IRGC Public Relations Official: Paraplegia Statistics of 830 People is Incorrect

The head of the public relations department of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) dismissed statements attributed to the former commander of the IRGC in Tehran province regarding the paraplegia of over 830 individuals during the protests against the 2009 presidential election results as 'incorrect.' According to the state news agency IRNA, on Sunday, February 8, Ramadan Sharif stated that this figure includes 'all injured and wounded individuals over eight months' of protests against the presidential election results, 'ranging from minor injuries to severe wounds.' On Saturday, February 7, the Fars news agency reported, citing Hossein Hamadani, the former commander of the IRGC in Tehran province, that more than 830 people had been paralyzed during the protests against the 2009 presidential election results. However, on Sunday, the head of the IRGC's public relations department called the reaction of 'foreign and anti-revolutionary media' to the publication of this statistic 'ridiculous.' Mr. Sharif also added, 'We have always expected officials who comment on such matters to speak transparently, accurately, and with documentation.' He emphasized, 'At the same time, we have expected media outlets to exercise caution in reporting statements that could be used by enemies and foreign media for media attacks and psychological operations against the Iranian nation.' Fars and Tasnim news agencies, affiliated with the IRGC, removed parts of Mr. Hamadani's statements referencing the paraplegia of 830 individuals during the 2009 protests shortly after they were published. There are differing statistics regarding the number of deaths and injuries during the protests against the 2009 presidential election results, as well as their identities, provided by the Islamic Republic and its opponents. The website Nedaye Sabz Azadi previously reported at least 72 deaths and at least 160 severe injuries during the protests that year. These figures relate to the activities of the 'Committee for Following Up on the Affairs of Victims of Post-Election Events,' which was formed by Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi. Members of this committee, including Morteza Alviri and Mohammad Reza Moghayeseh, were arrested in 2009, and the information available to this committee was seized by intelligence agents. In response to these statements, some members of parliament and individuals close to the Islamic Republic have stated that during the 2009 protests, several Basij forces and ordinary citizens were also killed and injured. Gholamali Haddad Adel, a representative from Tehran in the parliament, stated in December 2009 that 37 people were killed in the events following the election, 20 of whom were Basij members. Ismail Ahmadi Moghadam, the police chief, also stated in March 2013 that one of the officers from his force was paralyzed during the 2009 protests.