Government Encourages Armenians to Participate in Elections
The Islamic Republic government has launched efforts to encourage and persuade Armenians, other minorities, guilds, and ethnic groups to participate in elections.
More than a year after the start of nationwide protests, with the suppression of people by regime forces, harm inflicted on the population, killing of children, shooting at the eyes of many protesters and blinding them, torture and execution of approximately 38 protesters, public dissatisfaction with the Islamic Republic government has increased to the extent that “elections” have been boycotted by the people.
In such circumstances where the regime witnessed its own defeat and the erosion of the system’s legitimacy before the people, it has started its efforts to encourage minorities to participate in elections scheduled to be held in Esfand month of 1402. “Mohammad Javad Hajaliakbari,” the interim Friday Prayer Leader of Tehran, stated in his Friday sermon that Iran’s elections are among the healthiest elections in the world and people should participate in these elections.
Regarding the regime’s efforts and policies for voting in elections, Armenian leaders and representatives of Christians in the Islamic Consultative Assembly are working to promote elections and increase participation in this event. Also, “Robert Beglarian,” a parliamentary representative, said in this regard: “Participation in elections is part of re-legitimizing the powerful nature of the Islamic Republic system. Participation in elections helps the world know that apart from all concerns and any problems that exist, it is a domestic matter and solvable.”
Government representatives are also attempting through various institutions and bodies in successive meetings with Armenian community representatives and leaders to stoke the fires of election fervor. In this regard, “Reza Mortazavi,” Governor of Isfahan, after visiting an Armenian cemetery in late Dey month, went to Vank Church to meet with the Armenian Catholicos and stated in this meeting: “Armenian compatriots, through their presence in elections, will leave another mark of solidarity.”
Efforts by government officials to bring Armenians to the ballot boxes come at a time when many Christian citizens have even been deprived of holding government jobs and face double discrimination by the government. However, the opinion of the Iranian people is different; according to their claims, it is believed that Iran’s Armenians, like other ethnicities, should say no to participating in these show elections, because they know that these are theatrical elections and their participation in this ceremony is endorsement of a system whose benefits are only for the Islamic Republic government and not the people.
