Verbal Clash Between Judiciary Spokesman and Ahmadinejad's Associates Over 'Mental Health'

In response to the implied accusation by the spokesman of the judiciary regarding Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's mental health, Ali Akbar Javanfekr, advisor to the former Iranian president, countered by accusing Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei of lacking mental health and compared him to the commander of the Nazi SS forces, Heinrich Himmler. Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, the spokesman for Iran's judiciary, on Sunday, December 24, implicitly accused Ahmadinejad of lacking mental health and stated that if necessary, his case would be referred to forensic medicine. Hours later, Ali Akbar Javanfekr reacted to these statements on his Telegram channel, writing: 'If a person over sixty years old and in the clerical position, with a white beard and experience in holding important responsibilities in the country... behaves frivolously and whistles in a way that becomes a laughingstock for all... should he be referred to forensic medicine or directly hospitalized in a special hospital?' Mr. Mohseni Ejei recounted a memory from his time at Sharif University, stating: 'A group of students whistled. I told them that if it is about whistling, I can do it better than you, even without hands.' At this moment, he whistled for a few seconds. Javanfekr also wrote on his Telegram channel: 'Of course, the question remains whether during the rule of the Larijani family over the main pillars of the country’s administration, they will eventually allow us to be referred to forensic medicine for autopsy and to determine the cause of death.' Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei himself was the Minister of Information during Ahmadinejad's first term, who was dismissed in the final days of that government, and his statements on Sunday were made in response to a question about videos released by Ahmadinejad. According to Mohseni Ejei, there are two opinions regarding Ahmadinejad's actions; some say that the former president and his associates should first 'go to forensic medicine' to determine whether 'these actions stem from a sane person or not.' He added: 'Some said this statement was made to evade responsibility and avoid prosecution, which is certainly not the case; however, perhaps one day they will need to be referred to forensic medicine.' The judiciary spokesman did not clarify who holds these two views about Ahmadinejad and whether they belong to judiciary officials or others. Meanwhile, according to Iranian laws, if a person is 'insane' at the time of committing a crime and this is confirmed by forensic medicine, the penalties prescribed by law will not be enforced against them. The spokesman's implicit accusation against Ahmadinejad comes at a time when he has been appointed as a member of the Expediency Discernment Council of Iran by the Supreme Leader. Meanwhile, Hamid Bakai, Ahmadinejad's executive assistant during his presidency, also reacted to Ejei's statements, comparing the judiciary spokesman to 'Heinrich Himmler, the commander of the Nazi SS forces,' stating that his slogan was 'to send others to forced labor camps or mental hospitals.' Bakai added that he was 'notorious for his sycophancy, opportunism, ruthlessness, and arrogance in the German army and deeply hated by the people of that country' and 'had many personal problems in his life.' The former vice president added: 'It is true that the SS are buried in history and Heinrich Himmler awaits severe punishment for his actions in the afterlife, but his thoughts and slogans still live on among some, and they imitate his speech.' The judiciary spokesman also emphasized on Sunday that the judiciary's non-action against Ahmadinejad has 'wisdom' that 'will soon be revealed.' For about five years, a case has been formed against the former Iranian president in the judiciary, but his court has been postponed several times and ultimately has not been held. Previous reports have also indicated the issuance of rulings against Ahmadinejad in the Court of Audit, and meanwhile, Fazel Mousavi, a representative from Zanjan in the eighth parliament, announced on November 21 that the Court of Audit had issued '11 definitive rulings' against Ahmadinejad. The Court of Audit is a supervisory body affiliated with the parliament and can issue rulings such as 'dismissal from public service' against government managers. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad stated on Tuesday, December 19, after the expiration of a 48-hour deadline for the judiciary to publish 'documents related to his and his associates' convictions,' that the head of the judiciary has been 'disqualified from justice' due to 'repeated violations of the constitution' and is 'unqualified,' 'illegitimate,' and 'usurper' and must resign. Following these statements, Ali Akbar Javanfekr, Ahmadinejad's advisor, emphasized in a note on the Government Spring website that if the head of the judiciary does not resign, 'there will be no way left but to request' from the Supreme Leader 'to remove him.' Ahmadinejad's statements were a reaction to remarks made by Sadeq Larijani, the head of the judiciary, on Wednesday, December 13, who accused the former president and his associates of 'sedition,' 'calling for chaos,' 'lying,' and 'supporting Babak Zanjani.' The criticisms from Ahmadinejad and his associates towards the judiciary intensified after the formation of Hamid Bakai's court and the summoning of Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei, and in recent weeks, they have used terms such as 'oppressor,' 'dictator,' and 'deviant' regarding judiciary officials. In contrast, the Attorney General and the judiciary spokesman have labeled Ahmadinejad as a 'liar' and 'thug.' Mohammad Imami Kashani, the Friday prayer leader of Tehran, on January 1, reacted to these verbal clashes, emphasizing that 'problems should not be brought to the public level, but a few should be designated as elders to discuss and resolve your words with the counterpart.' However, the judiciary spokesman responded to this criticism, saying that 'what does arbitration mean? These issues certainly warrant action, and these fabrications and side issues do not hinder the judiciary's activities.' Ali Akbar Javanfekr has been sentenced to six months in prison for 'insulting' the Tehran prosecutor and also fined four million tomans for 'spreading falsehoods with the intent to disturb public opinion.' Hamid Bakai, Ahmadinejad's executive assistant in the tenth government, has also announced that due to his statements regarding 63 'personal' bank accounts of Sadeq Larijani, the head of the judiciary, he has been sentenced to '63 years in prison.' However, Gholamhossein Esmaili, the head of the Tehran judiciary, stated that Bakai has announced all his sentences, while only one of the sentences, which is the highest, will be enforced against him. According to Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, if a person has committed multiple crimes, only the sentence with the highest penalty is considered. 'Receiving several million dollars in currency from a revolutionary institution' and 'giving coins to individuals' are among other charges against Bakai, for which the law prescribes a 15-year prison sentence. If Bakai's final sentence has been issued based on these charges, he may be sentenced to 15 years in prison. According to reports from the news agencies Mizan and Government Spring.