Hekmat Ali Mozaffari, the head of the judiciary in East Azerbaijan province, has announced the closure of 25 websites in the province due to 'electoral violations.' According to the local website 'Dara News,' Mr. Mozaffari shared this news during the third meeting of the Election Crimes Prevention Headquarters in East Azerbaijan. This judicial official did not name the 25 blocked websites but warned that 'the judiciary will firmly address electoral violations in cyberspace.' He also announced the establishment of 'special branches' in the prosecutor's office to handle electoral violations and stated that 'all movements and activities related to the upcoming elections will be monitored.' The official website of the East Azerbaijan judiciary also published the news of the closures without naming the blocked websites or their accusations. East Azerbaijan province, with a population of 3.8 million, has 13 electoral districts and 19 seats in the Islamic Consultative Assembly and five representatives in the Assembly of Experts. The electoral activities of candidates for these two assemblies in this province, like in other provinces of Iran, have unofficially begun months ago. Internet websites and mobile social networks have currently become the most important electoral tools for some of these candidates. Judicial and police officials in some provinces have also announced that they have 'dealt' with some of these electoral activities in recent months, and these 'deals' will continue in the future. Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejei, the spokesperson for the judiciary, also reported today in a press conference the formation of 40 cases of 'electoral violations' that occurred on the mobile social network 'Telegram.' On January 16, Mehdi Kazemipour, deputy commander of the Gilan IRGC, announced that the IRGC would control cyberspace to prevent 'psychological challenges and electoral crime.' Two days later, Kambiz Ismaili, head of the Cyber Police in Kerman, reported identifying and sending warnings to 82 websites that operate 'without permission' in the electoral news sector.
Closure of 25 Websites in East Azerbaijan Due to 'Electoral Violations'
The judiciary in East Azerbaijan has closed 25 websites due to electoral violations as part of a broader crackdown on electoral activities ahead of upcoming elections. This move highlights the increasing scrutiny of online political campaigning in Iran. The situation reflects ongoing tensions surrounding electoral integrity and freedom of expression in the country.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
The judiciary in East Azerbaijan has closed 25 websites due to alleged electoral violations as part of a crackdown on online political campaigning ahead of upcoming elections. This action reflects increasing governmental scrutiny over digital platforms used for electoral activities.
- The closures were announced during a meeting focused on preventing electoral crimes.
- The judiciary plans to monitor all electoral movements and activities in the province.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
In Iran, the government closely monitors and regulates political activities, especially during election periods, to prevent dissent and maintain control. The use of digital platforms for campaigning has become increasingly significant.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%