News Analysis |
Contradictory reports fuelled suspicion and debate on the news of the former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad’s arrest over ‘inciting violence’ as reported by Arab, American and other media. According to many different news publications, the Iranian authorities are now seeking to place Mr. Ahmadinejad under house arrest with approval from Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
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Whilst initially these reports sparked outrage across the digital spectrum, Independent Iranian journalists are confirming that it may not have happened at all.
A journalist from Iran, based in the US confirmed on the social media that the former president has not been arrested, quoting sources and urging the Iranian people to avoid falling into the propaganda of disparity fuelled by ‘foreign forces’. There was also a wide spectrum of commentators who thought along similar lines. There is also the fact that there is no admittance from the clerical establishment itself.
After two days of this news circulating on the mainstream and social media in various parts of the world, there have been no reports of any outbreaks, which also dampens the credibility of the former president’s arrest.
The reports of this ‘move’ came in light of the recent turmoil in Iran where heavy protests erupted all across the country due to inflation and cost of living in late December. Mr. Ahmadinejad has been critical of the regime in his public addresses, even more so since he was denied candidacy for the May 2017 Presidential election.
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As a result of clashes between the protesters and the revolutionary guard, a paramilitary force loyal to the Supreme Leader, 21 people were killed in scattered clashes over more than 80 cities. The mob was the largest the country had witnessed after the controversial 2009 presidential elections. More than 1000 people were arrested since the beginning of the protests.
The Iranian revolutionary guard assumed control of the situation and in a press release, blamed the United States, Israel and the Kingdom of Saudi Arab to have been behind the well-orchestrated and consequential propaganda. Iran’s parliament held a closed session in which senior security officials briefed them on the protests and the conditions of the detainees, a news agency reported.
There have been no confirmations from the Iranian regime, the revolutionary guard or any other government/security agencies, which are reportedly attempting to put the former President into house arrest.
“It was emphasised that foreign elements, and in particular the United States, played a basic role in forming and manipulating the recent unrest,” A publication quoted lawmaker Jalal Mirzaei as saying.
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The United States and Israel expressed support for the protests, which began on 28th December in Iran’s second largest city, Mashhad, but their governments both denied fomenting them.
The US President Donald Trump’s twitter handle sent out a tweet expressing solidarity with the protestors, egging them on to actualizing their goals and told the Iranian people that they were poor and hungry.
Iran’s parliament held a closed session in which senior security officials briefed them on the protests and the conditions of the detainees, a news agency reported.
Almost as if in sync, the news of Ahmadinejad’s arrest, that sparked outrage all across social media, was not categorically reported by Iranian media. There have been no confirmations from the Iranian regime, the revolutionary guard or any other government/security agencies, which are reportedly attempting to put the former President into house arrest.
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The news of his arrest that has been doing rounds in Western media is expected to bring around serious backlash from his protesters. After two days of this news circulating on the mainstream and social media in various parts of the world, there have been no reports of any outbreaks, which also dampens the credibility of the former president’s arrest.