Elections 1400 – Threats from law enforcement and judicial officials regarding the elections: We will stifle sedition

While the Guardian Council continues to review the qualifications of registered candidates for the 13th round of presidential elections, law enforcement and judicial officials have issued warnings about the elections.

• We stifle sedition in their gatherings.

The deputy commander of the National Anti-Terrorism Police Force (NAJA) announced that the police force is in a "be ready" mode for the elections, saying that by dealing with "any conspiracy" from "across the water" or in "this country," "we will stifle sedition in their gatherings."

Brigadier General Qasem Rezaei, deputy commander of the country's police force, called some candidates in the 13th presidential election "servants and mercenaries from across the seas" and said that an examination of some of their interviews shows that these candidates have lost their "national spirit" and have nothing "except betrayal of the homeland."

This is despite the fact that Rezaei had previously emphasized that "the only duty of the activists in this force is to ensure election security," adding: "NAJA employees do not interfere in the elections."

• Ejei: Candidates should be careful about their behavior and actions

Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, First Deputy Minister of the Judiciary, has also said that "presidential candidates should be careful about their behavior and actions" because "violators will be dealt with legally."

The judicial official's warning comes after Voice of America reported on Wednesday that some journalists and media activists had confirmed that they had been contacted by the judiciary to prevent the publication of critical material against Raisi.

Ebrahim Raisi is the head of the judiciary who has also registered to run for president.

• A member of the IRGC and army security forces: Fire freely, "I have come at the command of the master"

Despite nearly 600 people registering to run in the presidential election, the Guardian Council has announced that it will only review the qualifications of 40 people, a significant number of whom are IRGC generals.

One of these individuals is Iraj Shahvardi, the former head of the intelligence protection of the ground forces, who considers himself to be “fire at will at the command of the master” and who “entered the arena” to “respond” to him and was forced to resign for this. Mr. Shahvardi said: “But it is interesting that no one resigns. Now the head of the judiciary or other government officials remain in their positions and continue to work.”

Shahvardi also emphasized: "Those who did not vote in the elections do not have the right to protest."

• Guardian Council: It is unlikely that we will announce the final candidates sooner than the 10-day deadline

Announcing the extension of the deadline for reviewing the qualifications of presidential candidates until June 24, the Guardian Council spokesman said: "It is unlikely that we will be able to announce the names of the final candidates to the Ministry of Interior before the 10-day legal deadline."

The election calendar stipulates that the Guardian Council will review the qualifications within five days, from May 16 to May 20, and if this period is not sufficient, it will be extended by another five days.

The Guardian Council's oversight of the selection of candidates for the presidential election is one of the factors that makes the presidential elections of the Islamic Republic of Iran not free according to international standards. The council is accused of selectively selecting the final candidates and effectively providing the opinion of Ayatollah Khamenei, his household, and the security agencies.

The 13th round of presidential elections will be held on June 18, less than a month from now.

Source: Voice of America