2021 Elections – Threats from Law Enforcement and Judiciary Officials Over Elections: We Will Snuff Out Seditions

While the Guardian Council continues to review the qualifications of candidates registered for the thirteenth round of presidential elections, officials from the law enforcement forces and the judiciary have issued warnings about the elections.

• We Will Snuff Out Seditions in Their Gatherings

The deputy commander of NAJA (National Police), stating that law enforcement is on “alert” for the elections, said that by dealing “with any conspiracy” from “across the waters” or within “this country,” “we will snuff out seditions in their gatherings.”

Brigadier General Qasem Rezaei, deputy commander of the law enforcement force of the country, called some candidates in the thirteenth presidential election “servants and mercenaries across the waters” and said that reviewing some of their interviews shows these candidates have lost their “national character” and have nothing “but treason.”

This is while previously Rezaei, emphasizing that “the only duty of activists in this force is to ensure the security of elections,” had said: “NAJA personnel do not interfere in elections.”

• Mohseni Eje’i: Presidential Candidates Should Be Careful About Their Behavior and Actions

Gholam-Hossein Mohseni Eje’i, First Vice President of the Judiciary, also said “presidential candidates should be careful about their behavior and actions” because “violators will face legal action.”

This judicial official’s warning comes as Voice of America reported on Wednesday that some journalists and media activists confirmed they received contact from the judiciary aimed at preventing the publication of critical content against Raisi.

Ibrahim Raisi is the head of the Judiciary who has also registered for the presidential election.

• A Security Member of IRGC and Army: Ready to Serve, “I Have Come on the Master’s Orders”

Despite the registration of nearly 600 people in the presidential election, the Guardian Council announced that it will only review the qualifications of 40 of them, a significant number of whom are from among the commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

One of these individuals is Iraj Shahverdi, former head of intelligence protection of the Ground Forces who considers himself “ready to serve on the Master’s orders” and has “answered the call” to him by being forced to resign. Mr. Shahverdi said: “But what is interesting is that no one resigns. Now the head of the Judiciary or other government officials remain in their positions and continue to function.”

Shahverdi also emphasized: “Those who did not vote in the elections have no right to protest.”

• Guardian Council: It is Unlikely We Will Announce the Final Candidates Before the 10-Day Deadline

The spokesman of the Guardian Council, announcing the extension of the deadline for reviewing the qualifications of presidential candidates until the fourth of Khordad, 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 timeline schedule stipulates that the review of qualifications by the Guardian Council should take place over five days, that is from the 26th to the 30th of Farvardin, and if this period is not sufficient, another five days can be extended.

The Guardian Council’s oversight in determining eligible candidates for the presidential election of the Islamic Republic of Iran is one of the reasons why the presidential election, according to international standards, is not free. This council is accused of selecting final candidates arbitrarily and essentially serving the views of Ayatollah Khamenei, his office, and security institutions.

The thirteenth round of the presidential election will be held on the 28th of Khordad, which is in less than a month.

Source: Voice of America