The mounting political battle over immunity from prosecution for Iranian deputies took a new turn yesterday as some 50 pro-reform members signed a motion to impeach the Justice Minister, Mr Ismail Shushtari.
The move comes amid reports that the conservative-led courts could be preparing legal action against three reformist MPs, including President Mohammad Khatami's brother, deputy speaker Mohammad-Reza.
Mr Shushtari has been accused of refusing to defend deputies, amid a rapidly escalating squabble over the prosecution of reformists by the right-wing courts. The impeachment motion is to be brought before the full parliament, whose next session is on January 7th.
Mr Abbasali Alizadeh, director-general of Tehran's judiciary, has reportedly asked for charges to be brought against Mr Mohammad-Reza Khatami and two other deputies, Mr Ali Shakourirad and Mr Mohammad Dadfar, after complaints made by conservatives. Mr Khatami censured Mr Alizadeh on Monday and called on him to step down from office.
The Iranian constitution stipulates that "no member of parliament can be prosecuted for statements made in his role as a deputy". But that constitutional point does not afford court immunity of any kind to members in matters beyond their parliamentary functions.