Denial of Arrest of Several Education Managers on Charges of 'Electoral Violation'

The Tehran Education Department has dismissed reports from several principlist media about the arrest of some managers of this institution due to 'electoral violations' as 'baseless' and has denied them. Meanwhile, the protests of Iran's principlists against what they call 'electoral violations' continue, with the Secretary General of the Combatant Clergy Association claiming that Ebrahim Raisi, the rival of Hassan Rouhani in the elections, has 16 million 'legitimate votes.' According to the official news agency of the Islamic Republic, IRNA, the public relations and information office of the Education Department of Tehran province denied reports on Thursday, June 4, regarding the summons of some managers of this institution due to 'electoral violations.' This department also urged the media to refrain from publishing 'baseless' news. The public relations office of the Tehran Education Department also denied reports about the summons of managers of this organization. Fars News Agency reported on Wednesday that a director of the Tehran Education Department was 'arrested for electoral violations' and released on 'a bail of 100 million tomans.' This news agency, affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, also reported based on its sources that 'managers from two education districts in Tehran and the surrounding areas have also been summoned for explanations' regarding this matter. Ebrahim Raisi, the main candidate of the principlists in the presidential election, announced on May 31 that he had requested the Guardian Council Secretary to investigate issues they describe as 'violations before and during the election held on May 29.' Ali Nikzad, the head of Raisi's campaign, also requested in a letter to Mohammad Jafar Montazeri, the Attorney General, that he investigate what he described as 'widespread violations' in the twelfth presidential election. Raisi and his campaign head have stated that they have sent documents regarding these 'violations' to the Guardian Council and the Attorney General's Office, but these letters did not mention details of the alleged 'violations.' However, Kayhan newspaper reported on Thursday about issues such as 'the use of green and purple handcuffs' by election officials as 'electoral violations.' This newspaper emphasized that in some polling stations in cities where Raisi's votes exceeded those of other candidates, ballots without stamps were distributed, which were later invalidated due to the lack of stamps. Kayhan also claimed that Hassan Rouhani's campaign offices were open on election day and 'were playing music while supporters gathered in front of them.' The principlists' protests against the election results come at a time when the spokesman for the Guardian Council on Tuesday, June 1, asked all candidates to 'accept' the election results and not to 'prejudge' before complaints are addressed. On the other hand, Ahmad Jannati, the Secretary of this council, said on Wednesday that he 'confirms the integrity of the election,' but 'many violations' also occurred. He also called on those who, according to him, committed 'major violations' in the election to 'repent.' Mohammad Ali Mohammadi Kermani, Secretary General of the Combatant Clergy Association, announced on Thursday that he had a meeting with the Secretary of the Guardian Council regarding 'electoral violations.' According to Mr. Mohammadi Kermani, he asked Mr. Jannati in this meeting to 'announce to the people the votes that were invalidated and the areas where the ballots did not go.' The Secretary General of the Combatant Clergy Association also stated, 'These violations do not affect the election results, but may increase Raisi's votes from 16 million to 19 million and Rouhani's from 23 to 21 million.' He emphasized that Raisi 'has 16 million legitimate votes.' He did not explain the meaning of 'legitimate votes' or the basis for his speculation about the number of votes for Rouhani and Raisi. The statements of Mr. Mohammadi Kermani, the Secretary of the Guardian Council, and other principlist figures regarding 'violations' in the 96 presidential election come at a time when they refer to protests against the results of the 88 presidential election as 'sedition.' According to reports, dozens of protesters against this election were killed, and thousands were detained over several months, with hundreds serving long prison sentences. In response to the principlists' accusations, Hassan Rouhani has also accused institutions under the Supreme Leader, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Astan Quds Razavi, state media, and the judiciary, of interfering in the elections in favor of Raisi.