President Sheikh Hassan Rohani and Sadeq Laridjani (head of the judicial branch of power) had Hamid Baghaie arrested. The latter was the Vice President of the Islamic Republic of Iran from 2011 to 2013 (i.e. during the final term of the former president Mahmud Ahmadineyad). At the end of a secret trial, the former vice president was sentenced to 15 years in prison.

The press is referring to this being a trial for “corruption” but we are unaware of any of the accusations that have been brought against this man, reputed for his integrity.

Hamid Baghaie had tried to stand for the 2017 Presidential Elections. He had the backing of the former president Ahmadinejad. However to facilitate Sheikh Hassan Rohani, the current president being elected again, the Guardians of the Council of the Constitution rejected both his candidature and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s. The basis for the rejection was that the two men that had put themselves forward, “are not good Muslims”.

Former President Ahmadinejad and his followers are believers, however, they believe that the Iranian institutions must be converted into secular institutions.