Civil and political activists inside Iran reiterate their emphasis on the "show" nature of the presidential elections

A group of civil and political activists inside Iran, who had emphasized the need for a "broad boycott of the sham and fraudulent elections and the removal of Ali Khamenei" in a letter signed by 231 people last month, formed a "Non-violent Transition to Global Democracy" discussion room on Wednesday, June 10, on the Club House social network to discuss solutions for the transition from the Islamic Republic. 

According to Voice of America, a number of signatories to the letter were hosted by Sadeq Ziba Kalam, a professor of political science at the University of Tehran. At the beginning, Kourosh Zaeem, a member of the leadership of the National Front of Iran, protested against “the plunder of the country’s resources by the government and the suppression of any legitimate movement of the people,” and called for the transition from the Islamic Republic system and the dissolution of its constitution. He continued by emphasizing that Iranians have never been violent throughout history.

Heshmatollah Tabarzadi, Secretary General of the Democratic Front of Iran, was the second speaker at the virtual meeting. He said the boycott movement is an evolution of all the movements and uprisings that came before it. According to Tabarzadi, the Iranian people are clearly saying that they no longer want the Islamic Republic. “After these sham and undemocratic elections, we must pursue a referendum under the supervision of international bodies,” he added.

In response to the speakers before him, Sadegh Zibakalam said that the claim that Iranians have never been violent throughout history stems from a lack of knowledge of history. According to Zibakalam, the massacre of the people of India by Nader Shah and the massacre in the Caucasus and the destruction of churches by Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar are two examples of Iranian violence throughout history. Zibakalam added: “I think your roadmap, which is based on racial supremacy and racism, is full of mistakes and will not lead anywhere.”

Amin Kurd, a member of the Central Council of the National Front of Iran, also said that if violence occurs in the people's uprising for justice, it is the government that wins. He added that the continuation of the path is only possible through non-violent struggle. According to this speaker, currently most guilds are joining the "No to the Islamic Republic" and "Vote Without a Vote" campaigns and we should focus on the theory of transition from the Islamic Republic.

Mehran Bakhtiar, a member of the Central Council of the National Front of Iran, also emphasized the need to avoid violence and said: "Most of the Iranian middle class is educated and anti-violence. But there are other social classes in today's Iran that are violent. With the Supreme Leader, who has destroyed the republicanism of this system, the reformist discourse will not lead anywhere."

Part of the letter from 231 civil activists states: "The goal of boycotting the 1400 elections is a non-violent and peaceful transition from the system of velayat-e-faqih (jurisprudence) to a democratic and secular constitution based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights."

Among those present at this virtual meeting, Sadegh Zibakalam was not the only one who signed the letter.

Source: Voice of America