Thirty-three years ago, in August, France was gripped for days by the news of the French police's (unsuccessful) pursuit of two Iranian assassins. The men had successfully achieved their mission to kill Iranian Pro-democracy leader Chapour Bakhtiar, sentenced to death by Iran’s Supreme Leader. Bakhtiar was killed in his home in Suresne, a suburb of Paris, where he was protected by a specially trained unit of France’s security forces (CRS) day and night.

Today, June 28, some Iranians went to the polls to choose one of the candidates the Islamic Republic’s leadership has selected to replace Ebrahim Raisi. Experts have been speculating on who is going to be elected or what the implications will be on Iran’s foreign policy. These are the wrong questions to ask. Anyone pledging loyalty to the constitution, a “reformist,” a “moderate,” “a conservative, or a “hardliner” is ultimately a hardliner by democratic standards. This is why many Iranians have lost hope in bringing about change through the ballot boxes and are boycotting elections. The question to ask, regardless of how difficult the response may be, is who wants to bring about democratic changes in Iran and how can we help them succeed? There is no easy path forward, but acknowledging the structural obstacles to change and searching for new ways forward is an essential first step.

In late May, the Islamic Republic of Iran buried President Ebrahim Raisi who died in a helicopter crash of May 19th, 2024. Although Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is the highest authority of the state, Raisi was treated as a Head of State and his funeral was attended by world dignitaries; others sent their condolences. Just weeks after the UN Fact-Finding Mission on Iran released its damning findings on Raisi’s government’s crimes during the Women, Life, Freedom protest, the United Nations’ General Assembly observed a minute of silence first and on May 30th paid tribute to Raisi, as required by protocol. Its President, His Excellency Dennis Francis, encouraged the Iranian people “to have the courage to come to terms with its profound loss.” The displays of sadness could not overshadow the joy many Iranians felt at the death of a man who rose up the ranks because he persecuted and killed them in the name of God. Many in Iran’s civil society, and among his victims, are also disappointed to see Raisi get away with murder and be honored at the UN despite his well documented four-decade long record of violence. So, in memory of his many victims, we should make sure that his crimes are not buried with him.