⏺A viral video of a person who was present during the 1978 referendum:

“On referendum day, when I went out and saw them say that 20 million people voted, I called and people told me, ‘Come see what’s going on.’

“Over there, the head of the polling district was a mullah, and he was handing out these hundred-unit ‘packets’ to people, telling them, ‘Throw them into the ballot box—say, “Death to the Shah.”’

“At that time, Iran’s population was 37 million and 200 thousand.

“The total number of people who were over 16 and could vote was 18 million and 732 thousand.

“They announced the figures with a laugh and said 30 million people voted.

“At the Ministry of Interior they said, ‘That can’t be done,’ so they said 22 million and 400 thousand people voted, and 20 million and 400 thousand said ‘Yes’ to the Islamic Republic.

“Count this: of the total 18 million eligible people, those who were opposed were sick, in prison, and… from here is where I decided to separate my path from these people.”