Larijani Removed from Judiciary Human Rights Headquarters; Bagheri Kani Appointed

Ali Bagheri Kani has been appointed as secretary of the Judiciary’s Human Rights Headquarters replacing Javad Larijani by an order from the head of the judiciary. No reason has been given for this change. Javad Larijani is the brother of Ali Larijani, speaker of parliament, and Sadegh Larijani, former head of the judiciary.

Gholamhossein Esmaili, spokesman for the judiciary, announced on Sunday, December 29th (December 29th) the change in the head of the judiciary’s human rights headquarters.

Ali Bagheri Kani has been appointed as deputy for international affairs and secretary of the Judiciary’s Human Rights Headquarters in place of Javad Larijani by an order from the head of the judiciary. Ali Bagheri Kani is a graduate and professor at Imam Sadegh University and former director general of the European section of Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He is the brother of Mohsen Alhedi Bagheri Kani, son-in-law of Sayed Ali Khamenei, leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

It is expected that Bagheri Kani’s appointment, given his background and political experience, will not bring about any changes in the field of human rights in Iran or in the Islamic Republic’s approach to international human rights bodies.

Javad Larijani is one of five Larijani brothers. The Larijani family has held and continues to hold the highest positions in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Ali Larijani is speaker of parliament, Baqer Larijani is head of Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Sadegh Larijani is the former head of the judiciary, and Fazil Larijani is another influential brother of this family.

Larijani Called Obama “Black Uncle”

Javad Larijani headed the Judiciary’s Human Rights Headquarters for approximately 14 years. He made many controversial statements in the field of human rights. His racist remarks about Obama sparked considerable protests, even within Iran.

Criticizing Obama’s policies, Larijani made racist remarks, saying: “When Obama came to power, he spoke of interaction and dialogue with Iran, what happened that today this ‘black uncle’ is talking about changing Iran’s system?!”

Larijani never apologized for these racist and demeaning remarks.

Denying the Killing of Protesters

Javad Larijani recently denied that “protesters” were killed in the November crackdowns. As secretary of the Judiciary’s Human Rights Headquarters, he claimed that there were no protesters among those killed in the November protests.

Larijani called Amnesty International’s figures of at least 304 deaths in the crackdowns “claims” but did not provide any other figures.

According to ISNA news agency, Mohammad Javad Larijani claimed on Tuesday, December 17th that 15 percent of those killed in the November events were “terrorist forces” and 85 percent were other security forces and individuals “defending their homes against the attacks of rioters.”

Reason for Larijani’s Change

Ali Raisi, head of the judiciary, has not stated the reason for changing the secretary of the Judiciary’s Human Rights Headquarters. However, before this change, there had been disagreements between him and Sadegh Larijani, the former head of the judiciary.

The change of Sadegh Larijani had also been controversial, and some analysts had assessed his departure as “the elimination of the Larijani family.”

Ali Larijani, speaker of parliament, also recently announced that he “has no plans to run in the next parliamentary elections.”

Source: DW