Iran President To Pursue Javanfekr Case : Minister

Tehran, Sept 30, IRNA -- Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Mohammad Hosseini said on Saturday President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will pursue the case of his adviser Ali Akbar Javanfekr as he pleaded not guilty. He told reporters on the sidelines of the Digital Media Exhibition that he regretted the arrest warrant against IRNA managing-director and press adviser to the President. Hosseini contended that the court of justice should have considered Article 18 of the Constitution prior to issuing the arrest warrant. Provisions of the Article stipulates the rights of the defendants who plead not guilty. Hosseini noted that Javanfekr was charged with affront to the Supreme Leader, whereas, such a charge is far away from his personality and he proved his allegiance to the Supreme Leader time and again both in theory and in action. He said that President Ahmadinejad is aware of the baseless charges against Javanfekr and will definitely follow up the case. Javanfekr was arrested on Wednesday September 26./end