Feasibility of Monitoring the Content of Presidential Election Debates in Iran

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 PhD student of Public Law, Department of Law, Qom Branch, Islamic Azad University, Qom, Iran

2 Associate Professor, Public and International Law Department, Imam Sadiq University, Tehran, Iran

3 Assistant Professor, Department of Public Law, Faculty of Humanities, Qom Branch, Islamic Azad University, Qom, Iran.

10.22034/qjplk.2025.2077.1864

Abstract

Today, the use of legitimate, attractive, and appropriate methods aligned with healthy electoral competition is of great interest to activists and officials in democratic systems. After thirteen rounds of presidential elections in Iran, it is undoubtedly one of the tools and the fastest methods for familiarizing voters with presidential candidates and accurately understanding their defendable thoughts and electoral programs to hold debates within the framework of healthy political competition. Considering the main question, "How can legal and judicial oversight of the content of presidential election debates in Iran be achieved?" we will analyze the propositions using a descriptive-analytical method. Essentially, a candidate can obtain an absolute majority of votes by participating in debates, presenting their future programs and performances within "the framework of laws and regulations," and with "effective oversight of debate sessions" by relevant institutions, proposing strategic and fundamental solutions to various national and international issues in accordance with the country's current situation. Therefore, with the aim of identifying the ideal debate from a legal perspective, legal and judicial oversight from the viewpoint of legal entities and the method of oversight must also be examined and analyzed legally. According to the results obtained, given the lack of specific regulations regarding electoral debates and subsequently considering the absence of active and effective oversight of debate sessions, this will lead to a distortion of public votes, an inaccurate identification of the desired candidate, and a lack of sufficient enforcement guarantees for false (deceptive) or misleading electoral advertising.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

