Concerns of Rouhani's Government Over 'Securityization' of Media Space Before Elections

Mohammad Baqer Nobakht, the spokesman for Hassan Rouhani's government, expressed the government's concern over the securityization of the media space during his first press conference of the year 1396 (2017), stating that "whenever the report on the arrest of managers of reformist Telegram channels is finalized, we will announce it." According to the news agency Daneshjoo, ISNA, Mr. Nobakht added in this press conference held on Tuesday, April 15, that "the President has expressed his sorrow and concern regarding this issue." The presidential website reported on April 6 that Hassan Rouhani had asked the Minister of Interior to prepare a report on the arrest of "suspicious numbers of media activists" ahead of the elections and to prevent "illegal" interference by certain institutions in the elections. In Esfand (February), managers of several Telegram channels and a number of journalists, including Morad Taqafi, Ehsan Mazandarani, and Hengameh Shahidi, were arrested. Simultaneously, Mahmoud Alavi, on Wednesday, in the margins of the government meeting regarding the arrest of Telegram channel managers, stated: "The government has opposed these arrests from the very beginning and continues to oppose them." He added: "The government's view is that this issue should be resolved peacefully and the channel managers should be released." Earlier, Elias Hazrati, a representative from Tehran in the parliament, on Tuesday, wrote a letter to Ali Larijani, the head of the legislative branch, asking him to use his position to secure the release of media activists and managers of arrested Telegram channels. According to ISNA, Elias Hazrati noted that there has been no information or news published regarding the reasons for these arrests and the authority that carried them out. Concurrently, Mohammad Reza Aref, the head of the "Hope Faction," called on the judiciary to resolve the issue of the "arrest of administrators of reformist channels" on Telegram. Previously, Hessameddin Ashna, an advisor to Hassan Rouhani, and several members of the reformist faction in the parliament, known as the "Hope Faction," reacted to these arrests, linking them to the presidential elections of 1396 (2017). Additionally, Mahmoud Sadqi, a representative from Tehran in the parliament, on March 28, 1395 (2016), in a letter to Mohammad Ali Jafari, the commander of the Revolutionary Guards, stated that the arrest of managers of several political Telegram channels has "triggered a wave of concern" regarding the "commitment" to the promise of non-interference by this institution in the elections. In response to criticisms from Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Mohammad Baqer Nobakht also addressed the former president's criticisms in Khuzestan regarding Rouhani's government's policy on allocating subsidies to the people, stating: "The government believes that some income brackets are in need of receiving subsidies. At the same time, some pressure the government to ask why it does not eliminate the subsidies for those who do not need them." He pointed out that the government provided subsidies to 77 million people last year, deeming Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's remarks as "ambiguous" and added: "The question and criticism being raised is not correct." Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, on April 2, in a speech in Ahvaz, referring to the Rouhani government's efforts to eliminate cash subsidies, said: "What are you to disregard the people's voice?! 97 percent want something, why are you against the people? 80 million do not understand, you understand, this very nation elevated you." The government spokesman, in his press conference, responded to the question of whether the government would reply to Ahmadinejad's letters to Rouhani, stating: "I know that Ahmadinejad has written letters to the presidents of some countries, including our president, but I am unaware of the content of his letter to the president." "The President cannot respond to everyone." Another part of this press conference was dedicated to the possibility of a debate between Hassan Rouhani and Hamid Bakhaei, where Mr. Nobakht said: "Certainly, if necessary, one of the budget program experts will answer the questions." Hamid Bakhaei is one of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's closest allies and his executive deputy and head of the presidential office during Ahmadinejad's presidency. According to ISNA, the government spokesman added: "I am willing to take responsibility and assign experts to answer all the candidates' questions. The experts will respond respectfully and substantively, and if they wish, face-to-face sessions can be held and broadcast simultaneously." He pointed out that "the President has many commitments and cannot respond to everyone," stating: "The Organization of Planning and Budget sees itself obliged to speak on behalf of the government. Of course, Bakhaei must also respond to many questions. If they say they want to multiply the subsidies, they must come and explain where they will obtain the resources from." Hamid Bakhaei has promised that if he becomes president, he will raise the subsidy amount to 250,000 tomans. Previously, Ali Rabiei, the Minister of Cooperatives, Labor, and Social Welfare, on April 12, called the promise of a 250,000 toman subsidy "a lie" and stated that this electoral promise is a type of "big lie and the biggest lie to the poor." In this context, Nobakht stated: "A special political team in state television is producing programs to undermine the government." The Ministry of Intelligence "is pursuing Telegram rumors against the government." Iran's defense-security budget increased by 128%. Special page for the 1396 elections. Follow news and reports related to the 1396 elections on the special page of Radio Farda.