Twenty-seven people have been arrested in the Iranian province of Gilan for taking a stand against the 13th presidential election.
Colonel Hossein Hosseinpour, acting commander of Gilan police, announced on Thursday, June 17: “These citizens were attempting to subvert the integrity the security of the election when they were arrested by the police.”
The police chief did not specify the charges against the detainees or the circumstances of their arrests. But, he added, 85 other people had also received verbal warnings.
Colonel Hosseinpour reported that 3,094 polling stations had been set up in Gilan and 13,500 people had been assigned to “protect the integrity” and the security of Friday’s vote.
He said that all political rallies and campaigning at polling stations was “strictly” banned, and asked people to inform the police of any violation they observed by calling its emergency number.
Aside from the presidential election, people across Iran are voting for city and village council representatives as well.
On Friday, the national cyber police also warned the administrators of Telegram channels and social media groups that any publicity related to the election must adhere to Iran’s electoral laws and regulations.
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