25 Apr 2024
Wednesday 19 September 2012 - 19:30
Story Code : 5930

Judge Mortazavi's case, Iran's government and parliament

Judge Mortazavi
These days, conflict between Iran's parliament and the 9th government over the strange case of Judge Mortazavi has reached its peak.

In the immediate aftermath of the 2009 election, Mortazavi was identified as being responsible for serious human rights abuses at kahrizak detention center.

But Mortazavi was merely demoted from his position as chief Tehran prosecutorand continued working as deputy prosecutor.

It was only in 2010, following a parliamentary commissions probes of the Kahrizak affair, that Mortazavi was finally relieved of his post. Eventually he was indicted for complicity in murder, violation of citizens rights, and dishonoring Iranian police forces (NAJA).

Yet, as these charges awaited prosecution, President Ahmadinejad appointed Mortazavi as the head of Iran's Task Force against Smuggling. In March 2012, Ahmadinejad further elevated Mortazavi to his most recent post, as director of the Social Security Fund.

This move created an uproar in the parliament, since the MPs believed that Mortazavi didn't have specialized competencies required to run such a large agency.

This measurefollowed by the announcement of Irans Court of Administrative Justice that the appointment of former Tehran prosecutor Saeed Mortazavi to the head of the Social Security Fund is illegal.

However, Iranian First Vice President Mohammad Reza Rahimi said that the Administrative Court of Justices decision to revoke the appointment of former Tehran prosecutor general Saeed Mortazavi as director of the Social Security Fund will not be executed.

Although the verdict of Court of Administrative Justice was implemented, Mortazavi was remained as the head of Social Security Fund since in a move forneutralizing the verdict of judiciary about dismissal of Saeed Mortazavi from the head of Social Security Funds, the government modified the articles of Social Security and changed the institutionto an organization.

But MPs massive protest against Mortazavi's appointment to the head of the Social Security Organization went as far as a procedural call for the impeachment of Cooperatives, Labor, and Social Welfare Minister Abdolreza Sheikholeslami, who had appointed Mortazavi to the post for which he was not eligible.

Nevertheless, MPs ultimately decided not to impeach the minister, after former speaker of the parliament Gholamali Haddad Adel publicly stated that Mortazavi had promised to resign.

Yet, Mortazavi said he has never told that he decided to do so.

Thus, law makers complained to the Court of Administrative Justice and the Court ruled that Mortazavi's appointment is illegal.

Despite MPs public protest against Mortazavi's appointment to this post, it was announced yesterday that 164 lawmakers prepared a letter to thank the president for amendment of the Social Security Fund articles and retention of Saeed Mortazavi.

But, a large number of representatives protested against preparing and collecting signatures to support Mortazavi, saying that the letter is a fake one.

Abdolreza Mesri, a member of parliament, said that the letter was apparently written under another title but later it was changed to a letter appreciating the president for the retention of Mortazavi.

 
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