Iranians expected to shun first elections since Mahsa Amini's death

Iran's parliamentary and Assembly of Experts elections are being held on Friday, with approximately 15,000 candidates competing for the 290-seat parliament and 144 candidates running for the 88 seats in the Assembly of Experts. Over 61.2 million people are eligible to vote. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the country's supreme leader, has urged those considering boycotting the elections to fulfill their patriotic and Islamic duties by participating. The elections mark the first since the suppression of the Woman, Life, Freedom protest movement in 2022, which saw high voter apathy due to unrest following the death of a young woman detained for wearing an "improper" hijab. The outgoing parliament has supported laws restricting internet freedom and fines for not adhering to the hijab dress code. These elections are viewed as a significant test for evaluating the legitimacy of the Islamic Republic's regime.