The Iranian judiciary has acknowledged that the Tehran Prosecutor should have used greater discretion in its actions against presidential aide Ali Akbar Javanfekr.
Iranian media report that judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei told a press conference today that an investigation is being held into last Monday’s events at the office of the Iran newspaper and the complaints filed by Ali AKbar Javanfekr regarding the actions of the Tehran prosecutor’s office.
Last Monday, Ali AKbar Javanfekr was threatened with arrest at a press conference at the offices of the Iran daily newspaper. He was released only after the direct intervention of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Javanfekr accused the officials of refusing to present an arrest warrant and attacking reporters and other staff, as well as vandalizing the newspaper’s property.
Forty members of the Iran newspaper staff, including the director, were arrested at the scene and released hours later.
Ejei emphasized that it is a crime to resist court officers, adding that Javanfekr “apparently did not want to resist arrest but was persuaded to do so by contacts and friends.”
Ejei acknowledge that Tehran Prosecutor could have acted with greater discretion. He went on to condemn the actions of the Iran staff and others present at the scene, saying it is a grave violation to either resist officers of the law or vandalize property.
Javanfekr and Iran staff members have filed suits against their attackers. The Tehran Prosecutor, however, has rejected Javanfekr’s claims that his officers used Tasers, tear gas and batons.
