Iranians are voting for a new parliament in an election marred by frustration over economic woes and restrictions on political and social freedoms.
The Assembly of Experts is mandated to select a new supreme leader if Khamenei steps down or dies, underscoring its increased importance.
Iranians are voting for a new parliament in an election marred by frustration over economic woes and restrictions on political and social freedoms. The Assembly of Experts is mandated to select a new supreme leader if Khamenei steps down or dies, underscoring its increased importance. Roxane Farmanfarmaian said that if the predictions for a low turnout are confirmed, it would be due to the combination of economic woes and a feeling among the population that they are not part of political momentum.
Iran is holding parliamentary elections on Friday.
Calls to boycott the vote are turning it into a test of legitimacy for the ruling clerics amid widespread discontent and anger at the government.
A separate election on Friday will also decide the membership of an obscure, 88-member clerical body called the Assembly of Experts, which selects and advises Iran's supreme leader.
Iranians have also lost confidence in elections after repeatedly voting for reformist lawmakers and presidents who pledged changes in foreign and economic policy and more individual rights that mostly failed to materialize.
Accuracy
Iranians are holding parliamentary elections on Friday.
Deception
(50%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author uses sensationalist language such as 'violent crackdown' and 'enraged voters', which creates a false sense of urgency and danger. Secondly, the author quotes government polls that are not peer-reviewed or pre-print without disclosing their lack of credibility. Thirdly, the article implies that turnout at elections is directly linked to the strength and power of Iran's leaders, which oversimplifies a complex issue.
The author uses sensationalist language such as 'violent crackdown' and 'enraged voters', which creates a false sense of urgency and danger. For example:
Fallacies
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Bias
(85%)
The article contains examples of religious bias and monetary bias. The author uses language that depicts one side as extreme or unreasonable by referring to the violent crackdown on protesters and implying that the government is responsible for it.
A robust vote appears unlikely with these elections taking place amid a slew of domestic challenges and a regional war stemming from the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza that has come to include Iran's network of proxy militias.
Iranians have also lost confidence in elections after repeatedly voting for reformist lawmakers and presidents who pledged changes in foreign and economic policy and more individual rights that mostly failed to materialize.
Iran's leaders view turnout at the polls as a projection of their strength and power.
Mr. Khamenei on Wednesday urged Iranians to vote even if they are not satisfied with the status quo, stressing that voting was tantamount to protecting the country's national security.
. With widespread disaffection, turnout could be as low as 15 percent, one government poll said.
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The author has a conflict of interest on the topic of Iran's parliamentary elections as she is reporting for The New York Times which has been critical of the government in Iran. Additionally, there are multiple topics related to Iran that could also be considered conflicts such as boycott calls and discontent among protesters.
The article also mentions that there are widespread protests in Tehran and other cities against the government crackdown on protesters. As an author reporting on this topic, it is important to disclose any potential conflicts of interest or affiliations with either side.
The article mentions that a group of activists called on people not to vote in the parliamentary elections, which is likely seen as an attempt to undermine the government's authority. This can be interpreted as a conflict of interest for Fassihi since she works for The New York Times, which has been critical of Iran's government.
Iranians are voting for a new parliament in an election marred by frustration over economic woes and restrictions on political and social freedoms.
The Assembly of Experts is mandated to select a new supreme leader if Khamenei steps down or dies, underscoring its increased importance.
Roxane Farmanfarmaian said that if the predictions for a low turnout are confirmed, it would be due to the combination of economic woes and a feeling among the population that they are not part of political momentum.
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(75%)
The article contains several logical fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by citing the opinions of Iranian officials and Ayatollah Ali Khamenei without providing any evidence or context for their claims. Additionally, the author presents a dichotomous depiction of voters' attitudes towards the election, stating that some are
Bias
(85%)
The article is biased towards the Iranian government and its policies. The author presents a one-sided view of the election results without providing any context or analysis of other factors that may have influenced voter turnout. Additionally, the author uses language that dehumanizes those who are critical of the government's actions.
Iranians fill out their ballots before casting their vote during elections to select members of parliament and a key clerical body in Tehran on March 1, 2024
The election results will be crucial because it may determine the future direction of Iran
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
Al Jazeera has a conflict of interest on the topic of Iranian parliamentary election and economic woes in Iran as they are owned by Qatar which is subject to Western sanctions over its nuclear programme. Additionally, Al Jazeera's coverage may be influenced by their political affiliation with the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Al Jazeera is owned by Qatar which is subject to Western sanctions over its nuclear programme.
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
Al Jazeera has a conflict of interest on the topic of Iranian parliamentary election and economic woes in Iran as they are reporting on negative aspects of the country's political turmoil since 1979 Islamic Revolution. They also have a conflict of interest with Western sanctions over Iran's nuclear programme, armed proxies in the Middle East and Russia in Ukraine war, and Tehran.
