Following the Parliament’s dismissal of Abdolreza Sheikoleslami as Iranian Labour Minister, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has appointed him as the presidential adviser on social affairs.
On February 3, in a controversial session of Parliament, the Labour Minister was impeached and dismissed in Parliament for appointing Saeed Mortazavi to head the Social Security Fund. Ahmadinejad countered Parliament’s move by attacking the integrity of the speaker of Parliament, Ali Larijani. He showed a video of Larijani’s brother in conversation with Mortazavi and accused him of corruption and abuse of power. Ali Larijani reacted to Ahmadinejad’s accusations in kind by accusing him of corruption.
Parliament’s opposition to having Mortazavi at the helm of the Social Security Fund is linked to the unresolved charges against him in the case of the torture and death of detainees in Kahrizak Prison in 2009.
Mortazavi is, however, a staunch Ahmadinejad supporter and has had the president’s backing even after he was removed from his position as Tehran Prosecutor because of the Kahrizak deaths.
Mehr Reports that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad issued an order appointing Sheikoleslami as his adviser, citing his “brilliant and valuable” experience as one who has served his country with “sincere efforts”, “excellent leadership” and “unique service.”
Two days after the scandalous parliamentary session of February 3, Ahmadinejad included Sheikoleslami in his delegation travelling to Egypt.
The Labour Ministry is now being headed by Assadollah Abbasi by order of the president.
