Ahmadinezhad: ‘Security Corruption Network’ in National Security Council Seeks Action Against Me
Iran’s former president, following his recent video message about Khuzestan protests, claimed that a ‘security network’ in the country’s National Security Council has sought action against him.
Mahmoud Ahmadinezhad in his recent message characterized the suppression of protesters in Khuzestan as resulting from the Iranian government’s influence by a ‘corrupt security network,’ stating that “this security network” during each protest creates clashes and gunfire to provide justification for suppressing protesters and “attributes the legitimate demands of the people to foreigners and anti-revolution groups, blocking the path of peaceful protest by the people.”
On Thursday, July 31st, in another video message, he warned about social collapse, saying that now that people have taken to the streets to “make their voice heard by officials, they have once again faced forces organized by the corrupt security network.”
However, he provided no specific clarification about the identity of this security network and merely stated that “these agents betray both in the field of action through violence and in presenting incorrect security analyses, leading the country’s officials to wrong decisions.”
The National Security Council is under the supervision of the Ministry of Interior, headed by Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli, the Interior Minister, and one of the main figures in suppressing the November 2019 protests in which at least 1,500 people were killed. When Mr. Rahmani Fazli faced questions from some representatives of the tenth parliament about why they fired at the heads of protesters, he said they also fired at their feet.
Khuzestan residents’ protests against the water crisis and other environmental and economic problems in the province have continued for seven consecutive nights across various cities.
According to some unofficial reports since the beginning of these protests, “at least five people” have been killed, but officials have only confirmed the deaths of two youths, while attributing it to “rioters.”
In his Thursday message, Mahmoud Ahmadinezhad, referring to remarks by the Deputy Prosecutor General warning that some criminal elements have been armed, said: “Who other than the corrupt security network has the ability to organize and arm them? And is this work for anything other than dealing with the people?”
Mr. Ahmadinezhad stated that this security network in the National Security Council seeks action against him, and “that council approves that the prosecution should pursue the matter and the prosecution also hands it over to IRGC intelligence.”
He added: “Is it not true that the National Security Council is for the country and the country means people! Is it not true that that council should provide necessary security so that the nation can live in complete peace and enjoy all its rights including freedom completely?”
During his presidency, when the 2009 events occurred and hundreds of protesters were killed and thousands were arrested and tried, he stated in his remarks: “Apparently everything has been turned upside down and the National Security Council has also been transformed into a council for protecting the security of officials and as a tool of the corrupt security network.”
Mahmoud Ahmadinezhad, who in the last two presidential elections failed to receive approval from the Guardian Council, has turned to criticizing the Islamic Republic and its leaders. He boycotted this round of elections.
Source: Radio Farda
