Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East
TEHRAN, Iran – On March 21, Iranian authorities arrested the grandson of former Iranian President, Akbar Hashemi Rafasnjani, as he attempted to enter the country. Hassan Lahouti, 23, was arrested as he arrived in Iran. Rafsanjani currently holds a number of powerful positions within Iran’s government, but backed a reformist candidate in the 2009 election. The election was controversy filled and led to protests as opposition supporters contended that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s reelection was the result of voter fraud.
Lahouti was returning from London when he was arrested at the Tehran airport. Lahouti had left Iran for London, where he keeps his permanent residence, ten days prior to the protests that followed the disputed June 12, 2009 presidential election. Lahouti, according to the opposition website Rahesabz.com, was taken to Evin prison in Tehran on the orders of a judge.
Tehran prosecutor Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi explained the charges against Lahouti to the Fars news agency. Dolatabadi said that the for President’s grandson was arrested “on orders from the judiciary on suspicion of committing some security crimes.” Rahesabz.net reports that Lahouti was actually arrested for “insulting the supreme leader (Ayatollah Ali Khamenei). The website alleged that telephone conversations Lohouti had from London was listened to by Iranian security forces. During one of these conversations, according to the website, Lahouti insulted the Supreme Leader of Iran. Insulting government officials can incur a jail sentence.
Lahouti was released from Evin prison on March 22 after posting seventy three thousand dollars in bail. Dolatabadi explained that the former president’s grandson’s case was sent to court for further investigation
Lahouti’s mother, Faezeh Hashemi, was herself briefly detained after opposition protests began in June 2009. Hashemi, the daughter of Rafsanjani, has been accused of being involved in the incitement of officials.
Former President Rafsanjani was President of the Islamic Republic of Iran from 1989 to 1997. He currently leads both the Assembly of Experts, which has the power to replace Khamenei, and the Expediency Council, which serves as the arbitration body. Rafsanjani has been a fierce critic of Ahmadinejad and backed opposition candidate Mir Hussein Mousavi in his bid to unseat Ahmadinejad in the 2009 election.
For more information, please see:
AFP – Iran bails Ex-president Rafsanjani’s Grandson Prosecutor – 23 March 2010
Al Jazeera – Iran’s Ex-leader’s Grandson Arrested – 23 March 2010
BBC – Grandson of Iranian President Rafsanjani Held – 22 March 2010
