Controversial Images Linked to Parliamentary Candidate; Yasser Daghighi: It's the Work of 'Modern Technology', Participate in the Elections

Following the release of controversial images attributed to an individual said to be the former head of public security police in Astara, this senior commander of the Islamic Republic's law enforcement and current candidate for the Islamic Consultative Assembly denied his actions in an Instagram story, claiming the published images were the work of 'modern technology.' The Telegram channel of Radio Gilan, which had previously published images of the 'moral scandal' and sexual relationship of Reza Saghati, the former director of the Culture and Islamic Guidance Department of Gilan with another man last summer, on February 5 published images of a 'virtual sexual relationship' between a man and a woman, claiming that the man in question is named 'Colonel Paydar Yasser Daghighi,' who previously held the position of 'head of public security police in Astara' in Gilan province and is now a candidate for the parliamentary elections from the constituency of Rasht and Khomam, currently campaigning to gather votes. However, on February 17, Daghighi reacted to this accusation in an Instagram story, claiming that the 'fabricated' film attributed to him was created with 'modern technology' and that the creators would face the consequences of their actions. In this story, he considered the release of this film as the work of 'hostile and hypocritical individuals' and wrote: 'These individuals aim to discourage the public from maximum participation in the elections in Esfand.' Daghighi strongly denied the allegations and emphasized that he would bring the publishers to justice for their 'wicked actions,' inviting the public to participate enthusiastically in the upcoming elections for the Islamic Consultative Assembly and the Assembly of Experts of Leadership. Yasser Daghighi, born in 1981, introduces himself as 'Doctor' without mentioning his field of study on his official Instagram account and in his virtual election campaign banners. Some of his photos in the uniform and rank of colonel of the Islamic Republic's law enforcement have been circulated online, and he is referred to as the 'former head of public security police in Astara.' Voice of America cannot independently verify these details. The Telegram channel of Radio Gilan also first published the film of Reza Saghati's sexual relationship with another man in August this year. Peyman Behboudi, the manager of this Telegram channel, reported in an exclusive interview with Voice of America on August 5 about the dismissal and arrest of this manager of Ebrahim Raisi's government and 50 others in this regard, but on November 14, Pejman Mousavi, the editor of the monthly magazine Tajrobeh, claimed on his account on 'X' that Reza Saghati had again received a position in the Ministry of Culture, this time at the central building of this institution in Tehran, working in the office coordinating provincial affairs of the Ministry of Culture. At that time, Radio Gilan revealed another video file of the moral corruption of officials in Gilan, stating that this video was related to the sexual relationship of 'Hojjatoleslam Mahdi Haqshenas,' who was the former deputy of the 'Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice' institution in Gilan. The head of the judiciary of the Islamic Republic, on August 9, during a speech at the Supreme Council of the Judiciary, reacted to the released videos of the sexual relationships of several government officials in Gilan, calling these films 'distraction' by the enemy to 'divert the minds' of the people and said: 'We must increase our insight and prioritize, distinguishing between insiders and outsiders, and be careful not to play into the enemy's hands because we are all members of one family, and if there are problems, we must solve them through collaboration and wisdom within the family; we must not allow outsiders to take charge and let the incompetent and infiltrators take control.' Peyman Behboudi: They tried to reduce Saghati's extensive sexual connections to just the released film. Peyman Behboudi regarding the fate of Reza Saghati's case: With the minister's approval, he has taken a new position. A football coach in Iran was sentenced to death for sexually assaulting 'eight teenage boys.' The case of the 'immoral film' in Gilan has returned to the headlines; Saghati and 'the second person' have been arrested. Saghati's rise in the Ministry of Culture; reporters say the controversial manager has been promoted, while officials deny it. An 'in-camera' court session for a football coach in Tehran accused of sexually assaulting nine teenagers is being held. Global media attention is focused on the sexual scandal in the Islamic Republic; Daily Beast: 'It's hypocrisy.' The sexual relationship of another official has been revealed: the relationship of the 'Deputy of Promotion of Virtue' in Gilan with his brother-in-law.