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Sham Elections – No. 2

 Election theatrics controlled by revolutionary guards and Basij

Regime’s Interior Minister: 20 revolutionary guards and security agents for each polling station

In fear of popular protests, the Iranian regime has brought on the revolutionary guards, Basij and suppressive security and intelligence forces to the streets under the pretext of providing security to the ballot boxes to create a climate of terror and fright to bar incidents of popular anger and hatred.

Iranian regime Interior Minister Rahmani Fazli announced that over one million security forces are involved in ensuring protection and security to 52000 polling stations (Tasnim News Agency, affiliated with the Qods Force – February 23, 2016). In other words, there are 20 suppressive forces in each polling station. Hossein Ashtari, commander of regime’s security forces, stated that there will be 250000 security forces at the polling stations (state news agencies – February 23). In many polling stations the number of revolutionary guards and Basij forces outnumbers voters.

Eskandar Momeni, deputy commander of the security forces, noted that 26 helicopters and 8 light airplanes will be used to control various regions on Friday.

Hassan Karami, a senior commander of the security forces, stated that since March 2015, regime’s suppressive forces have been busy planning to confront any security threat on the election day. He noted: Long before the elections we took steps to be combat and surveillance ready. Since the beginning of the current [Persian] year, training of other security forces units throughout the country was also placed on the agenda (Mehr state news agency – February 24).