Iran lawmakers seek to impeach labor minister, state media say

Bloomberg: A group of 19 Iranian parliamentarians are seeking to impeach Labor, Cooperatives and Social Welfare Minister Abdolreza Sheikholeslami after he appointed an official accused of links to the deaths of prisoners in custody, the state-run Fars news agency reported. By Ladane Nasseri

Bloomberg

A group of 19 Iranian parliamentarians are seeking to impeach Labor, Cooperatives and Social Welfare Minister Abdolreza Sheikholeslami after he appointed an official accused of links to the deaths of prisoners in custody, the state-run Fars news agency reported.

An impeachment motion has been signed and will be submitted to parliament’s presiding board shortly, lawmaker Ahmad Tavakoli, who heads the body’s research center, told state-run Press TV today. Fars, which also published a copy of the motion, said the document was lodged earlier today.

The move comes after Sheikholeslami appointed former prosecutor-general Saeed Mortazavi as the head of the country’s Social Security Organization, Press TV said. Mortazavi was suspended in 2010 after three men died in the Kahrizak detention center following their arrest during protests after the 2009 presidential elections, Shargh newspaper reported at the time.

Mortazavi organized the trials of over 140 politicians, journalists and activists detained during the unrest. Opposition groups said the election, which led to a second term for President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, was fraudulent.

Impeachment motions need the support of 10 or more deputies to be placed on the agenda of the 290-member parliament.