58 Arrested on Presidential Election Day for 'Disrupting Polling Stations'

An official from the judiciary of the Islamic Republic stated that '58 individuals' were arrested at polling stations during the first round of the presidential elections. Asghar Jahangir announced on Tuesday, July 2, during a meeting of the Supreme Judicial Council, that 'most of these individuals were released by the end of the same day,' adding that they were arrested 'for reasons such as creating disruptions at polling stations or conflicts among supporters.' He did not provide further details about the locations of these arrests. Jahangir also mentioned that 'around 600 individuals who were engaged in illegal activities on social media were warned in person and via phone before the elections.' He continued by stating that '658 individuals' were 'guided' on election day, which was Friday, July 8, and 'six individuals who, despite being warned, did not cease their criminal behaviors were summoned.' This judiciary official did not provide details regarding the charges against those who were 'guided' due to their online activities. However, some political, civil activists, artists, and journalists have reported to Radio Farda that they were summoned or threatened by security and judicial forces for publishing content opposing participation in the elections, facing charges such as 'spreading falsehoods' and 'propaganda against the regime.' Previously, in addition to Narges Mohammadi, a jailed human rights activist and Nobel laureate, and Gohar Eshghi, a grieving mother, other well-known figures and groups such as the Association of Families of Victims of the November 2019 Protests, the Mothers of Justice in Kurdistan, and 55 prominent political activists from inside and outside Iran had also called for a boycott of the elections. The elections that led to Ebrahim Raisi's victory were previously referred to as the least attended elections, but now a new record has been set for public indifference towards elections in the Islamic Republic, despite Ali Khamenei's repeated emphasis on the importance of public participation.