References
Books
Persian
Arasta, M. (2021). A Look at Public Law in Islam. Qom: Maks Andisheh Publications, First Edition.
Steel, F. (2011). History of Elections in the World. Translated by Parviz Delirpour, Tehran: Sabzan Publications, First Edition.
Eftekhari, A. (2002). An Introduction to Red Lines in Political Competitions. Tehran: Farhang Goftman.
Omidali, M. (2014). Media and Citizen Rights. Qom: Islamic Republic of Iran Radio and Television, Islamic Research Center, First Edition.
Anvari, H. (2002). Great Dictionary of Speeches. Tehran: Sokhan, Volume Eight, Fifth Edition.
Introduction to the Concepts of Public Law. (2018). Volume One, a Group of Authors, Tehran: Guardian Council Research Institute Publications, First Edition.
Introduction to the Concepts of Public Law. (2018). Volume Two, a Group of Authors, Tehran: Guardian Council Research Institute Publications, First Edition.
Bani Yaqoob, J. (2009). Dictionary of legal, political, and administrative terms and terms. Tehran: Jangal Publications, second edition, volume one.
Hojjati, R. (2011). Debate discourse, a study of the mechanisms and discursive structure of television debates. Tehran: Saqi Publications, first edition.
Khosravi, H. (2008). Democratic electoral law. Tehran: Majd Publications, first edition.
Dehkhoda, A. (2008). Dictionary. Under the supervision of Dr. Moin and Dr. Shahidi, Tehran: Tehran University Publishing and Printing Institute, second edition of the new era.
Rasek, M. (2011). Supervision and balance in the basic legal system. Tehran: Drak, second edition.
Razmjo, H. (2008). Literary genres and their works in Persian. Mashhad: Astan Quds Razavi Publishing and Publishing Institute, first edition.
Ali Mohammadi, M. (2013). Islamic teachings of debate and how to apply it in electoral debates. Tehran: Publications and Information of the Research and Opinion Survey Center of the Iranian Broadcasting Corporation.
Amid, H. (2009). Persian Language. Tehran: Rah Roshd Publications, First Edition.
Amid Zanjani, A. (2005). Comparative Basic Laws (Basic Laws of Western and Islamic Countries). Tehran: Mizan, First Edition.
Foladfar, M., and Saberi, A. (2013). Legal Framework of Political Competition from the Perspective of Imam Khomeini (may God have mercy on him). Tehran: Islamic Revolution Documents Center, First Edition.
Mansouri, M. (2011). Stories and Debates. Qom: Tubaei Mohabat Publications, First Edition.
Mansourian, M. (2012). The Legal System Governing Elections (Election Management and Supervision). Volume Two, Tehran: Guardian Council Research Institute Publications, First Edition.
Nahovi, S. (2015). Election Laws. Qom: Bahar Delha Publishing House.
Arabic
Ibn Manzur, A. (1405 AH). Lisan al-Arab. Qom: Adab Publishing House, Volume 5.
Ragheb Isfahani, A. (1390). Al-Mufradat fi Gharib al-Quran. Qom: Naveed Islam Publishing House, Third Edition.
Muzaffar, M. (1388 AH). Al-Mantiq. Qom: Jamia al-Modaresin Qom Publishing House, Volume 1.
Articles
Bagheri Khouzani, M., Atrian, F. and Masoud, G. (2013). Analyzing the Indicators of Guaranteeing Transparency in the Presidential Elections (Studying the Candidate-Related Aspects) Studying the dimensions of election candidates. Quarterly Journal of Public Law Knowledge, 12 (41), 127-150.
Poursaid, R., and Totunchian, M. (2010). Religious foundations of citizenship rights. Journal of Biological Ethics, 10 (1), 39-49.
Taram, M., Aftabhi, K. and Afzali, R. (2011). Study of the evidence of discretionary and deliberative supervision in jurisprudence and law. Iranian Political Sociology Monthly, 5 (11), 3600-3548.
Taghizadeh, J. and Karimzadeh, T. (2013). The principle of equality and legal supervision over the implementation of elections of political institutions. Shiraz Legal Studies Quarterly, 5 (1), 25-48.
Habibnejad, A. and Ameri, Z. (2021). A Comparative Study over the Legal System Governing the Prohibition of foreign interference in the Elections (Iranian Model Study). Quarterly Journal of Public Law Knowledge, Year 10, No. 34, 133-160.
Habibnejad, A. and Davoudi, H. (2018). The Iran Electoral Advertising Model in light of the Good Electoral Advertising Requirements. Quarterly Journal of Public Law Knowledge, Year 7, No. 20, 71-91.
Sarikhani, A. and Akrami, R. (2013). The Preventive Functions of Transparency in Criminal Policy. Quarterly Journal of Justice Law, No. 82, 91-116.
Seyed Bagheri, K. (2018). The Right of Citizens to Participate and Political Freedom with Emphasis on the Holy Quran. Islamic Politics Research, Vol. 6, No. 14, 41-65.
Sabrian, A. (2007). Political Participation in the Islamic System; Right or Duty. Quarterly Journal of Religion and Politics, Vol. 13-14, 79-103.
Farajian, M., Sharifi, M., Diani, M. and Salmanizadeh, Sh. (2015). The Effect of Television Debates as a Propaganda Method on Shaping Voters’ Opinions in the 2013 Presidential Elections (Case Study: Iranian University Students). Quarterly Journal of Communication Research, Vol. 22, No. 3, 67-53.
Dorsti, H. (2014). Pathology of the Election Campaigns of the Islamic Consultative Assembly in the Light of the Legal Principles Governing Advertising. Quarterly Journal of Parliament and Strategy, Vol. 21, No. 80, 89-112.
Nemati, H., Bagherikani, M. and Bagherikani, M. (2022). Identifying the dimensions and components of desirable debates in the presidential elections in Iran from the perspective of the Supreme Leader of the Revolution. Strategic Management Thought (Management Thought), 16 (2), 1-44.
Documents
The Constitution of the Islamic Republic of  Iran
General Election Policies Announced on 2016 by the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, “Hafza’ullah”
The Law on the Election of the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Approved on 5/4/1364 by the Islamic Consultative Assembly
The Law on the Supervision of the Guardian Council on the Election of the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Approved on 1985 by the Islamic Consultative Assembly
Requirements for Preventing and Countering the Publication of Information, News, and News Content, Approved on 2020 by the Supreme Council of Cyberspace
The Comprehensive Election Bill, Approved on 2018 by the Cabinet
The Law on Supporting Those Who Command Good and Forbid Evil, Approved on 2015 by the Islamic Consultative Assembly
Information Bases
Office for the Preservation and Publication of the Works of His Eminence Grand Ayatollah Imam Khamenei, Friday Prayer Sermons in Tehran, dated 2009 (accessed 2024) at the following address: farsi.khamenei.ir/speech-content?id=7190
Comprehensive System of the Guardian Council's Opinions, available at: nazarat.shora-rc.ir
Theses or research projects:
Ayene-Negini, H. (2016). Conceptual analysis of polysemantic keywords in the constitution, entry (supervision). Research report, Tehran: Guardian Council Research Institute, No. 13950013
Amirarjomand, A. (2010). Comparative study of the electoral system of the Islamic Consultative Assembly with conventional electoral systems. Master's thesis, Tehran: University of Tehran.
Fattahi, A. (2013). Study of the concept of party. Research report, Tehran: Guardian Council Research Institute, No. 13920045
Malmir, M. (2010). Study and analysis of debate discourse in the letters of Nahj al-Balagha. Thesis for the degree of Master of Arts, Hamadan: Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Bu-Ali Sina University.
Najafi-Doraki, D. (2014). Principles and regulations for holding electoral debates in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Political Studies Office (Domestic Policy Group), Research Center of the Islamic Consultative Assembly.

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 06 November 2024
  • Revise Date: 01 February 2025
  • Accept Date: 09 June 2025

Share

How to cite

Statistics