Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is imposing strict censorship rules on presidential candidates ahead of this month’s tightly controlled sham election.
Khamenei’s office issued an ominous directive on Wednesday warning approved presidential candidates against misquoting the supreme leader and his henchmen during televised debates ahead of the June 28 elections. The edict insists all attributions to Khamenei must be “documented and verified” beforehand, according to state-run Memri.
Join the JBN+ WhatsApp GroupIran’s authoritarian censorship should come as no surprise given Khamenei’s longstanding ruthlessness in crushing dissent since taking power in 1989 after the Islamic Revolution. Torture, oppression of women and minority groups, acceleration of nuclear proliferation, and funding of terrorist proxies have all been trademarks of his reign.
Dozens were killed by security forces under his orders during the 2009 Green Movement demonstrations over the disputed re-election of former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. More recently, following Mahsa Amini’s brutal death in prison for violating Iran’s Hijab law in 2023, a massive protest was put down by Khamenei resulting in over 500 deaths and nearly 20,000 reported arrests.
All candidates reportedly have already been pre-vetted by Khamenei’s inner circle of loyalists to ensure obedience as the 83-year-old despot continues to threaten the Middle East.
May The Lord God Of the armies of the hosts of heaven depose him.
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