Statement by two political prisoners about elections: No to arbitrary appointments, no to the Islamic Republic

Two political prisoners held in Qezl-e Hassar Prison issued a statement emphasizing neither arbitrary appointments nor the Islamic Republic.

"Zartasht Ahmadi-Ragheb" and "Reza Salmanzadeh", two prisoners held in Qezl-Hesar Prison in Karaj, issued a statement on the eve of the elections for the Islamic Consultative Assembly and the Council of Experts, which will be held on Saturday, March 1. In this statement, they emphasized that from the court of the Wilayat al-Faqih, they are calling out neither for arbitrary appointments nor for the Islamic Republic.

In the aforementioned statement, these two political prisoners, while referring to the “meaningless and theatrical” nature of the Islamic Republic’s elections, wrote: “Everyone knows well and we are also well aware that elections are one of the main and fundamental pillars of democracy, i.e. the sovereignty of the people. Without a doubt, in a country where 45 years of executions, war, terror, violence, suppression of freedom seekers and imprisonment of dissidents by the government and its security and judicial institutions have continued to this day, and people who protest and young people are being shot for demanding their human rights. Freedom and elections are meaningless and theatrical words.”

According to Reza Salmanzadeh and Zaratosht Ahmadi-Ragheb, the security, garrison, and repressive government is always looking to stage a show of force during 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.

In their statement, the two political activists, while referring to the poor economic conditions and unemployment of the people in Iran, added: "Millions of Iranians have left the country due to unemployment, poverty, misery, corruption, and in the hope of a better and freer life. The economy is in the abyss of collapse, high prices, and inflation, and the nation has bowed its back. With this in mind, how can we not participate in elections, but in dictatorial appointments and dip our fingers in the blood of Iranian girls and boys, women and men? The Iranian people are intelligent and aware, and after all these years of repression and tyranny, they will no longer give in to these false shows. We, too, cry out from the prison and the courthouse of the Velayat-e-Faqih, not to the government's appointments, not to the Islamic Republic!"

Mr. Salmanzadeh and Ragheb emphasized that the Islamic Republic has engaged in the greatest anti-Iranianism by supporting terrorism and warmongering, plundering the country's national wealth and resources, and throwing our beloved Iran into the lap of China and Russia, and has only worked towards the perpetuation and survival of the authoritarian regime.

"Abolfazl Ghadiani," one of the opponents of the Islamic Republic, also stated in a statement that participation in the elections is a factor in strengthening the shaky foundations of Ali Khamenei's evil power, and that the upcoming elections should be boycotted. He stated: "Not participating is not enough, because boycotting is an active matter, and the boycotter also asks others not to vote."

Yashar Tabrizi, another political prisoner held in Evin Prison, issued a statement last week urging people to stay home on March 21, the day of the elections for the Islamic Consultative Assembly and the Supreme Leader's Council of Experts, and not to participate in this electoral drama. Many political activists inside and outside Iran also announced that they would boycott the elections and would not participate in this staged event, which is nothing more than a drama.

According to the "Ghaman Polling" institute's prediction, 77 percent of Iranian citizens will not participate in the March 11 elections.