Khamenei appeals to nationalism to lure voters to the polls after election purge

Fazel Hawramy

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Iran Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is trying to rouse public enthusiasm for this month’s parliamentary election as crippling economic sanctions, state violence and political oppression has encouraged many in the country to call for an electoral boycott.

Khamenei and the ruling elites are worried that a low turnout in the election, scheduled for February 21, will signify Iranian regime fragility and public mistrust of the establishment to the international community. US officials including President Donald Trump have issued repeated expressions of support with the "brave, long suffering" people of Iran in recent months of unrest.

“Whoever loves Iran, must come to the polling stations,” Khamenei tweeted on Wednesday. “There may be people who do not like me, it is fine don’t come, it is not a problem, but does that person love his country or not? Thus, he must take part in the election,” Khamenei told a selected audience in Tehran on Wednesday.

High turnout for the election would prove to Iran’s enemies that despite the country’s problems, its population remains steadfastly pro-Islamic Revolution regime, Khamenei said. 

“The enemies that threaten the country and the people are more frightened of the public’s support than our military capabilities,” Khamenei said. “Yes, they are scared of our missiles, but they are more frightened of the public’s support. Taking part in the election is a stamp of support for the establishment from the people, and it will lead to [strengthened] security.”

Khamenei’s attempt to galvanise the Iranian public into election participation comes after ninety parliamentarians were last month banned from re-running by the hardline Guardian Council, which vets potential election candidates. The candidacy of thousands of election first-timers was also rejected by the council, whose members are appointed by the supreme leader.

Though President Rouhani and reformist camps expressed dismay at the disproportionate purge of their candidates, they have still called on the public to turn out for the vote. 

The country continues to reel three months after security forces gunned down over 500 people during nationwide protests sparked by fuel price hikes in November that morphed into anti-establishment strikes. US economic pressure, which has slashed the purchasing power of Iranian people as inflation and unemployment wreak havoc in the country. National oil revenue has dropped by 70% in less than two years, and the economy is set to fall deeper into recession this fiscal year as its foreign reserve could decrease by a third, according to the Institute of International Finance.

President Donald Trump withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal in May 2018 and re-imposed crippling sanctions as part of his campaign of maximum pressure on Tehran, leaving most Iranians in need of state handouts. However, Khamenei conceded in his speech on Wednesday that government mismanagement is also to blame for the country’s economic woes. 

Khamenei defended the Guardian Council’s bar of candidates and warned of moral inconsistency among those who have previously benefited from the electoral system. 

“I am surprised by some individuals who have gained status through election and they now question the election,” Khamenei told his Tehran audience on Wednesday. “How is it that when the elections are in your favor, it is right but when it is not in your favor, it becomes corrupt?”

Exiled and imprisoned activists have called for Iranians to boycott the election altogether in rejection of the regime.

Narges Mohammadi, a prominent human rights advocate in Iran serving a 16 year jail term for her human rights work, made an appeal from inside prison on February 4 that called for a public boycott of the election as a sign of respect for those who lost their lives during the protests. 

Influential US-based Iranian activist and journalist Masih Alinejad has started a campaign called #RedInkBoycott to encourage Iranians to boycott the election and not be beguiled by the reformist camp of President Rouhani. “Don't participate in 2020's sham elections. Don't legitimise the bloodbath by the regime. Don't forget the victims of #IranProtests,” Alinejad tweeted on Wednesday.

Iranians must vote with full faith in the electoral system is or be considered part of the “enemy”, national judiciary head Ebrahim Raisi said on Thursday. 

“Anyone questioning the election process for whatever reason is positioning himself on the side of the enemy,” Raisi told a gathering in the southern port of Bushehr.