Iran names hardline cleric as top judge amid calls for probe

Gholamhossein Ejei will replace Ebrahim Raisi, who takes office in August as president after winning June 18 election.

Iran’s supreme leader promoted a hardline Muslim leader to serve as head of the judiciary amid international calls for investigations into allegations of abuses. Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, now the judiciary’s deputy head, will replace Ebrahim Raisi who takes office in August as president after winning the June 18 election. Ejei was put on US and EU sanctions blacklists 10 years ago for his role in a crackdown on a popular uprising when he served as intelligence minister during a disputed election.