Cancellation of Two Speeches by Member of Participation Party Due to 'Pressure from Vigilantes'

Elaha Kolayi, a representative of the sixth parliament and a member of the Participation Front party, announced on Saturday, February 6, that her two speeches in Shiraz and Arak were canceled last week due to 'pressure from vigilantes.' According to ILNA, Kolayi stated that her speech in Arak was supposed to be organized by reformist youth, but she was informed that 'about 50 people are ready to disrupt this speech,' leading to its cancellation. The report also indicated that her speech in Shiraz was canceled due to opposition from the city's security council. She criticized these 'arbitrary activities,' adding that 'the relevant authorities must be accountable for such events and the reasons for these behaviors must be clarified.' Kolayi had previously reported that on March 2, 2015, security police at Shiraz airport prevented her from entering the city for a speech, stating that the 'security council' and 'prosecutor's office' had banned her entry. A week later, Ali Motahari traveled to Shiraz for a speech at Shiraz University but was attacked by 'plainclothes forces' at the airport before reaching the university and was ultimately forced to return to Tehran. The court sentenced six of the attackers to two years in prison and 10 lashes 'suspended,' while two others received four and a half months in prison and 37 lashes 'suspended,' with these sentences being suspended for two years and one year, respectively. In suspended sentences, if the accused is not convicted of a similar crime during the period set by the court, the sentence will not be executed. Motahari had previously implied that some of his attackers were affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. In recent months, leading up to the tenth parliamentary elections, several reformist figures have faced attacks during their speeches, and other political activists have been prevented from speaking. For instance, on December 11, the speeches of Rasoul Montajebnia, deputy of the National Trust Party, and Hadi Ghafari, a former parliament member, in Karaj were canceled 'due to threats from hardline forces' and their presence outside the venue. On December 7, the speeches of Mohammad Ali Najafi and Mohsen Mehralizadeh at Allameh Tabatabai University were also canceled due to the use of 'pepper spray' or 'tear gas' in the hall before the event. Following this, Allameh Tabatabai University announced that two students who were 'responsible for using the tear gas spray were quickly identified.' According to this announcement, 'the main perpetrator has been handed over to the relevant authorities, and the second is also in the process of legal action.' The announcement did not mention the identity or political affiliations of these two students. On December 7, the speeches of Azar Mansouri and Jahanbakhsh Khanjani, two reformist activists, at Shahid Chamran University in Ahvaz were canceled after a gathering of Basij students and their 'attack' on Azar Mansouri. Previously, Azar Mansouri's speech at Yasouj University and Abdolvahed Mousavi Lari's speech in Qarchak were also attacked. Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli, Iran's Minister of Interior, emphasized the need to ensure security for legal gatherings and reported on the incident of the attack on Abdolvahed Mousavi Lari's speech in Qarchak, stating that the case of the 'organizers and planners' of this incident, who 'insist on their actions,' will be referred to the judiciary. However, Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, the judiciary spokesman, reacted to the Qarchak incident by merely advising that speeches that might provoke reactions from certain groups and 'disturb the atmosphere' should not be held at all. In this context, disciplinary committees are dealing with disruptors at universities, and there have been disruptions at Allameh University’s free podium and the cancellation of speeches by two reformist figures. Reactions from reformists regarding attacks on their speeches have called for addressing the 'crimes' of the attackers. There have been reports of 'knife attacks' and the cancellation of Azar Mansouri's speech in Yasouj. The Minister of Interior emphasized the need to introduce the 'planners of the Qarchak incident' to the court. There has been a 'refusal' from the officials involved in the disturbances at the reformists' conference to explain to the Ministry of Interior. Hashemi criticized the attacks by 'hardline groups' on various meetings.