Prosecutor of Mashhad Defends Cancellation of Speech: We Do Not Seek Permission for Crime Prevention

The prosecutor of Mashhad, without naming anyone, accused critics of the cancellation of Ali Motahari's speech in the city, including the President, of 'hysteria' and 'blackmail' aimed at 'deceiving' the public during elections. He stated that the prosecutor's office has the legal authority to prevent crime and does not need to seek permission from anyone for this. According to a report by Khorasan newspaper on Thursday, December 4, Gholamali Sadeghi, the prosecutor of Mashhad, said: 'We act according to our duties both before and after the occurrence of a crime, and we do not need permission from anyone, as the law grants us this authority.' However, he did not explain what crime might have occurred if the speech had taken place. Referring to protests against the prosecutor's interference in canceling Mr. Motahari's speech, he added: 'Those who are looking for scapegoats and hysteria and electoral discussions should know that we do not follow them or their path.' The prosecutor of Mashhad, who spoke at a drug control meeting on Wednesday, emphasized: 'These are the problems of the people, not what some individuals unfortunately pursue.' Mr. Sadeghi added: 'Neither you nor I want to become President or determine who should be President... Therefore, we never worry about what to do to get votes in the upcoming elections.' Ali Motahari, the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, was scheduled to speak on Sunday, November 30, in Mashhad, but the prosecutor's office canceled the event and sealed the office of the Advisory Council of Reformists, the group organizing the event. The cancellation of Mr. Motahari's speech has led to protests from the President and 154 members of Parliament, with Hassan Rouhani, the President, calling the incident 'a source of shame.' In contrast, Sadeq Larijani, the head of the judiciary, harshly criticized the President and the Speaker of Parliament on Wednesday for defending Ali Motahari while not protesting against 'accusations' regarding the transfer of judicial funds to his personal account. In recent days, media outlets affiliated with the Revolutionary Guards, including Fars and Tasnim news agencies, have published interviews with supporters of the Supreme Leader criticizing the President's focus on the cancellation of the Deputy Speaker's speech. According to these critics, 'the priority of the people is economic problems, not the cancellation of speeches.' On Tuesday, December 2, a speech by Sadegh Zibakalam at Qazvin University was canceled by the prosecutor's order, and earlier, a speech by Mohammad Kianoush Rad at Shahid Chamran University in Ahvaz was canceled by the provincial security council's order. In recent years, only speeches and events related to critics and individuals close to reformists have been canceled, while conservatives and those close to the Supreme Leader have not faced such issues. Meanwhile, some analysts believe the goal of canceling these speeches is to prevent government supporters from connecting with the public and to reduce Hassan Rouhani's votes in the upcoming presidential elections. The prosecutor of Mashhad continued his remarks by stating: 'We are not regretful, and this is our path that we have started and will continue. We congratulate those who seek votes and positions, but let them address the problems and issues of the people and solve them.' Mr. Sadeghi emphasized that the people 'do not fall for deception' and 'hysteria and blackmail' and 'if some want to be in any position, they can earn the people's votes through service and effort.' Salman Samani, the spokesman for the Ministry of Interior, announced that despite 'numerous' correspondences with the prosecutor's office and the police and security agencies' opinions indicating 'no challenges' would arise if the speech were held, the prosecutor's office 'did not respond to these correspondences and was practically indifferent.' On the other hand, Alireza Rashidian, the governor of Razavi Khorasan, stated on Tuesday, December 2, that the prosecutor's office canceled the Deputy Speaker's speech based on a letter from the IRGC's intelligence. Ramadan Sharif, the spokesman for the Revolutionary Guards, also described the purpose of sending this letter as the 'possibility of statements' that 'could create a basis for turmoil and exploitation in the province.' Mr. Motahari had previously identified the assailants and 'commanders' of the attack against him at Shiraz Airport on March 9, 2015, as members of the Basij and the Revolutionary Guards, but officials have not confirmed this. Some of Ali Motahari's positions, including his repeated calls for the end of the house arrest of Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi, leaders of the Green Movement, have provoked severe protests from supporters of the Supreme Leader.