World

Taking sides in Iranian election

by nk | June 17, 2009 at 06:24 am

404 views | 40 Recommendations | 11 comments

Many Westerners, especially those on Twitter have made up their minds: a) we must take sides in the events following the Iran Elections b) particularly, Mir-Hossein Mousavi's side.

First of all, our knowledge of Iran is spotty at best, you can read more in this excellent article. So what do we know about Iran elections? The current president, Ahmadinejad, got twice as many votes as Mousavi. Quite predictably, immediately allegations were made that there was election fraud. No one knows whether there were and if there were, then they could answer for the huge win.

Despite Ahmadinejad's track record of speaking heavily against Israel (called for the dissolving it and denied holocaust) and the USA, compared to Mousavi, he is innocent as today born lamb. Mr. Mousavi is known to have taken significant part in the hostage crisis in 1979 while Ahmadinejad is only alleged with this. Later, in 1998, Mousavi was one of the responsible for the mass execution of political prisoners. We can also find him among the founders of Hezbollah.

All this does not mean that Ahmadinejad has any right whatsoever to stop protests violently -- but are you sure you want to take sides between these two charming guys when you absolutely have no clue of who is supported by the Iranian majority and why?

0 See all footage | View Slideshow

Share: email story | add to any | | facebook | stumbleupon

recommend This comment thread is now closed

nagba

at 06:31 on June 17th, 2009

cute.... so which to choose... the bad or the worse... and... which is which... ?

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 06:58 on June 17th, 2009

Thank you for this article, it is certainly food for thought.

René

at 07:30 on June 17th, 2009

I hope the people of Iran get their freedom back, from the invaders.

Reports of results announced before vote counted, or even cast in many districts and in the country. sounds pretty suspicious to me.

and yeah, I know Moussavi is suspect. but people can change. maybe.

The problem is the rulers would not allow many to run for the election. threats and attempts at assassination discouraged many others.

at 07:38 on June 17th, 2009

"The problem is the rulers would not allow many to run for the election. threats and attempts at assassination discouraged many others."

The Guardian Council in Iran supervises the election and they accept or refuse candidates. I really wonder where you read "threats and attempts at assassination". See a list for example here.

René

at 12:53 on June 17th, 2009

Hey, nk, lost the original story link for the threats and attempts at assassination, but it was an Iranian blog. had a crash and lost the list of notes with the links.

In the meantime, here's some about that 'illusion' you must think I am suffering from:

threats, subtle and not so subtle.
Iran warns

Karrubi ridicules assassination threats.

Khatami threatened, may be the reason he withdrew.

Arancaytar (not verified)

at 09:05 on June 17th, 2009

I wouldn't say I'm taking sides in the election, as such. The side I support is that of evading and opposing censorship and communication controls wherever they occur.

I could not care less whether the Iranian people elected Ahmadinejad or Moussavi. But all in all, if a government attempts to strangle its citizen's electronic access rights, then I will cheerfully take the side of circumventing that. I'm currently setting up a web proxy.

at 09:41 on June 17th, 2009

So if a government acts violently and oppressively against an uprising that immediately makes you support those that uprise?

Arancaytar (not verified)

at 13:45 on June 17th, 2009

Up to a point, yes. I'm concerned when the uprising is also violent (and I'm sure that parts of it are, protests being what they are). I don't support fighting in the streets or beating up policemen.

Access to information and communication, however, must remain inviolate.

Freso (not verified)

at 12:33 on June 17th, 2009

I don't side with either of the presidential candidates, I side with the people. And from what I've seen, people are being slaughtered en masse by the Iranian "security" forces. Being familiar with police brutality from personal and 2nd hand experiences (to a much lesser degree, admitted), I don't care which one the people are gathering for. The State should not use it's monopole on violence to try and silence them.

And yes, I do and will support any uprising against government, even if I may not always support the means of that uprising.

sonfilmizle (not verified)

at 13:21 on June 17th, 2009

?????

Patrick Hanlon

at 15:17 on June 17th, 2009

The election has been an opportunity for people to protest against the entire regime, not merely the outcome of the 2009 election. Sustained protested are creating fissures within the regime that will lead to integral change throughout the upper echelons of the ruling class. The reformers who have been shut out of power for so long will have an opportunity to assert more influence. The Iranian people will be the winners in this and former President Khatami is most likely to emerge from this with the reputation required to calm his people and represent the country internationally.