16 million Open Cases In Iranian Courts--The Iranian Judiciary

More Than 20% Of The Population In Legal Trouble

By: Jabbar Fazeli, MD

Mr. Ejei, the judiciary spokesman told Iranian TV that the Iranian courts have 16 million open cases. His comments focused on the backlog of cases (1). The follow up report by Ettelaat did not address why should more than 20% of the population have court cases against them. 

The 16 million number does not include the unknown number of closed cases of prosecutions of Iranians since the 2008 elections.

Mr. Ejei did not mention "political prisoners", that of course is a state secret, but the numbers speak for themselves--16 million prosecution cases in a country of 78 million(2). 

Even if Mr. Ejei is right in saying that all these cases are criminals, then 20% of Iranians are turning to crime (that number does not include those not under investigation), that should also give people pause.

It will be interesting to see how the cyber Basij will justify these numbers, aside from getting angry and attacking the messenger.

References:

(1)http://www.ettelaat.com/new/index.asp?fname=2013\07\07-01\21-44-34.htm&storytitle=%D3%CE%E4%90%E6%ED%20%DE%E6%E5%20%DE%D6%C7%C6%ED%E5:%2016%20%E3%ED%E1%ED%E6%E4%20%81%D1%E6%E4%CF%E5%20%CF%D1%20%CF%D3%CA%90%C7%E5%20%DE%D6%C7%ED%ED%20%E3%DD%CA%E6%CD%20%C7%D3%CA

(2)http://www.indexmundi.com/iran/demographics_profile.html

Opposition Leaders Banned from Running in Upcoming Election

Iran’s Prosecutor Qolam Hossein Mohseni Ejei said today that Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi, the Green Movement leaders, are not “competent” to run as candidates in the presidential election in June. Ejehei accused the opposition leaders of committing “atrocities against the ruling system and the nation.” (Fars News Agency, 17 January)

Mousavi and Karoubi were candidates in the 2009 presidential election. Ahmadinejad was declared the winner of the election. Opposition supporters claimed monumental vote fraud and massive street protests, largest in the history of the Islamic Republic, ensued. The opposition leaders demanded a recall. But the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, dismissed the request and declared Ahmadinejad’s victory as valid. Mousavi and Karoubi has been under house arrest since.

File photos: Mir Hossein Mousavi (left) and Mehdi Karroubi (AFP/Getty Images)

Ahmadinejad Accuses Judiciary of Unconstitutional Conduct

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad today accused Iran’s Judiciary, under the control of the country’s supreme leader, of unconstitutional conduct for barring him from a visit to Tehran’s Evin prison where one top aide is jailed.

Ali Akbar Javanfekr, Ahmadinejad's press adviser and head of the state news agency IRNA, was sent to Evin in September to serve a six-month sentence for publishing an article deemed offensive to public decency and for insulting Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

In a letter to judiciary chief Sadeq Larijani, Ahmadinejad said the ruling against Javanfekr was “unjust,” adding he wanted to visit Evin to report to the country on how “the nation's rights are being preserved.”

“I have to remind you that in the constitution, there is nothing that requires asking permission or agreement of the judiciary when it comes to exercising the president's legal duties,” Ahmadinejad wrote. (ISNA, 22 October)

“When you easily accuse the president, who is the nation's representative ... Can one imagine judicial security for normal citizens who have no particular support except from God?” Ahmadinejad added.

The judiciary had rejected the request on Sunday, saying it was not in Iran's best interests as it faces an economic crisis.

“We must pay attention to major issues,” said Prosecutor General Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei. “If we have in mind the best interests of the nation, a (prison) visit in these circumstances is not appropriate.” (Mehr News Agency, 21 October)