Fatemeh Sepahri Calls for Boycott of Elections in Iran

Fatemeh Sepahri, a political prisoner, has called for a boycott of the presidential elections. Asghar Sepahri, Fatemeh's brother, announced her decision to boycott the presidential elections in a post on the social media platform X on Wednesday, July 6. In this post, he quoted his sister, who is imprisoned in Vakilabad prison in Mashhad, stating: 'We will not participate in your circus of appointments. You are the most deceitful people in the history of eras. We do not trust you.' At the end of this short message, Ms. Sepahri says: 'We will soon mark the end of your domination.' Fatemeh Sepahri is one of the signatories of a letter requesting the resignation of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, which was signed on September 21, 2022, at the beginning of the nationwide protests 'Women, Life, Freedom.' She was arrested by the security forces of the Islamic Republic. The first branch of the Revolutionary Court in Mashhad sentenced Sepahri to 18 years in prison on charges of 'collaboration with hostile governments,' 'conspiracy and collusion,' 'insulting the leadership,' and 'propaganda against the regime,' and this sentence was upheld by the appeals court. According to Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, ten years of imprisonment will be enforceable for her. Meanwhile, a video of Gohar Eshghi has also been published on X, in which she urges the people of Iran not to participate in the elections. This comes as several mothers of victims in Kurdistan have also issued a statement calling for a boycott of the elections. Recently, many civil and political activists, artists, and families of victims of recent protests have called for a boycott of the elections by the people. The severe government repression and the risk of protests becoming 'underground' are highlighted by what doctors and eyewitnesses recount about the injured from the protests.