“Even those who have been very loyal to the Islamic Republic are turning away from it,” says writer Fariba Hachtroudi

“The Berlin Wall did not fall in a day”, recalls the Iranian journalist who assures that, “the fear has changed sides: the Iranians are no longer afraid despite the repression which is frightening”.

The Iranians voted on Friday for the legislative elections, renewing the Parliament and the Assembly of Experts, responsible in particular for appointing the Supreme Guide, the highest authority of the Islamic Republic. Despite calls for a boycott, the conservatives are assured of retaining a large majority. “There were, for the first time, boycotts by prominent political figures written and signed,” underlines Saturday March 2 on franceinfo the Iranian writer and journalist Fariba Hachtroudi.

First national election since the death in September 2022 of Mahsa Amini, after his arrest by revolutionary guards for non-compliance with the country’s strict dress code, the main issue is that of participation. “This morning (Saturday) in the reformist newspaper, Shargh, there is a 24% participation rate in Tehran”reports the writer, either “the lowest rate (of participation) since the start of the revolution” Islamic in 1979. Opponents in Iran and the diaspora have called for weeks for a boycott, presenting any participation as a sign of compromise with the system.

“Sooner or later, things will change.”

According to Fariba Hachtroudi, “even those who have been very loyal to the Islamic Republic are turning away from it, even those who want to keep the Islamic Republic no longer want the theocracy of Mr. Khamenei”the 84-year-old supreme leader, in office since 1989. “This goes against the entire evolution of Iranian civil society, also against the evolution within this power,” she continues. The journalist conditions the “end of this theocracy” to a movement of “changes within the Revolutionary Guards”, the ideological army of the Islamic Republic. “It’s an opaque power” but “Sooner or later, that will change because within the Revolutionary Guards, there is so much dissension”believes the activist. “The Berlin Wall did not fall in a day, we are heading towards that, it is not possible otherwise”she assures. “Fear has changed sides: Iranians are no longer afraid despite the repression which is frightening”she adds.