Sediqe Vosoughi: Participating in the 'Entirely Engineered' Elections of the Islamic Republic is a Step into a Dead End

Sediqe Vosoughi, a critic of the government and a religious scholar, described the elections in the Islamic Republic as 'entirely engineered' and called for the formation of a new transformative movement in Iran. This former political prisoner emphasized in an analysis shared on Instagram: 'The way is to organize and unify the transformative movement and turn it into an effective political force in the country to lead Iran towards freedom and democracy.' She referred to the discourse of the two currents of principlism and reformism as 'expired' and added: 'We need to create a new movement in Iran whose principles differ from those on which these two types of hard and soft discourses of the Islamic Republic are based.' She considered the voice of the Iranian people's desire for transformation as 'loud and necessary' and stated that 'the demands of the people and the new generation go beyond the constitution and what is pursued in the Islamic Republic.' Vosoughi explained that today people want 'equality, separation of religion from government, democracy, respect and dignity, independence for women, and environmental protection; the demands of the people have changed.' According to this critical religious scholar, 'Living within the framework of jurisprudential rulings under the rule of the Supreme Leader, clerics, and similar figures is no longer a response to the needs of today's and tomorrow's Iran.' Based on 'alleged statistics' from the Islamic Republic's Ministry of Interior, which are often seriously doubted by independent observers and sources, more than 60% of the Iranian people did not participate in the government elections on July 8 to determine the successor to Raisi. Vosoughi expressed regret that the rulers do not hear the loud voice of transformation, saying: 'In my opinion, the voice of transformation is loud. I am sorry that the rulers do not hear it.' Criticizing the approach of reformists, she stated that they 'consider participating in the entirely engineered elections as a way forward. In my opinion, this is not a way; it is a dead end. Because stepping into it will not lead us to the destination that the people want and even the reformists want. It leads to a destination determined by election engineers.' This critical religious scholar added: 'Reformism within this system is not only impossible but also ineffective.' Vosoughi predicted that the struggle between the Islamic Republic and the people would continue regardless of which of the candidates supported by governmental political currents comes to power. She emphasized: 'Whether a principlist or a reformist comes to power, the serious challenge between the government and the people and the transformative movement, which is the majority of the people, will continue.' According to this member of the first Tehran City Council: 'Changing individuals in any of the branches cannot create a significant and tangible change in favor of what the people want.' Sediqe Vosoughi, a former professor at Tehran University, removed her hijab following nationwide protests over the death of Mahsa Amini in custody of the morality police and the death of Armita Garavand, a teenager opposed to compulsory hijab, and was imprisoned for a while. Mahmoud Mehrabi, a protester sentenced to death, stated: 'Changing the president of the Islamic Republic does not affect the government's repressive policies.' An Associated Press field report from Iran indicated that the people, distrustful and angry at the government, have no desire to 'vote.' More than '1285 virtual activists' have been summoned and 58 field protesters arrested during the 'elections' of the government. The Islamic Republic is waiting for another Friday; opponents say that not voting is the most effective 'civil resistance.'