Many people around the world are under the mistaken impression that elections in Iran are free and legitimate. Nothing could be further from the truth. Candidates have to be approved by the supreme leader and his council ahead of time, thus ensuring that true opposition is stifled.
Moreover, the ruling ayatollahs send their thug Pasdaran into the streets to ensure that no one disrupts the rubber stamp elections that perpetuate the illusion of pluralistic governance.
A prime example comes to us today. In March, Iran will hold elections for its parliament, known as the Majlis. Readers should understand that the Majlis has no real power. The real power, of course, resides with the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who is the Supreme Leader. Nevertheless, the Iranians like to make a big show of their parliamentary elections.
Just to make sure that everything goes smoothly and that here aren’t any “deviations” from the “Islamic system,” Iran’s Security Ministry will be out in force during the elections to make sure that opposition movements cannot “occupy the presidential and parliamentary chairs” and thus try to “win people over.”
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Filed under: Elections, human rights, Iranian Opposition, Khamenei, Oppression, Pasdaran, Protests | Leave a comment »
Iran Bulletin 