Tensions between Iranian former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Head of the judiciary Sadegh Larijani have reached a climax following a video message criticizing the latter.
Ahmadinejad attacked Tuesday the head of the judiciary and said he was "lawless and usurper,” giving the judiciary 48 hours before publishing documents related to his conviction.
He issued a video message on Sunday in which he demanded that Larijani make public documents proving accusations against him and his allies, threatening that he would release incriminating evidence about the justice department within 48 hours.
He warned, “Otherwise, I would publicly present my findings on the judiciary’s head and his performance during past eight years”.
Moreover, the former president cautioned that he will do whatever is in his capacity to defend people’s rights against the Islamic Republic’s judicial organ.
“More than ever, this is the right time to defend the oppressed against the judiciary. If the judiciary is reformed, everything would be set aright in Iran”, Ahmadinejad reiterated, adding “These people [in charge of the judiciary] must go and, soon they will be gone”.
“Now, Larijani lacks legitimacy due to frequent violations of the constitution, laws and the emergence of signs of his inadequacy. The continuance of his responsibility as the judiciary chief violates the rights of the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, the Islamic Republic and the people as the main owners of the country and the revolution, and that is why he is a usurper,” Ahmadinejad said.
In response to Ahmadinejad’s threat, Iranian Prosecutor General Mohammad Jafar Montazeri vowed to give Ahmadinejad what he asked for. On Monday, Montazeri said, “I will answer him in the next one or two days.”
Larijani, for his part, has ordered his staff to publish details about the legal cases filed against the former president.
Ahmadinejad’s friction with Larijani has significantly deepened since his former presidential deputy for executive affairs, Hamid Baghaei, was detained and prosecuted for financial corruption.
Baghaei, currently freed on a heavy bail, has also repeatedly lambasted Iran’s top judge for being a ruthless, corrupt dictator.
Meanwhile, Ahmadinejad and his companions recently wrote a letter to Khamenei asking him to step in and assign Mahmud Hashemi Shahroudi -- chairman of the Expediency Council, deputy speaker of the Assembly of Experts, and a former head of the judiciary -- to weigh the legal charges. They have insisted they are innocent and the charges filed against them fabricated.
