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The mothers of Iranians killed by the regime for taking part in peaceful anti-government protests are appealing to the nation to boycott the upcoming “sham” presidential election in Iran.

In a series of defiant open messages, taped on camera from inside Iran and published on the internet, the mothers say their vote is for “regime change.”

Although the election will officially take place on June 18, it’s all but certain that hardline cleric Ebrahim Raisi will take office. Last month, the Guardian Council, whose members are appointed by the Supreme Leader, disqualified his opponents during vetting.

Raisi, Iran’s current Judiciary Chief, has a very sinister record. Previously he sat on the infamous “Death Commissions” that carried out the 1988 massacre of some 30,000 political prisoners. More recently as head of the Judiciary, he has stepped up executions of people who took part in the major anti-government protests of 2018 and 2019.

One mother sent a recorded video message from Tehran on Friday stating: “I am the mother of the late Mohsen Jafarpanah. My son’s blood was shed unjustly. I will neither forgive, nor forget. I demand justice. Justice for all this oppression and injustice. Justice for all the blood unjustly shed of all the innocent youths that were murdered in November 2019. No to the Islamic Republic. I will not vote. My vote is regime change.”

Another brave mother sends defiant message from Tehran:

"My vote is regime change"

The people of Iran are no longer afraid to challenge the regime openly. #BoycottIranShamElections

CC: @eu_eeas @StateDept @GermanyOnMENA @FCDOGovUK @francediplo_EN pic.twitter.com/87iXq5qzwq

— M. Hanif Jazayeri (@HanifJazayeri) June 4, 2021

Mahboubeh Ramezani, the mother of Pejman Qolipour who took part in the November 2019 nationwide protests, said security forces “callously” pierced her 18-year-old son’s heart with bullets.

“For the pains I have suffered, for all my sorrow, for the empty bed of my child, for the white hair of the mothers – mothers who after 42 years only have picture frames of their children … I will neither forgive, nor forget. My vote is regime change.”

Brave mother whose son was killed by the regime during #IranProtests makes heartfelt appeal to Iranians to boycott the presidential election in Iran

Will @StateDept @eu_eeas @FCDOGovUK side with Iran's people by denouncing the sham poll as illegitimate? #BoycottIranShamElections pic.twitter.com/MmRdH5eLpq

— M. Hanif Jazayeri (@HanifJazayeri) June 4, 2021

More mothers of victims of state murders in Iran are recording public messages saying: #BoycottIranShamElections

This brave mother challenges Ebrahim Raisi (Judiciary Chief + the Supreme Leader's pick for President) to answer for the murder in custody of her son Behnam Mahjoubi. pic.twitter.com/qFnUEMkOm1

— M. Hanif Jazayeri (@HanifJazayeri) June 4, 2021

This mother whose son was killed by Iran's regime during the crackdown on the Nov 2019 #IranProtests has sent this brave message from the city of Karaj urging Iranians to boycott the upcoming sham election

Take note: @StateDept @eu_eeas#BoycottIranShamElections #راى_من_سرنگونى pic.twitter.com/87lnHxR5J3

— M. Hanif Jazayeri (@HanifJazayeri) June 2, 2021

The main opposition group People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI or MEK) has called for a nationwide boycott of the polls. MEK Resistance Units have in recent days sent out video clips of their activities urging Iranians not to vote despite a threat by Iran’s Chief of Police to crack down on anyone calling for a boycott.

Brave Iranians are sending out footage from Iran of their nationwide campaign to boycott the upcoming "sham" Presidential election.

Meanwhile Police Chief Gen Hossein Ashtari has threatened to crack down on anyone calling for a boycott#BoycottIranShamElections #رای_من_سرنگونی pic.twitter.com/wD7ITDVgR6

— M. Hanif Jazayeri (@HanifJazayeri) May 30, 2021

Brave Iranians are sending out footage from Iran stating that they will be boycotting the upcoming "sham" Presidential election:

"Our vote is for regime change and for a democratic republic"#BoycottIranShamElections #رای_من_سرنگونی pic.twitter.com/fWspTDXieX

— M. Hanif Jazayeri (@HanifJazayeri) May 30, 2021

Meanwhile, the “Free Iran World Summit 2021” organizing committee has announced that the Iranian Resistance’s annual Free Iran gathering will take place online from July 10-12.

The committee announced that “Pro-democracy activists inside Iran, lawmakers, former senior government officials, distinguished personalities, and humanitarians and advocates from around the world will take action in solidarity with the Iranian people’s unflinching struggle for freedom.” The schedule for the three-day event are:

Day 1: The Democratic Alternative on the March to Victory

Day 2: Europe – Arab World Stand with the Resistance

Day 3: Global Support for the Iranian People’s Uprising & the Democratic Alternative

Hanif Jazayeri is a London-based news editor. His Twitter handle is @HanifJazayeri.