The third round of Iran's presidential debates focused on cultural issues, with the government's treatment of women and internet restrictions being the main points of contention. Candidates took turns discussing the brutal crackdown on women defying the mandatory hijab, despite their own roles in intensifying the enforcement. Internet restrictions were also a topic of debate. Even Masoud Pezeshkian, the reformist-backed candidate, defended the government's "intervention" in internet access, justifying shutdowns during national crises. Pezeshkian claimed that all countries intervene in internet access, a frequently repeated but inaccurate defense by Iranian officials.

Source: The North Africa Journal June 22, 2024 10:16 UTC