Campaigning Before Confirmation of Candidacy Illegal

Jamal Orf, the head of Election Headquarters at the Interior Ministry, on Monday reminded hopefuls of the provisions of electoral law, under which no campaigning can take place by hopefuls unless they are approved by the Guardians Council, IRNA reported.

The registration of hopefuls ended at the headquarters in Tehran on Saturday and the ministry forwarded the registration documents of all hopefuls to the vetting body. The council has been assessing the qualifications of the candidates ever since and will release the names of those who meet the requirements in the coming day.

That process will last until Thursday, but can potentially be extended for five more days. Approved candidates will then be allowed to start campaigning.

Vahid Majid, the director of Iranian Cyber Police, said on Monday that the police unit would be monitoring cyberspace for potential violations of electoral law by the hopefuls.

Majid said the Cyber Police would also track such online behavior as insulting candidates, defamations and the publication of material deemed violation of privacy.

Iran’s 13th presidential election will be held on June 18.