Examining Three Claims by Raisi in His First Television Interview

Ebrahim Raisi, the candidate for the twelfth presidential election, introduced social media as one of the most important tools in the fight against corruption during his first television program. Criticizing the current method of combating corruption in the Islamic Republic, he stated that if elected, he would have a "transparent" government. In the special news dialogue program aired on Wednesday evening (April 25), he made vague and general statements without detailing his plans in economic, social, and cultural areas. Praising the functions of social media in combating corruption, supporting media and journalistic activities for government oversight, and ensuring the transparency of his potential government were among his key statements in this program, which are scrutinized in this article. Raisi's claim of using social media for transparency contrasts with his previous actions in the judiciary regarding social media, where he had previously supported restrictions. He stated that "social media can significantly aid in transparency and prevent corruption." The presidential candidate emphasized the need to utilize "many of the benefits that {social media} has in accessing information" and to leverage it for job creation. Raisi made these remarks as a candidate for the presidency, set to face other electoral rivals on May 18. He held key positions in the judiciary from 1985 to 2015, but there is no record of him praising social media during his over 30 years of judicial experience. During his tenure as Attorney General from 2014 to 2015, he was known as a supporter of imposing restrictions on social media in Iran. Raisi is currently the special prosecutor for the clergy, the same court that sentenced Ahmad Montazeri, the son of Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri, to 21 years in prison for publishing an audio file of his father regarding the 1988 executions, six years of which are enforceable. This audio file relates to a meeting between Ayatollah Montazeri and the then Islamic judge Hossein Ali Niri, the then Tehran prosecutor Morteza Eshraqi, the then deputy prosecutor Ebrahim Raisi, and Mustafa Pourmohammadi, the then representative of the Ministry of Intelligence at Evin Prison, where Montazeri harshly criticized their actions, and it was published for the first time in social media last year. Raisi also announced in September 2015 that he was pursuing a plan in the judiciary to manage social media, with the ultimate goal of "managing" this space. The details of this plan were never disclosed by him or other judicial officials, but at that time, some analyses indicated that the judiciary, after failing to block "Telegram," had put a plan to dominate social media on its agenda. Raisi had explicitly stated that the judiciary would pursue the filtering of mobile communication applications and was thinking about organizing social media. There is also a quote from Raisi regarding a speech in 2014 where he stated: "Today, social media has become a place for the enemies to incite sedition." There is no record of Raisi, during his time as a defender and executor of many restrictions against social media in the judiciary, stating that social networks could be a tool for combating corruption in the Islamic Republic. Raisi, due to his nearly three decades of presence in the judiciary, has chosen the fight against "corruption" as one of his electoral slogans and has repeatedly referred to this issue in his speeches. In his Wednesday evening dialogue on Channel Two, he once again addressed the issue of corruption and the methods of combating this phenomenon, stating that "it is possible to prevent corruption from occurring at all, and the unhealthy structure must be reformed." Raisi also added that "if we announce corruption every day, it is like saying 'thief' to a thief; people demand reports from the government." Ebrahim Raisi is recognized among his supporters and a broad spectrum of conservatives as one of the "successful" managers in combating corruption in the Islamic Republic. His supporters claim that he not only has a "clean" life in every respect but has also been active in identifying and dealing with corrupt individuals even within the judiciary, with the dismissal of 300 "misconducting" judges being among the "bright spots" in his career. These definitions and the gradual publication of some of Raisi's actions in the judiciary come at a time when such occurrences have been rare. During his presidency over the General Inspection Organization, Raisi has at least two politically controversial cases against reformists, namely Karbaschi and Jazayeri, in his record. There is very little information available in Iranian media about Raisi and his performance as one of the holders of sensitive judicial positions. Some of this scant information has only been heard in oral quotes. Among the missing links in this former judicial official's career file is the scant information available about his actions during his presidency over the General Inspection Organization from 1994 to 2004. In the live television program on Wednesday evening, he only mentioned that his organization had been able to "monitor the problems and challenges of all agencies." His election headquarters has also begun printing posters featuring images of some "economic corruptors" including Shahram Jazayeri, Gholamhossein Karbaschi, Morteza Rafighdoost, Fazel Khodadad, and Amir Mansour Arya, declaring the examination of their cases as one of Raisi's honors. The investigation into the 123 billion tomans embezzlement case of Bank Saderat, which led to the death sentence for Fazel Khodadad, was conducted a year after Raisi was appointed as head of the General Inspection Organization. However, Mohsen Rafighdoost, the former head of the Foundation of the Disabled and Underprivileged, whose brother Morteza was also accused in this case, stated in an interview with Jam-e Jam newspaper titled "Many things will remain for my will" that "the Khodadad case was more of a political scandal." One of the most controversial cases Raisi formed during his presidency over this organization was related to the actions of Gholamhossein Karbaschi, the then mayor of Tehran from 1997 to 1998, which led to his trial and imprisonment. Raisi's role in preparing a report on the performance of the then mayor of Tehran in court led to various accusations against Gholamhossein Karbaschi, which