A close associate of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and of his chief of staff, Esfandiar Rahim Mashai has been arrested by Iranian authorities.
The arrest of Hojjatoleslam Abbas Amirifar, who heads the president’s Cultural Council, was confirmed by a number of Iranian websites, including Khabar-on-line and Jahan News as well as the
Campaign for Human rights in Iran.
The Campaign cites “an informed source” saying that Revolutionary Guards officials arrested Amirifar on Sunday.
Amirifar is accused of promoting the movie “Appearance is Close!” (director: Ali Aghar Seihani) that predicts the reappearance of the Mahdi (or 12th imam according to Shia belief).
