At least four senior Iranian Intelligence Ministry members have been fired by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in what is believed to be an ongoing purge of those who did not follow the official line on the post-election crackdowns on protests.
The
Associated Press reports that the Information was leaked by independent media and some of the country’s lawmakers.
This purge is being seen as yet more evidence of the deepening split which has been developing between Ahmadinejad and some of his own conservative camp as well as within the Iranian Intelligence community itself.
It is claimed that the refusal of some top officials to publicly endorse the official line that the post-election protests were no more than a “Velvet Revolution” which intended to overthrow the country’s leadership. Also, some officials are said to have been opposed to the broadcasting of some confessions by prisoners because they believed that the confessions had been forced out of them by the use of abusive treatment.
The total number of those fired is still not clear, with some pro-reform sites claiming that as many as twelve officials have been fired or forced to resign since the elections.
The names of four of those fired were said to be known however, and one of them, the very experienced head of Iran’s counter-espionage efforts, is believed to have had the support from Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The Revolutionary Guard, the elite force that was responsible for much of the crackdown on protests, is alleged to be behind the dismissals.
The sackings were ordered by Ahmadinejad, helped by two hard-line clerics and key Guard figures, Hossein Taeb and Ahmad Salek, said Ali Younesi, the son of a former intelligence minister, adding; “Ahmadinejad has effectively taken command of the country's most important security body and is settling scores.”
A Conservative lawmaker, Ahmad Avai, said that parliament was considering opening an inquiry into the sackings, saying “There is justified concern ... if this trend continues, irreparable damage will be inflicted on the Intelligence Ministry.”
The media was warned against publishing the names of any Intelligence Ministry officials. Those guilty of doing so would be prosecuted.
Ahmadinejad had already fired the Minister of Intelligence, Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejehi, at the end of July. His decision was heavily criticised by leading hard-line clerics and Conservatives.
After that sacking, the 210 lawmakers in the parliament thanked Ejehi for his service in what was widely interpreted as being a criticism of Ahmadinejad, who took over responsibility for the Intelligence Ministry, saying that it was a temporary measure that would end when his new government has been formed.
Ahmadinejad has often been accused by fellow Conservatives as well as clerics of hoarding too much power and influence for both himself and his supporters in the government.
