Shirin Ebadi: The Repeated and Worn Actors of the Government Have No Color for the Elections

Shirin Ebadi, head of the Human Rights Defenders Center and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, pointed to the approaching time of the Islamic Republic's presidential elections, stating: "The war of presidential candidates against each other, and their showing of teeth is not to declare loyalty to the people, but a method to inject warmth into the frozen furnace of elections." She emphasized: "The henna of the repeated and worn actors of the government has no color, and they are more aware of this than anyone else." In her Instagram post, she noted that the presidential elections are held "shortly after the humiliating defeat of the government in attracting public participation" in the parliamentary and Assembly of Experts elections, adding: "There is more distance between us and them than this circus. This distance is a product of the understanding that Iranian citizens have of the politicians and decision-makers of the Islamic Republic." She stressed that "the blood of our dear ones has not yet dried from their behavior, words, assets, and weapons," and added: "We do not even care that the name of Masoud Pezeshkian, who had previously been disqualified, has suddenly emerged from the magician's hat of the Guardian Council." Shirin Ebadi wrote: "The fact that Javad Zarif, with years of experience in whitewashing the crimes of the government, passionately supports a reformist candidate is not a new issue" and described it as "a worn-out, old, and tedious scenario of creating a temporary and ineffective duality" to perhaps generate some excitement and provide joy for Ali Khamenei. Additionally, the independent organization 'Iranian Seekers of Justice,' composed of the families of victims of the Islamic Republic since 1979, wrote on social media: "Undoubtedly, this time we will not only not participate in the farce of power and wealth division among the government factions, but we will actively work to impose a greater defeat on the Islamic Republic." They also called for the people to boycott the presidential election, stating that the "largest voting block in Iranian society is the rejection of the Islamic Republic." The 'elections' in the Islamic Republic have "no connection to the opinions, desires, and demands of various segments of society." A number of activists from the 'Women, Life, Freedom' revolution, women's movements, and student and school organizations also issued a joint statement regarding the presidential elections, stating: "It is clear that none of these candidates represent us, the people; they are merely tools and mechanisms for appointing another agent of crimes against humanity to the presidency of the government." The statement continued: "After the killing of Ebrahim Raisi, known as the executioner of 67, early appointments began to determine another pawn to sit on the presidency of the existing dictatorship." The signatories referred to the presidential candidates as "a bunch of known criminals against the Iranian people" who have returned to the scene "to continue organizing the atmosphere of repression despite their helplessness and fragmentation." They recalled this organization as "a war against women, issuing death sentences for youth and activists, killing porters and fuel carriers, detaining and threatening students, attacking teachers' and retirees' gatherings, securityizing the work environment and repressing workers, pressuring prisoners and their families, and seekers of justice, and chemical attacks on students." The statement emphasized that despite these actions, the government has not been able to "stop our magnificent and glorious revolution of Women, Life, Freedom" and has failed to intimidate society. The signatories added: "We not only do not comply with this electoral farce, we do not recognize such an occasion in this government at all; rather, we have taken action to expose its crimes to make the world aware of what has happened and is happening in our country." A wave of seeking justice has emerged in all cities of Iran, with families of seekers reminding of the government's crimes against their loved ones and issuing messages against forgetfulness. Mothers of the seekers shout to stand until the end and convey messages of resilience and struggle. Women continue their powerful and daily struggle to maintain the conquered stronghold against the imposition of hijab by appearing in public with their desired attire. The statement also addressed the protest gatherings of retirees and workers, noting that writers, teachers, and workers show their objections in various forms against the imposition of such relations. Political prisoners continue their passionate struggle even in prison. The signatories emphasized that the 'elections' in the Islamic Republic have "no connection to the opinions, desires, and demands of various segments of society and are completely discredited among the majority of people and activists of the Women, Life, Freedom revolution." They pointed out that "elections in the Islamic Republic are appointments among the agents of the government committed to maintaining the Islamic dictatorship's