How a Celebration Turned into Mourning
Iranian voters are insulted by the proceedings of the election. By Javad Mahzadeh.
Four days have passed since the glorious presidential election in Iran, but the prevailing atmosphere is not what it ought to be. Many express their doubt over the officials result and belief in manipulation of the votes. They are demonstrating their disbelief and protest with continuous honking of cars’ horns, slogans, demonstrations and at times acts of violence.
Candidates ranking lower than Ahmadinejad still question the legitimacy of the election. Several cities have joined Tehran in protests and report from other countries has it that many have filed complaints or gathered in front of Iranian embassies.
The shocking happenings are too sad to recall. Reports circulated by Western TV networks and domestic and foreign news agencies on post-election developments have described the Iranian elections as doubtful.
More than anything else, foreign media have focused on the mounting urban violence, clashes between protesters and government supporters and martial law in some areas. They also follow the upcoming measures of defeated candidates and the final verdict on the result of election.
Rumors abound; and everyday new people are arrested under the charge of sabotage. Along with this, people’s protest spreads. Movies captured from citizens beaten by the police are shown by overseas Persian channels and famous global media. All the pictures talks of one thing: post-election violence.
Elections are regarded as national celebrations all around the world, and besides the momentum they lend to promotion of democracy, bring with themselves hope and motivation. The story was about to become true for the Iranian election. However, it ended in a tragedy. People’s pre-election joy that stemmed from the intense competition between candidates has now turned into mistrust and a sense of humiliation and insult.
Interestingly, the Ministry of Interior refuses to give permission for demonstrations and directs the citizens towards violence and anarchy. If the ministry approved the gatherings, the sense of humiliation among those who believe their vote has been stolen would vapor away and the movement would find a legal, short-term and orderly form.
The protestors become further infuriated when they find out that opposition media (websites and newspapers) have been shut down and short message system is blocked. This trend will undoubtedly make them more pessimistic and aggravates the violent atmosphere.
Cutting off of the short message system since the night before elections and blocking access to websites belonging to Ahmadinejad’s rival, if put besides the sudden turn of votes in favor of Ahmadinejad, all bring one thing to mind. And that is what has turned the post-election atmosphere into something unexpected. The highest rate of participation belonged to this election, as did the most intense protest and questioning of the results.
Even if the political settings of the country change –as some analysts believe- and an authoritarian government starts to rule, the sense of humiliation, abuse and insult among voters still can lead to violence and anarchy.
Iran’s democratic face has also been tarnished with White House, United States’ Department of State, British Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Office and France’s foreign ministry casting doubt on the result of elections and with Iranian citizens abroad gathering around embassies in protest.
On the other hand, what results from the report published by foreign media of clashes between police and citizens and protests spreading to other cities is Iranian political ethics which appear distorted or even hypocritical.
Iranians’ protests are mostly due to the offense to their individuality. Cutting off mobile phones services and internet access and even riot police’s attack is endurable, but the way the president labels the protestors is considered offensive by many, and that has led to the present reactions.
What could be an exceptional chapter in Iran’s elections, has turned into an stain in its history.
Candidates ranking lower than Ahmadinejad still question the legitimacy of the election. Several cities have joined Tehran in protests and report from other countries has it that many have filed complaints or gathered in front of Iranian embassies.
The shocking happenings are too sad to recall. Reports circulated by Western TV networks and domestic and foreign news agencies on post-election developments have described the Iranian elections as doubtful.
More than anything else, foreign media have focused on the mounting urban violence, clashes between protesters and government supporters and martial law in some areas. They also follow the upcoming measures of defeated candidates and the final verdict on the result of election.
Rumors abound; and everyday new people are arrested under the charge of sabotage. Along with this, people’s protest spreads. Movies captured from citizens beaten by the police are shown by overseas Persian channels and famous global media. All the pictures talks of one thing: post-election violence.
Elections are regarded as national celebrations all around the world, and besides the momentum they lend to promotion of democracy, bring with themselves hope and motivation. The story was about to become true for the Iranian election. However, it ended in a tragedy. People’s pre-election joy that stemmed from the intense competition between candidates has now turned into mistrust and a sense of humiliation and insult.
Interestingly, the Ministry of Interior refuses to give permission for demonstrations and directs the citizens towards violence and anarchy. If the ministry approved the gatherings, the sense of humiliation among those who believe their vote has been stolen would vapor away and the movement would find a legal, short-term and orderly form.
The protestors become further infuriated when they find out that opposition media (websites and newspapers) have been shut down and short message system is blocked. This trend will undoubtedly make them more pessimistic and aggravates the violent atmosphere.
Cutting off of the short message system since the night before elections and blocking access to websites belonging to Ahmadinejad’s rival, if put besides the sudden turn of votes in favor of Ahmadinejad, all bring one thing to mind. And that is what has turned the post-election atmosphere into something unexpected. The highest rate of participation belonged to this election, as did the most intense protest and questioning of the results.
Even if the political settings of the country change –as some analysts believe- and an authoritarian government starts to rule, the sense of humiliation, abuse and insult among voters still can lead to violence and anarchy.
Iran’s democratic face has also been tarnished with White House, United States’ Department of State, British Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Office and France’s foreign ministry casting doubt on the result of elections and with Iranian citizens abroad gathering around embassies in protest.
On the other hand, what results from the report published by foreign media of clashes between police and citizens and protests spreading to other cities is Iranian political ethics which appear distorted or even hypocritical.
Iranians’ protests are mostly due to the offense to their individuality. Cutting off mobile phones services and internet access and even riot police’s attack is endurable, but the way the president labels the protestors is considered offensive by many, and that has led to the present reactions.
What could be an exceptional chapter in Iran’s elections, has turned into an stain in its history.