The article reports on negative aspects of the country's political turmoil since 1979 Islamic Revolution. Al Jazeera has a conflict of interest with this topic as they are reporting on it.
Iranians started voting on Friday in legislative elections that analysts say could see a record low turnout as Iranians grapple with an ailing economy, growing political distrust and a quashed protest movement.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called on citizens to vote as an act of resistance against the nation's enemies, cast his ballot in Tehran.
Some 15,000 candidates are competing for the 290-seat parliamentary election and 144 are running for the Assembly of Experts.
Khamenei is more than 84 years old and so this incoming Assembly will select his successor if he dies during his term.
Voter turnout is expected to be low, with candidates opposed to the current hardline government disqualified amid a widespread crackdown on dissent which rights groups say only intensified after the 2022 protest movement sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody.
Authorities are eager to bring people to the polls and have tried various tactics such as appealing to national unity against Israel, using images of bloodshed from Gaza war for propaganda purposes, and warning citizens that their enemy would seek to discourage them from voting.
Foad Izadi an associate professor at the University of Tehran's faculty of World Studies said that it is not difficult to encourage voting by appealing to national unity against Israel as most Iranians are outraged by the images of bloodshed pouring out from Gaza war, but this may not be enough for all voters.
Israel's war in Gaza while strongly opposed by many Iranians may not sufficiently sway all voters to polling stations.
More than 61 million of Iran's 87 million people are eligible to vote next month according to the country's Election Supervisory Board, but few opinion polls have been publicly released ahead of this year's election and results predict a record low turnout.
Iranians today see elections as simply for show rather than an opportunity for reform through the ballot box.
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(50%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author claims that Iranians are encouraged to vote by appealing to national unity against Israel and the US. However, this statement is misleading as it implies that all Iranians support these countries when in reality many do not. Secondly, the author quotes an anonymous source who says they will not vote because elections take place as a show and propaganda for their enemies. This quote suggests that voting is pointless and does not make a difference, which contradicts the idea of democracy where every vote counts. Lastly, the article mentions that Iranians are being punished by boycotts if they do not participate in the elections. However, this statement implies that participation is mandatory when it should be voluntary for citizens to exercise their right to vote or not.
The author claims that Iranians are encouraged to vote by appealing to national unity against Israel and the US. This statement is misleading as it implies that all Iranians support these countries when in reality many do not.
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains several examples of informal fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by citing the Supreme Leader's call for citizens to vote as a form of resistance against enemies. This is not a formal fallacy but rather an example of how the author attempts to persuade readers through their words and actions.
The Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, cast his ballot in Tehran on Friday as Iranians started voting for parliamentary seats. He called on citizens to vote as an act of resistance against the nation's enemies.
Bias
(85%)
The article is biased towards the Iranian government and its efforts to increase voter turnout for the upcoming elections. The author uses quotes from Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other officials to promote the idea that voting is a form of resistance against enemies of Iran, without providing any evidence or context about these supposed enemies. Additionally, the article portrays protests in Iran as being quashed by authorities rather than acknowledging their existence and potential impact on voter turnout.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called on citizens to vote as an act of resistance against the nation's enemies
Hamidreza Moghadamfar, an adviser to the chief commander of the IRGC, said that the biggest supporters of the massacre in Gaza are those who oppose Iranian voters going to polling stations
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
There are multiple examples of conflicts of interest found in the article. The authors have a financial stake in Iran as they work for Tehran Times and IRGC. They also report on Hassan Moslemi Naeini who is affiliated with the Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research which has ties to the government.
Nadeen Ebrahim also reports for IRGC, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which is responsible for enforcing Iranian law and maintaining order in the country. This creates another potential conflict of interest as she covers topics such as political dissent and protests against government policies.
The article reports that Rosa Rahimi works at Tehran Times, a news outlet owned by Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. This creates a conflict of interest as she is reporting on an election in which her employer has a vested interest.
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (0%)
The author Rosa Rahimi and Nadeen Ebrahim have conflicts of interest on the topics of Iran elections, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Assembly of Experts, political dissent protest movement Mahsa Amini protest movement Israel-Gaza war Tehran Times IRGC Hamidreza Moghadamfar Hassan Moslemi Naeini Academic Center for Education Culture and Research voter turnout decline in Iran Ebrahim Raisi hijab law protests in Iran 2022 UN experts on Iran human rights situation Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Hamidreza Moghadamfar Foad Izadi Jamshid Jamshidi
The author Nadeen Ebrahim reports for Tehran Times, an official news outlet controlled by the government of Iran. This raises concerns about whether she is able to provide objective coverage of events related to the elections.
The author Rosa Rahimi is a member of the Islamic Republic Guard Corps (IRGC) which has been accused of human rights abuses in Iran. This could compromise her ability to report on the election process and any issues that arise from it.
