President Ahmadinejad must abide by Constitution: Larijani

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Monday repeated his request to visit Tehran's Evin Prison after his previous bid was denied by Judiciary officials.

In a new letter to the Judiciary chief, Ahmadinejad said that according to the Iranian Constitution, the president does not require to ask for permission from or agreement by the Judiciary to fulfill his legal duties.

However, Larijani on Wednesday responded to the president’s “incorrect remarks and unreal accusations”, saying the Article 156 of the Iranian Constitution emphasizes the independence of the Judiciary.

“The judiciary chief… is the highest ranking-level official of the Judiciary. According to law, courts and affiliated organizations are part of the Judiciary. Thus, how do you say that an inspection of prisons needs no coordination with and agreement by the Judiciary?” he said in a letter to Ahmadinejad.

According to the Constitution, the Guardian Council is the official source to interpret the Constitution; the Guardian Council has explicitly announced that the president “has no right to supervise the implementation of the Constitution,” he added.

He urged the Iranian chief executive to respect the Constitution, as the document of the nation’s basic rights, if he is really “concerned about the protection of the people’s fundamental rights.”

Larijani said he does not totally oppose the president’s visit to the prison and that he has clearly told Justice Minister Morteza Bakhtiari to tell the president that it is not expedient to visit the prison at the current juncture.

However, it is up to me to determine this expediency, the judiciary chief pointed out.

He added that the president’s intention to visit prisons and certain courts is a violation of the limits of his duties and interference in judicial affairs.

Larijani emphasized that in line with his duties, he would firmly prevent any breach of the law and improper interference.
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