Statement no. 13
- Widespread fraud in "Islamic councils' " elections

So widespread has rigging and fraud been during the "Islamic councils' " election farce that it has created a controversy within the regime. In recent days, the Iranian Resistance has obtained many documents and reports about such fraud in Tehran and other cities.

For example, a complaint sent to the Interior Ministry by the election supervisory board in Kouhdasht (western Lorestan province), a copy of which has been obtained by the Iranian Resistance, points to extensive election fraud in the city. The document notes in part:

1. The ballots distributed in different polling stations were 6,000 more than the number of eligible voters;

2. Many ballots already filled out in favor of pro-Khatami candidates were brought into the city by the regime's operatives from other areas and stuffed in the ballot boxes. As a result, the number of votes cast is more than the number of ballots announced on the basis of the minutes of the head of office for public records who was also a member of the elections' executive board.

3. Most polling stations were closed in the afternoon on the pretext that ballots had run out, thereby preventing the public from casting their votes. Whereas the elections headquarters had announced that voting will continue until 8:00 p.m., the governor and other officials in Kouhdasht had closed down many polling stations at 5:00 p.m., so as to not allow supporters of rival candidates to vote.

4. In many areas, birth certificates of the regime's operatives were not stamped and each voted several times. In one case, 500 to 600 ballots, filled out in advance in favor of Youness Azadbakht, a pro-Khatami candidate, were stuffed in the ballot boxes.

5. Some 2,050 ballots, carrying Azadbakht's name, were taken by his sister-in-law, Sorraya Shahbaz, to the polling stations to be stuffed in the ballot boxes.

6. In many stations, including Mokhaberat, Mohit-e zist, Komiteh Emdad and Meitham Tammar, ballots were removed from polling stations and after being filled out in favor of certain candidates, were returned to the polling stations.

7. In the village of Davood Rashid, ballot boxes were taken to the home of one of the regime's operatives and not to the district office. There, they were exchanged with other ballot boxes already stuffed with ballots.

8. Officials of governor's office in Kouhdasht announced that Youness Azadbakht had received 11,000 votes, whereas the total number of eligible voters in the city is 11,000.

Secretariat of the National Council of Resistance of Iran
March 2, 1999

Back Home