Article

2015-03-16 Syria-Lebanon-Iran

The son of former Iranian President Rafsanjani has been imprisoned by a court in Tehran. Unofficial reports say the sentence is 15 years but this has not yet been confirmed.

Government media said Mehdi Hashemi Rafsanjani had been convicted of security and financial crimes. He was accused of inciting unrest after the nation's disputed elections in 2009 and was arrested on his return from exile in the UK in 2012.

Mehdi Hashemi went on trial last August at Iran's Revolutionary Court, which usually hears security cases. The exact charges are unknown, because his trial was held behind closed doors.

Many see his sentence as an attempt by hardliners to damage his father's reputation before parliamentary elections next February. Last week, Rafsanjani was overwhelmingly defeated by hardliner Ayatollah Mohammad Yazdi in a vote to become the new head of Iran's top clerical body, the Assembly of Experts.

Posted by ryuge 2015-03-16 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11134 views ] Top

#1 Many see his sentence as an attempt by hardliners to damage his father's reputation before parliamentary elections next February.

Rafsanjani is also rumored to be a dark-horse candidate for Supreme Leader when Khamenei croaks.

Posted by Pappy 2015-03-16 14:08|| 2015-03-16 14:08|| Front Page Top

#2 "Do you know who I am?!" "You're nicked, sir."

Posted by g(r)omgoru 2015-03-16 14:13|| 2015-03-16 14:13|| Front Page Top

#3 was accused of inciting unrest after the nation's disputed elections in 2009

Ahhhh, the go to charge for tyrants everywhere. Started aeons ago but perfected in the USSR.

Soon coming to a country near you?

Posted by AlanC 2015-03-16 14:30|| 2015-03-16 14:30|| Front Page Top

07:43 Procopius2k
07:42 BrerRabbit
07:42 Procopius2k
07:39 Procopius2k
07:36 Procopius2k
07:35 Procopius2k
07:34 trailing wife
07:31 Procopius2k
07:30 NN2N1
07:22 NN2N1
07:18 trailing wife
07:14 Richard Aubrey
07:10 NN2N1
07:09 Besoeker
07:03 NN2N1
06:58 NN2N1
06:58 Besoeker
05:28 Whiskey Mike
05:23 Whiskey Mike
05:21 Whiskey Mike
05:18 Whiskey Mike
05:15 Whiskey Mike
05:13 Whiskey Mike
05:08 Whiskey Mike