Voices of South Azerbaijan: Simin Sabri: I Cannot Make Sense of the Celebrations After the Elections

Simin Sabri: I Cannot Make Sense of the Celebrations After the Elections

Alirza Quluncu, Voice of America, June 24, 2013

Simin Sabri

In an interview with Voice of America, Simin Sabri, an Azerbaijani psychiatrist living in Norway and spokesperson for the South Azerbaijan National Democratic Union, shared her thoughts on the June 14 elections in Iran, the election of cleric Hassan Rouhani as the new president of the country, and the positive mood in the country after the elections.

Describing the June 14 presidential elections as a "political maneuver" organized by the Islamic Republic of Iran, Simin Sabri emphasized that Iran has never held democratic elections. In her view, it is impossible to have democratic elections in undemocratic countries like Iran, China, and North Korea.

According to some political experts, by voting for Hassan Rouhani, who is supported by reformist groups and seen as a moderate politician, the Iranian people were essentially saying "no" to Iran's Supreme Leader, Khamenei. However, Sabri disagrees with this view and considers such choices as part of a political game by the Iranian leadership. "Hassan Rouhani has been involved in many terrorist activities against the nation. His past is very ominous," she added.

"I cannot make sense of the celebrations that followed Rouhani's election," said the spokesperson for the South Azerbaijan National Democratic Union. She believes that the new president will try to save the Islamic Republic of Iran from the internal and external crises it faces.

Link to the original interview in Turkish on the Azerbaijani section of Voice of America:
Simin Səbri: Seçkilərdən sonrakı şənliklərə məna verə bilmirəm

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