Workers of Haft Tappeh: We Will Not Vote for 'Perpetrators of Disrespect and Repression Over the Decades'

Simultaneously with the emphasis of civil and political activists on boycotting the government 'elections', a group of workers from Haft Tappeh Sugar Cane Company announced their request to boycott the 'non-free and selective elections', stating that they will not vote for 'the perpetrators of disrespect and repression over the decades'. According to Haft Tappeh's Telegram channel, the workers stated in a declaration: 'Every government, under any name, has worsened the situation. All these candidates have failed the test and have been flunked.' The signatories of the declaration, considering the election boycott self-evident, asked: 'Who should we vote for? For the advocates of free markets and privatization? For the defenders of transferring public assets and insurance and pension funds to stock market gamblers? For increasing the retirement age? For the causes of poverty, destitution, and inflation? For the perpetrators of disrespect and repression over the decades?' In another part of this declaration, the Haft Tappeh workers described the unfair conditions of workers and the growing poverty, warning that 'the responsible and cause of this situation are the government and the powerful capitalists known as the four percent, who expect the remaining ninety-six percent to serve them.' This declaration, highlighting the living conditions and 'struggling with death to survive', emphasizes: 'The government and the law also protect the interests of these capitalists; otherwise, why are workers, teachers, men, women, youth, students, and protesting humans rotting in prisons instead of embezzlers, criminals, and thieves of public assets?' According to government statistics, the overwhelming majority of Iranians did not participate in the first round of elections to determine a successor to Raisi, which opponents describe as a 'circus election' and 'symbolic appointments'. Opponents say there is 'no difference' between the candidates considered by the Islamic Republic from both reformist and principlist branches, and some consider participating in the government elections as 'a vote for more killings and repression'. The second round of voting among the two candidates considered by the Islamic Republic to succeed Ebrahim Raisi will be held on Friday, July 15. Strong criticism from plaintiffs against 'voters': We will not allow the hollow voice of the 'traitorous minority' to be louder than the majority of the people of Iran. A statement from two trade union activists of teachers: 'Elections' are not a playground for civil and trade union activists. Sediqeh Vosoughi: Participation in the 'entirely engineered' elections of the Islamic Republic is a step into a dead end.