EPAAn Iranian woman casts her vote during the Iranian elections at the Ershad Mosque in northern Tehran, Iran.
NOS Nieuws•vandaag, 17:42
Turnout in yesterday’s parliamentary elections in Iran has reached an all-time low this year. This was reported by the Iranian news agency IRNA. Despite calls from Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to vote, it appears that only about 41 percent of voters have done so. It is the lowest turnout since the Islamic Revolution in 1979.
The first exit polls show that hardliners retain power in parliament. Many conservative, relatively moderate and reform-minded voters stayed away. Mohammad Khatami, Iran’s first reformist president, was among those who did not vote on Friday. He and other critics speak of unfair elections. The imprisoned Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi speaks in a statement of a sham. Opponents of the Islamic regime had called for a boycott.
Council of Experts
In addition to the parliamentary elections, people could also vote for the Council of Experts. The council, consisting of 88 Islamic scholars, must choose a successor to Ayatollah Khamenei in due course.
First elections since protests
These were the first elections since the anti-government protests in 2022 and 2023. The reason for the protests was the violent death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amimi. She was arrested by the police because she had not put on her headscarf according to Iran’s Islamic law. The regime put an end to the protests with a heavy hand.
2024-03-02 16:42:32
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