June 22, 2018
An Iranian website, Dolate Bahar, has published photos showing former Vice President Hamid Baqai looking extremely emaciated after going on a hunger strike.
Baqai, who was one of the closest confidants of President Mahmud Ahmadi-nejad, said he was sentenced to 63 years in prison after being convicted on charges of embezzlement and administrative corruption. The Judiciary said he was sentenced to 15 years.
The published photos sparked wide reactions over social media after they were circulated by news outlets.
Ahmadi-nejad has accused the head of the Judiciary, Sadeq Larijani, of harassing his former aides and supporters.
Baqai, 48, was jailed for stealing 3.5 million euros plus $750,000 from funds allocated to the Qods Force to gain influence in African countries.
Baqai has denied the changes and called for the trial of the commander of the Qods Force, Qasem Soleymani, for the disappearance of those funds.
