Ahmadinejad's re-election is cause for dispute between son-in-law Mehdi and Mehdi's father. Image: AFP
The violent protests in Iran following Ahmadinejad’s electoral victory last month are sure to be weighing heavily on the President’s mind and unfortunately for the him there doesn’t seem to be any peace on the homefront either.
Al Arabiya news station reported today that Ahmadinejad’s son-in-law Mehdi Khurshidi Azad has been disowned by his father after he verbally lashed out at him in a dispute over the re-election.
“From now on, I have no son called Mehdi,” said Ahmed Khurshidi Azad. “Thanks Mr. Ahmadinejad. I gave you a decent son and you gave me back someone who doesn’t hesitate to hurl accusations at anyone including his own father.”
The spat allegedly started when Azad, head of the Association of Islamic Revolution Loyalists told the Etemad-e-Melli newspaper he had voted for conservative candidate Mohsen Rezaei.
Azad also voiced suspicion over the 2005 elections which brought Ahmadinejad to power for the first time.
Shortly afterAzad’s comments were published Mehdi defended his father-in-law, and claimed to Fars News agency that his father was being encouraged by other people, who he did not name.
“Some people try to take advantage of the divisions within the president’s family to serve their own agenda,” he said. “My dad’s statements were personal.”
Azad took 22 days to respond to his son, telling Etemad-e-melli after protests in Iran saw the worst unrest since the 1979 revolution:”As a citizen, I expressed my point of view about Ahmadinejad. Unfortunately, my son responded in this way the next day.”
Azad also accused Ahmadinejad’s government of lashing out and silencing its critics.
“They have done everything they can to morally assassinate me. In case this crosses the line, I will reveal documents and evidence that will expose them and show the people how the authorities treat someone who fought for the revolution and who was injured in the Iran-Iraq war.”
Azad said he believed his son’s behavior was against the teachings of Islam, which promotes respect for one’s parents, and accused the regime of being ungrateful to those who fought for the country.
“You are what you are because our blood was shed. At least you should respect that,” he concluded.
