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A Group of Political and Civil Activists: Participation in Elections is a Form of Deception

Feb 6, 2026 February 6, 2026 2 min read 📰 VOA Persian
📋 Key Takeaway

A group of political and civil activists in Iran has declared that participating in upcoming elections is a form of deception and a betrayal of national interests. They argue that years of oppressive governance have led to significant crises, including economic hardships and the repression of civil rights. The activists are calling for a referendum to reflect the true will of the Iranian people.

🔍 Quick Context Guide
💡 Bottom Line: Activists in Iran are calling for a referendum, rejecting upcoming elections as a facade of democracy.

👥 Key Players

Faezah Hashemi MENTIONED
Political and civil activist
"A prominent figure in Iranian politics, advocating for reform and civil rights."
Mehdi Nasiri MENTIONED
Political and civil activist
"Known for his critiques of the Iranian government and calls for democratic reforms."
Mohammad Hossein Karroubi MENTIONED
Political and civil activist
"A significant voice in the opposition, pushing for change and accountability in governance."

📰 What Happened

A group of Iranian political and civil activists issued a statement declaring that participating in upcoming elections is deceptive and harmful to national interests. They cited years of oppressive governance leading to various crises and called for a referendum to express the true will of the Iranian people.

  • The activists argue that elections are manipulated by intelligence and security agencies.
  • They highlight significant issues such as poverty, inflation, and repression of civil rights.

💡 Why It Matters

🇮🇷 For Iran: The statement reflects growing discontent with the current regime and could influence public participation in future elections.
🌍 Regional: Increased unrest in Iran could destabilize the region, affecting neighboring countries and their relations with Iran.
🌐 International: Western nations may view this as an opportunity to support democratic movements in Iran, impacting diplomatic relations.

📚 Background

Iran has faced significant political and economic challenges since the 1979 revolution, with ongoing debates about governance and civil rights. The current regime's legitimacy is increasingly questioned by various factions within the country.

Iranian political repression Civil rights movements in Iran
📡 Source: OPPOSITION
📊 Confidence: 70%
This perspective may reflect the views of dissenting voices against the Iranian government, and should be interpreted as part of a broader discourse on civil rights and governance in Iran.

A group of political and civil activists stated in a statement on Sunday, August 6, that "any participation of the people and political parties in the elections is a manifestation of being deceived and playing in the field against national interests." The signatories of the statement pointed out that "for years, elections in Iran have been hostage to supervisory oversight and the interference of the country's intelligence and security agencies," emphasizing that "the Islamic Republic is caught in a crisis that is primarily the result of distancing from republicanism and democracy and succumbing to despotism and autocracy." According to them, 44 years of the Islamic Republic's rule has led to various political, economic, and cultural crises such as "poverty, skyrocketing prices, and rampant inflation on one hand, and corruption, repression, and violation of citizens' legitimate rights and freedoms on the other hand." They further stated in their statement: "The securitization of the hijab and dress issue has complicated the situation and led to the humiliation of the righteous and free women of this land." This group of political and civil activists concluded their statement by calling for a referendum "to manifest the will of the Iranian public in all fundamental areas up to the point of constitutional change." Among the signatories of this statement are Faezah Hashemi, Mehdi Nasiri, and Mohammad Hossein Karroubi. The twelfth parliamentary elections are scheduled to be held on Friday, March 2, of the current year. The slogans of retired government employees in a protest on Tuesday: 'The government is six-class - just summarize it these days.' A referendum and elections; Haeri: If people do not understand 'referendum,' then they cannot participate in elections either. Molavi Abdolhamid: People should not be killed for the survival of the government. The Ministry of Labor of the Islamic Republic: 57% of the population of Iran suffers from malnutrition.

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Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →

Translation confidence: 85%

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