Lies They Say About Elections in Iran
TEHRAN (FNA)- Corporate media in the West claim Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei has had to play a balancing act in his calls for a large election turnout in the February 26 Parliamentary and Assembly of Experts elections.
To support their claims, media outlets like the BBC broadcast reports about which candidates to vote for! They argue that Ayatollah Khamenei has encouraged even those who do not accept the Islamic Republic system to show up to the ballot box. Other silly claims include:
-People casting blank votes in protest
-People feeling obligated to vote
-Individuals with government jobs having an ink stain on the finger to show they voted
-Those without the ink stain viewed as having dissatisfaction with the government
-Individuals without an election stamp on their ID cards viewed with suspicion for future government positions…
This is not the first time that corporate media outlets are attempting to interfere in and undermine the election process. In the words of Ayatollah Khamenei, “The United States and Israel have attempted to discourage and prevent Iranians from voting since the early days of the 1979 revolution.”
Regardless:
1-It is an insult to the intelligence of the Iranian people to tell them which candidates to vote for. They know what's best for them and need no advice from outsiders.
2-Since 1979 no one has ever been singled out, persecuted or dismissed from work for not taking part in the elections. Here, it’s all a matter of principle and free choice.
2-Participating in the elections, however, for every eligible individual is a religious, Islamic and divine duty. Under any condition if giving a blank vote weakens the Islamic Republic, it is forbidden.
3-What Ayatollah Khamenei is calling for is democratic competition – not support for this or that particular individual and/or political party. Under the Constitution, no one – including the Supreme Leader AND outsiders – has any right to tell voters which candidates to vote for.
4-In democracies, an election is a competition for an elected office where candidates strive and compete against one another to attain a position of power. In the Islamic Republic, however, political competition or rivalry is allowed as long as it is constructive and leads to socio-political contentment and progress. As Ayatollah Khamenei maintains, “Political aspirations must never foment sedition or discord in the society.”
5-The Islamic Republic never tries to take the country out of the realm of politics and freedom of choice. This is because de-politicization of universities, student movements, political parties and hues, and ultimately people, undermines the very fabric of the Islamic system and the revolution. That’s why Ayatollah Khamenei encourages even those who do not accept the Islamic Republic system to show up to the ballot box.
6-Constructive rivalries of two or more political parties to attain similar positions or power can help democratize the country and generate further diversity in the corridors of power. The powerful reality is that those who tell people which candidates to vote for are after eliminating political diversity – and rivalry - at the next Parliament and Assembly of Experts.
Meaning, they seek to interfere in the country’s internal affairs, depoliticize the country, undermine its religious democracy, take its people out of the realm of politics, freedom of choice, and freedom of expression, and ultimately derail the elections and the revolution for their own stated intentions.
As is, a high turnout endorses and institutionalizes politics and democracy in Iran. That of course has to be in a constructive manner where different candidates can enjoy a fair share of the race, and different voters can have a fare share of the vote – be it Jewish, Christian, Muslim or Zoroastrian.
-People casting blank votes in protest
-People feeling obligated to vote
-Individuals with government jobs having an ink stain on the finger to show they voted
-Those without the ink stain viewed as having dissatisfaction with the government
-Individuals without an election stamp on their ID cards viewed with suspicion for future government positions…
This is not the first time that corporate media outlets are attempting to interfere in and undermine the election process. In the words of Ayatollah Khamenei, “The United States and Israel have attempted to discourage and prevent Iranians from voting since the early days of the 1979 revolution.”
Regardless:
1-It is an insult to the intelligence of the Iranian people to tell them which candidates to vote for. They know what's best for them and need no advice from outsiders.
2-Since 1979 no one has ever been singled out, persecuted or dismissed from work for not taking part in the elections. Here, it’s all a matter of principle and free choice.
2-Participating in the elections, however, for every eligible individual is a religious, Islamic and divine duty. Under any condition if giving a blank vote weakens the Islamic Republic, it is forbidden.
3-What Ayatollah Khamenei is calling for is democratic competition – not support for this or that particular individual and/or political party. Under the Constitution, no one – including the Supreme Leader AND outsiders – has any right to tell voters which candidates to vote for.
4-In democracies, an election is a competition for an elected office where candidates strive and compete against one another to attain a position of power. In the Islamic Republic, however, political competition or rivalry is allowed as long as it is constructive and leads to socio-political contentment and progress. As Ayatollah Khamenei maintains, “Political aspirations must never foment sedition or discord in the society.”
5-The Islamic Republic never tries to take the country out of the realm of politics and freedom of choice. This is because de-politicization of universities, student movements, political parties and hues, and ultimately people, undermines the very fabric of the Islamic system and the revolution. That’s why Ayatollah Khamenei encourages even those who do not accept the Islamic Republic system to show up to the ballot box.
6-Constructive rivalries of two or more political parties to attain similar positions or power can help democratize the country and generate further diversity in the corridors of power. The powerful reality is that those who tell people which candidates to vote for are after eliminating political diversity – and rivalry - at the next Parliament and Assembly of Experts.
Meaning, they seek to interfere in the country’s internal affairs, depoliticize the country, undermine its religious democracy, take its people out of the realm of politics, freedom of choice, and freedom of expression, and ultimately derail the elections and the revolution for their own stated intentions.
As is, a high turnout endorses and institutionalizes politics and democracy in Iran. That of course has to be in a constructive manner where different candidates can enjoy a fair share of the race, and different voters can have a fare share of the vote – be it Jewish, Christian, Muslim or Zoroastrian.
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