Statement by Two Political Prisoners on Elections: No to Appointed Elections, No to Islamic Republic

Two political prisoners detained in Qazalhesar Prison have emphasized their rejection of appointed elections and the Islamic Republic through the release of a statement.

“Zoroaster Ahmadi-Ragheb” and “Reza Salamanzadeh,” two prisoners held in Qazalhesar Prison in Karaj, have released a statement on the eve of the elections for the Islamic Consultative Assembly and the Assembly of Experts, which will be held on Saturday, March 1st. In this statement, they emphasized that from the tyranny of Velayat-e Faqih, they cry out: no to appointed elections and no to the Islamic Republic.

These two political prisoners, in their statement, while referring to the “meaningless and theatrical” nature of Islamic Republic elections, wrote: “Everyone knows well, and we too are fully aware, that elections are one of the main and fundamental pillars of democracy, namely popular sovereignty. Without a doubt, in a country where for 45 years execution, war, assassination, violence, suppression of freedom-seekers, and imprisonment of dissenters by the government and its security and judicial institutions have continued until now, and where protesting people and youth are shot for demanding their human rights, freedom and elections are meaningless and theatrical words.”

According to Reza Salamanzadeh and Zoroaster Ahmadi-Ragheb, the authoritarian, military, and repressive government is always seeking to stage theatrical elections and bring its agents to the streets to falsely show that they have a popular base, but in reality this is not the case.

The two political activists, in their statement, while referring to the poor economic conditions and unemployment of the Iranian people, added: “Millions of Iranians have left the country due to unemployment, poverty, misery, corruption, and in hopes of a better and freer life. The economy is on the brink of collapse, inflation and high prices have broken the back of the nation. Given these circumstances, how can we participate in elections, or rather in these appointed elections of dictatorship, and stain our fingers with the blood of Iran’s daughters and sons, women and men? The Iranian people are intelligent and aware, and after all these years of repression and tyranny, they will no longer accept these false spectacles. We too cry out from prison and the tyranny of Velayat-e Faqih: no to the government’s appointed elections, no to the Islamic Republic!”

Mr. Salamanzadeh and Ragheb emphasized that the Islamic Republic, by supporting terrorism and warmongering, plundering national wealth and resources, throwing our beloved Iran into the arms of China and Russia, has committed the greatest betrayal of Iran and has only sought to perpetuate and maintain its authoritarian rule.

“Abolfazl Qadiani,” another opponent of the Islamic Republic, in his statements, while pointing out that participating in elections is a factor in consolidating the shaky foundations of Khamenei’s demonic power, stated that the upcoming elections should be boycotted. He declared: “Not participating is not enough; because a boycott is an active measure and the boycotter also calls on others not to vote.”

“Yashar Tabrizi,” another political prisoner held in Evin Prison, had requested in a statement released last week that the people stay home on March 1st, the day of the elections for the Islamic Consultative Assembly and the Assembly of Experts, and not participate in this electoral spectacle. Also, many political activists both inside and outside Iran have declared that they will boycott the elections and not participate in this scene-setting, which is nothing more than a show.

According to a prediction by the polling institute “Gaman Polls,” 77 percent of Iranian citizens will not participate in the March 1st elections.