Reactions Continue to Election Boycott in Iran; Maryam Rajavi: The People Voted for the Overthrow of the Velayat-e Faqih Regime

In response to yesterday's elections in Iran, a number of opponents of the Islamic Republic issued statements or short posts on social media. Among the prominent opponents who reacted were Prince Reza Pahlavi, Masih Alinejad, Abdollah Mohtadi, and Maryam Rajavi. Maryam Rajavi, the President of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, described the elections held on Friday, March 2, as a "big no" to dictatorship and a vote by the Iranian people for the overthrow of the Velayat-e Faqih regime. In a statement published on the council's website, she pointed out that the Velayat-e Faqih regime has "usurped and trampled the sovereignty of the Iranian people," stating, "Without a doubt, Khamenei and the Velayat-e Faqih regime will emerge from this display much weaker and more fragile, and the process of overthrowing will accelerate." Maryam Rajavi emphasized, "The decisive no from the Iranian people indicates the uprisings whose footsteps can already be heard and heralds the overthrow of religious fascism." Before Maryam Rajavi, several political and civil figures interpreted the people's lack of participation in the elections as a "yes" from the Iranian people to the overthrow of the regime. Prince Reza Pahlavi wrote on X: "The people of Iran, after 45 years of trial and error, have come to the valuable awareness that everything related to the regime's election circus is unreal and fraudulent." He added that "the people of Iran once again showed that they think only of the overthrow of Khamenei and his defeated regime and seek their free and prosperous future in a secular, united, and democratic Iran." Masih Alinejad, a human rights activist and journalist, congratulated the families of the victims for joining the "#Vote_No_Vote" campaign and directly challenging Ali Khamenei, emphasizing that the Iranian people once again voted in a referendum for the overthrow of the Islamic Republic; yes to the overthrow and no to the continuation of a "murderous government and its terrorist army." According to this human rights activist, the people refused to stain their fingers with the blood of those who died for a free Iran. Abdollah Mohtadi, the Secretary-General of the Komala Party of Iranian Kurdistan, also published a message on X, noting that polling stations across Kurdistan were "completely deserted," writing: "A major boycott occurred." He wrote: [Islamic Republic officials] begged in a thousand languages and resorted to every trick to bring people to the polling stations and show photos and videos as evidence of people's support to the world, but they experienced "the worst political humiliation in history." Before the elections, Ali Khamenei and other political and military officials of the Islamic Republic repeatedly urged the Iranian people to go to the polls with varying tones, making promises or threats. The call for public participation in the elections on Friday came at a time when "Etemad Online" reported on February 19 that "given the existing economic and social grievances across the country and also the way qualifications are assessed and the imposition of supervisory oversight, it seems that even some conservative factions have no hope for significant participation in the upcoming elections." Claims of 40% participation in the elections on March 2; statements by Ali Khamenei on May 17, 2001. Matthew Miller: Elections in the Islamic Republic are not free and fair; report by Farhad Poladi. Reactions to the elections; Prince Reza Pahlavi: The Islamic Republic's "election circus" is a "great deception." A repeat display of the "democracy showcase"; domestic media claimed over 40% participation in the elections. The Iranian Pensioners' Council: With widespread election boycotts, the massive "Women, Life, Freedom" movement continues. Abram Pileh: The people of Iran cannot express their true voice at the polling stations.