The International Federation of Journalists reported that security agencies of the Islamic Republic have forced the managers of the news agency 'Khabar Online' to remove a report predicting '30% participation' in the elections scheduled for March. On January 28, Khabar Online published a report citing a survey from a government agency that estimated the participation rate in the upcoming elections for the Islamic Consultative Assembly and the Assembly of Experts nationwide to be around 30%. According to this report, the participation rate in Tehran province is also predicted to be 22%, with less than 15% in the city of Tehran. Those unwilling to participate in the elections have told opinion poll experts that due to the inefficacy of the parliament and elections in the Islamic Republic, rampant corruption in the country, and a lack of hope for their future and that of the country, they are absolutely unwilling to participate in what they consider a 'show' and 'prescriptive' government election. On Monday, January 30, after being forced to delete the news about 'the results of a government-conducted electoral survey regarding public participation in the upcoming elections,' Khabar Online briefly explained: 'We were asked by individuals over the phone to remove this news from our output and were emphasized that publishing any survey regarding the elections is against a resolution.' The news agency further wrote: 'It is unclear which legal resolution the contact reference is based on and emphasized, what authority's decision this resolution stems from, and why it has not been officially communicated to the media, with verbal and phone communication replacing official notification.' This incident occurs amid increasing pressure on journalists and media personnel in recent weeks. Summoning journalists, filing charges against critical media, and pressuring silence on certain news such as the murder case of Dariush Mehrjui, the late Iranian filmmaker, are among these pressures.
Increased Pressure on Media Ahead of Elections; Khabar Online Forced to Remove Poll Indicating '30% Participation'
Khabar Online was forced to remove a report predicting low voter turnout of 30% in the upcoming elections due to pressure from security agencies. This reflects the increasing repression of media in Iran as the elections approach, highlighting public disillusionment with the electoral process.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Khabar Online was pressured by security agencies to remove a report predicting only 30% voter participation in upcoming elections. This incident underscores the increasing repression of media in Iran as elections approach.
- The report indicated a significant lack of public interest in the elections due to disillusionment with the political system.
- Khabar Online received verbal orders to remove the report without any official documentation.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Iran's political system is characterized by limited democratic processes and significant public discontent, particularly regarding elections that many view as predetermined.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%