely criticized the country's situation and called for structural reforms in some institutions, including the Guardian Council and the judiciary, determining the fate of parallel institutions, establishing a constitutional court, and removing armed forces from political and economic affairs. One of the accusations against Mr. Baghaei is 'embezzlement' of 3 million 766 thousand euros and 590 thousand dollars from funds delivered to him by the Quds Force of the Revolutionary Guards. However, Mr. Baghaei stated that the 3 million 766 thousand euros that are said to have been delivered to him was a 'gift' from the commander of the Quds Force to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for 'social and cultural activities,' and Qassem Soleimani announced this at the time of the delivery of the funds.