policies based on misogyny, imprisonment, torture, and execution; a person who is obligated to ensure a lost hand of the regime through the repression of society and the Women, Life, Freedom revolution." Among the signatories of the statement are Raheleh Ahmadi, Soori Babaei Chaghini, Koukb Badaghi Pegah, Atekeh Rajabi, Sara Siyahpour, Soheil Arabi, Mahbubeh Farahzadi, Rada Mardani, Khadijeh Mahdipoor, Leila Mirghafari, and Pouran Nazemi. The statement was signed by the Revolutionary Students Organization of Tehran and the Revolutionary Students Organization of Bushehr, as well as the Progressive Students Organization, the Free Thinkers of Jundi Shapur, the Freedom Seekers of North Tehran University, the Nationwide Committee of Kurdistan Students, the Free Students Organization of Khorasgan (Islamic Azad University of Isfahan), the Ideology Student Organization (in Tehran), the Khajeh Nasir Newsletter Organization, the Union of Students of Alzahra University, the Free Voice of the University (Isfahan University of Art), and the Union of Students of Isfahan University of Technology. Previously, many political figures and organizations opposing the Islamic Republic of Iran announced their boycott of the Islamic Republic's presidential elections. Additionally, 16 parties, organizations, and political groups recently issued a joint statement regarding the presidential elections, stating: "Ali Khamenei must paint a fresh coat on the bankrupt face of the regime to deceive public opinion and buy time for his survival and the longevity of his religious dictatorship." They added: "Some reformists have also returned to the political arena to once again collaborate with the regime in this labyrinth of deception and auction off the people's votes to the Islamic mafia government." They emphasized: "No breakthrough will occur, as the traditional and totalitarian structure of the regime has closed the way for any fundamental change." The statement was signed by the member organizations of the Cooperation Pact (Transitional Management Council, Iranian Constitutional Party (Liberal Democratic), National Decision Council, Social Democracy Society for Iran, Alliance for a New Beginning - National Unity Movement of Iranians), Secular Democratic Party of Iranians, Movement for Secular Democracy in Iran, Secular Democratic Council of Iranians, Iranian People's Front Organizations (Democratic Yarsan Organization, Azerbaijan Movement for Democracy and Unity of Iran, Baluchistan Front), Christian Democratic Party of Iran, National Athletes and Veterans Association of Iran, Freedom Voice Think Tank, and the National Solidarity Movement of Iranians for the overthrow of the Islamic Republic. Some political parties, organizations, and groups stated: "Some reformists have also returned to the political arena to once again collaborate with the regime in this labyrinth of deception and auction off the people's votes to the Islamic mafia government." The Tudeh Party of Iran also issued a statement referring to the "imposition of the idea" that one can steer the country from the current repression and violation of workers' and laborers' rights towards democracy and the realization of people's rights by electing one of the candidates approved by the Guardian Council of the Islamic Republic, writing: "The precise question is which of these candidates, all of whom are known government figures, has taken a step towards realizing the rights of the people and challenging the Velayat-e Faqih regime?" The statement noted: "In the past two decades, we have gone through five presidential elections, and the elected officials, in fact, the appointees to the presidency in all these periods have pursued similar policies in the violent and bloody repression of the rights of workers and laborers, women, and students (since 2005), implementing disastrous economic policies in favor of the major capitalists of the country, leading to widespread poverty, deprivation, unemployment, inflation, unprecedented corruption, and the destruction of the country's economic infrastructure." Additionally, the 'Democratic Federal Movement of Azerbaijan' issued a statement noting that the Islamic Republic, by approving six candidates, has spread a trap to draw the people to the ballot box. The statement read: "The regime needs this to at least display its power and the extent of its base in front of countries and international organizations and to deceive certain segments of the people, while also utilizing the national regions that have been more against the regime in the Women, Life, Freedom movement in its game." This political group emphasized: "Our people are more experienced and aware than to be deceived by the regime's new policy, despite the relative excitement caused by the phenomenon of Pezeshkian, and to legitimize it by participating in the electoral farce." They wrote: "People have learned very well from experience that the survival of the Islamic regime means the continuation of suffering, misery, disaster, discrimination, torture, execution, interference in the most private aspects of life, despotism, and injustice." A group of Iranians in Belgium sent a video to Voice of America calling for a boycott of the 1403 elections.