Summoning Several Candidates for the City Council Elections in Karaj to the Prosecutor's Office

On Tuesday, the Deputy for Crime Prevention at the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor's Office in Karaj announced the summoning of several city council candidates due to early campaigning and obtaining commitments from them. According to the news agency 'Mizan', Javad Yavari stated on Tuesday, April 29, that the summoning of these candidates was part of monitoring and addressing electoral violations in the Karaj city council elections. Mr. Yavari declared the violations of the summoned candidates as activities contrary to Article 61 of the Executive Regulations of the City Council Elections. He mentioned that these candidates had engaged in campaigning on social media before the legal campaigning period and even before their qualifications were confirmed, which led to their summoning to the crime prevention department of the prosecutor's office. The Deputy for Crime Prevention at the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor's Office in Karaj announced that written commitments were obtained from these individuals to refrain from repeating the violations and deviating from legal regulations. He added that 'when someone intends to participate and compete in the city council elections without knowledge of the election laws, they are certainly not a worthy individual.' Mr. Yavari also urged the people of Karaj to not support candidates who engage in 'early campaigning' and to vote for 'someone who is not thirsty for power.' The city and village council elections are set to take place simultaneously with the presidential elections on May 18. In this round of elections, 289,777 individuals have registered as candidates, of which 4,472 have withdrawn and 9,470 have been disqualified by executive committees. Judicial officials have repeatedly warned candidates in recent weeks that their activities are being monitored and that they will address any potential violations. On April 16, Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, the spokesperson for the judiciary, announced the formation of a 'Committee for Preventing Electoral Crimes,' which he stated is chaired by the Attorney General of the country. He also reported on the expedited examination of electoral crime cases. Mohammad Jafar Montazeri, the Attorney General of Iran, also announced on April 14 the monitoring of social media and actions against those who, according to him, 'intend to disrupt the electoral atmosphere.' Mr. Montazeri urged prosecutors across Iran to 'monitor social media moment by moment and to take appropriate and legal action immediately upon observing any violations.'