RENEGADE GENERAL MOHAMMAD REZA NAQDI ARRESTED
PARIS 28 Dec. (IPS) In a new move said to be aimed at "reforming" the Judiciary and to "cleansing" the security forces from corrupt elements, Revolutionary Guard’s general Mohammad Reza Naqdi, the Commander of the Law Enforcement Forces (LEF) Counter-intelligence section is reported to have been arrested and confessed to "at least" 12 cases of murders.
The arrest of the much-hated officer follows that of Hojjatoleslam Abbasali Alizadeh, the Head of the Tehran Justice Department and the Judiciary’s most powerful voice after that of Ayatollah Mahmood Hashemi-Shahroodi, the chief of the Judiciary Power.
General Naqdi, a former Deputy Commander of the Revolutionary Guards, is also accused of attempts to kill Hojjatoleslam Abdollah Noori and Mr. Ata’ollah Mohajerani, respectively former Interior and Islamic Guidance ministers
Analysts said the common denominator between the two reported arrests is that both men are the protégés of Ayatollah Va’ez Tabasi, the representative of Ayatollah Ali Khameneh'i for the north-eastern Province of Khorasan but because of his close personal ties with the leader of the regime, -- to whom he is a mentor – he yields considerable influence over conservative’s controlled theocracy.
Neither of the arrests, reported by usually informed Iranian website publications, have been confirmed or denied by the authorities and there are persistent rumours that Mr. Hoseyn Shari'atmadari, the Editor of the hard line evening daily Keyhan would also be removed from his job.
A high-ranking intelligence officer specialising in the interrogation of political and intellectual dissidents, the controversial Mr. Shari'atmadari, known for his fiery articles against the reformers and in defence of the leader, had been appointed by Mr. Khameneh'i to this position.
However, Iranian analysts interpret the arrests as part of the "concessions" made to the European Union in exchange of a Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) due to be inked latter this month and, if signed, would give Iran larger access to the huge and lucrative European market, thus boosting the regime’s crumbling economy.
In its recent discussions with the Iranian authorities, the EU’s delegation put a series of conditions for the signing of the TAC, including respect of human rights, the freedom of the press, the release of political prisoners, abolishment of stoning and other laws against women and minorities.
Naqdi, who had lived in Iraq but, like hundreds of thousands of other Iranians, had returned to his homeland after the Iran-Iraq war, served as a body- guard to Ayatollah Tabasi, who recommended him to Mr. Khameneh'i to serve as a commander with the Pasdaran, the ayatollah’s Praetorian Guard and the security forces.
It is interesting to note that Mr. Tabasi also promoted Mr. Alizadeh, a former Head to the Justice Department of Khorasan, to his last function.
According to the "Peiknet" internet site, Naqdi did tried to assassinate Mr. Noori who, as Interior Minister in charge of the LEF, had opposed his promotion as responsible for the force’s counter-intelligence activities, but was turned down by Mr. Khameneh'i who, as the leader, is also the supreme commander of all Iranian armed forces.
A violent, vulgar, corrupt and insubordinate officer protected by the leader, general Naqdi had went as far as openly challenging the authority of President Mohammad Khatami.
However, a picture of him, dressed in plainclothes and watching his men trying to assassinate both Noori and Mohajerani leaving a Friday prayer sometimes in 1998 appeared in the newspaper "Zan" (Woman) that was published by Mrs. Fa’ezeh Hashemi, the younger and outspoken daughter of Ayatollah Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, the powerful Chairman of the Expediency Council.
Arrested three years ago on charges of activities and propaganda against the regime and insulting the leader when he was publishing a popular and influential newspaper and condemned to five years of imprisonment, Mr. Noori was freed recently from jail after his younger brother was killed in a car accident.
Mr. Noori is tipped as the most popular political figure who would become president if he decided to run in the next presidential elections and provided his candidacy is not rejected by the Council of Guardians, analysts assures.
Naqdi’s influence and terror network known as the "Plainclothes men" was such that even though Mrs. Hashemi had stood as a party to the failed assassination attempt, he had the Judiciary to shut down the paper and Mr. Noori removed as Interior Minister.
"Interrogated at a special safe house operated by the Information (Intelligence) Ministry, Naqdi has confessed to at least 12 assassinations, most of them sexually related as well as several cases of corruption, arsons, taking bribes and violent actions against students during the latest series of protest movement", "Peiknet" reported, without mentioning its sources.
Iranian political analysts said it is not clear if the arrest of the renegade general is the result of a "divorce" between the leader and his "mentor" or a wider plan concocted by the conservatives to project themselves as a "serious" partner for both the European Union and the West, including the United States, "bypassing" President Khatami and his reformers, who continue to enjoy the support of the Europeans. ENDS GENERAL NAQDI ARRESTED 281202