Various media outlets and Iran regime elements have commented
recently over the candidacy of Ebrahim Raisi, an influential cleric described as the
protégé of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, pumping new life into Iran’s so-called presidential election (readselection).
Of
course, this perspective in some way is considered correct. Raisi’s candidacy
has caused quite a stir in the entire poll, but not as Khamenei and his
apparatus initially intended.
The
role Raisi played in the “Death Commission” presiding over the 1988 massacre of
over 30,000 political prisoners, mostly members and supporters of the Iranian
opposition People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK), has come
into the spotlight like never before. The 1988 dossier was once considered a
highly controversial matter and no senior Iranian official would raise the
issue, all knowing their involvement would eventually unearth and play against
their ultimate interests.
People
from all walks of life in Iran are now becoming more informed about the matter
and questioning both Raisi and incumbent President Hassan Rouhani about
the entire ordeal. Such a phenomenon is even reflected in Iran’s state-run
media, including Keyhan daily, considered Khamenei’s mouthpiece.
While
placing its crosshairs on Rouhani, a piece in Keyhan is
titled, “They attack Raisi, but we should not forget Rouhani’s past!”
“The British state network says
the positions adopted by Hassan Rouhani up to this day have been similar to
others inside the apparatus. However, the ‘reformists’, seeking their own
interests, only target their rivals in their remarks, leaving [Rouhani] out of
the picture… There are considerable accounts in Rouhani’s report card. For
example, at a time when Rouhani’s government in recent years supported efforts
to revoke capital punishment, he himself in 1980 had suggested, ‘Bring traitors
to Friday prayers and have them hanged for people to see. It would have more
impact…’
“Following the 1999 student
uprising crackdown, Rouhani described the protesters as devious, foreign
agents, affiliated and corrupt, adding they are ‘far more despicable for us to
label them an overthrowing movement… if senior officials had not prevented us
our people, our Muslim, brave and revolutionary youth would have resorted to
the harshest of measures against these hoodlums.’ Back in December 2013, he
described a march staged by regime supporters against those protesting the
election results as clear insight. In 2015 he described that rally as the day
‘the Iranian nation defended the mullahs’ establishment.’
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