also provoked protests from the first government of Mohammad Khatami. Following Karbaschi's arrest, Khatami assigned several members of his cabinet to address this case and sent a letter to Ali Khamenei requesting Karbaschi's release. This letter was met with the leader's approval and led to the temporary release of the then mayor of Tehran, but did not prevent the formation of a court and the issuance of a prison sentence for Karbaschi. The arrest and trial of Gholamhossein Karbaschi is believed by some reformists to have been a "political" project by the judiciary, police, and some other revolutionary institutions against Mohammad Khatami's government, with many details of the behind-the-scenes actions remaining undisclosed. Jalaoddin Taheri, the late Imam of Friday prayers in Isfahan, was one of the clerics who stated about the main reason for Karbaschi's arrest: "The arrest of the mayor of Tehran was not due to embezzlement and bribery, but rather related to the second Khordad." Years after this political scandal, Kayhan newspaper also alluded to Raisi's role in forming a case against the then mayor of Tehran in response to Karbaschi's opposition to Raisi's candidacy in the upcoming elections. Kayhan wrote that "Karbaschi is worried that Raisi's approach and conduct as president will close off the avenues for the large-scale abuses of some favored individuals and cut their hands off from public funds." The case of Shahram Jazayeri and his trial in 2002 is another controversial and political case in the history of the Islamic Republic, where Raisi's supporters name him as one of the factors in uncovering this case as head of the General Inspection Organization. Meanwhile, the Jazayeri case is also referred to as another economic case in the judiciary that was formed with the aim of "discrediting" reformists. Raisi's campaign has labeled Jazayeri's accusations as "bribery to officials; members of parliament and government officials." Therefore, Raisi, during his presidency over the General Inspection Organization, has at least two politically controversial cases against reformists, namely Karbaschi and Jazayeri, in his record. This candidate for the twelfth presidential election, without referring to the judiciary's performance in this regard, has implicitly mentioned the executive branch and governments as one of the factors in the failure to combat corruption. Raisi emphasized the role of journalists in oversight and stated that their criticism of the government is not a "threat and problem that requires a letter and complaint." He also stated that if he wins the election, he will place his government behind a "showcase" and will act transparently. Raisi has raised the topics of supporting critical journalists and government transparency because, like other candidates in the election, he fundamentally needs the votes of the Iranian people on May 18. His statements come at a time when he has previously acted as one of the restrictors of freedom of expression in Iran during his multiple positions in the judiciary. Ebrahim Raisi, while speaking about the transparency of his government if he wins the upcoming presidential election, has held key positions for over 30 years in unaccountable institutions and organizations exempt from media oversight and evaluation by public opinion and other supervisory bodies. Mr. Raisi served as the first deputy of the head of the judiciary from 2004 to 2014, during which many rulings against journalists and media activists were issued, at least with his knowledge. During his time as the first deputy of the head of the judiciary, in addition to journalists, bloggers, and civil activists, a significant number of Hezbollah forces were also arrested and imprisoned for criticizing the judiciary and some actions of the Islamic Republic. The arrest of a considerable number of Hezbollah forces active in social networks and media close to the then government due to public criticisms of the judiciary was one of the most notable aspects of Raisi's work record during this period and one of the rarest confrontations with these forces. The filtering of dozens of conservative websites belonging to Hezbollah forces such as "Sorat News," "Tribune of the Oppressed," "Iranian Students' Newsletter," "Beybak News," and "598" and dozens of websites supporting the ninth and tenth governments is also considered another example of restricting freedom of expression during Raisi's first deputyship in the judiciary. The scope of these judicial actions against Hezbollah forces reached a point where in March 2012, a group of "soldiers of soft warfare" issued a statement criticizing the wave of arrests of Hezbollah cyber activists and the blocking of some conservative websites by Iranian officials. Ebrahim Raisi, in the position of an electoral candidate, has spoken about the transparency of his potential government; a subject that is completely absent in the 30-year record of his judicial activities, and except in very few cases, there are no documents or evidence to evaluate the performance of this former judicial official over the years. In March 2016, he was appointed by the leader of Iran as the custodian of Astan Quds Razavi; a large economic entity that has not provided any economic and financial information to the media and has long been exempt from paying any taxes, auditing, and oversight. No direct reports have been published regarding his efforts to clarify the performance and activities of Astan Quds since his appointment to this institution. Although the Telegram channel "Raisi's Supporters" claims that he immediately dismissed Mehdi Azizian, the key figure of Astan Quds, for financial corruption upon his appointment and filed a case against him, no details about this action have been provided to the media and the public. Additionally, he is a member of the Assembly of Experts, one of the least transparent institutions in the Islamic Republic. An institution that has seriously deviated from its main duty of overseeing the Supreme Leader. There have been no reports of Mr. Raisi's efforts to help clarify this institution, facilitate the free circulation of its confidential negotiations, or return it to its main duties. Ebrahim Raisi, while speaking about the transparency of his government if he wins the upcoming presidential election, has held key positions for over 30 years in unaccountable institutions, exempt from media oversight and evaluation by public opinion and other supervisory bodies.