Iran Elections 2009
By Arfa Siddiqi • Jun 19th, 2009 • Category: Politics • 2 CommentsBefore I begin, I’d like to thank a very wonderful friend of mine (who recently discovered an interest in social activism)who informed me about the severity that this issue had reached, Zakee.
Following the announcement of Ahmadinejad’s victory in the 2009 Iranian Elections on 14th June, 2009, protests sparked among the Iranian communities worldwide including Dubai, Canada, Los Angeles, Chicago, and several cities in Iran. These did not go unnoticed, with several people shot dead and many others wounded by the pro-government militia in Iran. 2 hours after the voting ballots were cast, Ayatollah Khomeini, the Supreme Leader of Iran deemed Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of the Conservative party in Iran as the voted president of Iran. With the voters turnout being 85% and much higher than anticipated, many were left shocked at the unlikely triumph of the much-notorious incumbant president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Following the popular opinion of the masses, I think it’s acceptable, (if not safe) to say that Ahmadinejad was not exactly the ideal candidate for the Iranians, who apparently voted in huge numbers for the reformist politician, Mir-Hossein Moussavi , the former Prime Minister of Iran.
With rising concerns over the civil unrest in Iran, Ayatollah Khomeini on the 16th of June, has called for a partial recount of the votes.
In my opinion, if I am entitled to one without being put in prison for this, is that this is clearly a human rights violation, where a charade is being tolerated by the noted figures of authority. Clearly rigged elections have resulted in further frustration among the Iranian population, who clearly have rebelled to authoritarian policies of Iranian Government in the past. Lack of basic rights and freedom of speech/expression has led the Iranian public to move out in large numbers to other countries, while the remnants are consistently rebuking the Government. It’s time the Iranian Government really think about change. As it is, people are rebuking the policies put forth by the ruling bodies. Protests and riots are claiming lives of hundreds all over the country, there is civil unrest in the society. Freedom of speech, expression, etc. are all basic human rights, and to take that away from someone is not the right of any person. In the name of God are taken many decisions that are manipulated to suit ulterior/personal motives and to match personal views by the authoritative figures. What should be realized is that religion, particularly that of Islam, in no way, advocates compulsion. Although the riots and burning of cars and vandalism of public assets by the Iranian public is not the right way to demonstrate the anger and injustice of the rigged elections, it should be taken into account the frustration omnipresent among the Iranian civillians who have been under dictatorship and lacked basic rights in their everyday lives, going so far as their hairstyles being deemed inappropirate. If you look at it from the Governent’s point of view, not only is this turning the masses away from “religion” which seems to be the focal point of Iranian Government, but also sparking protests and rebellion from them, and that too at high costs.
I think it’s unanimously agreed that Iran is in desperate need of change, and this time, a fair one.
“We should have a State in which we could live and breathe as free men and which we could develop according to our own lights and culture and where principles of Islamic social justice could find free play.” - Mohammad Ali Jinnah
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Click For More Articles By Arfa Siddiqi I'm a teenage blogger, born in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. I'm of Pakistani ethnicity. I choose to blog about the current human rights violations and political activism, as a means to speak out against injustice and to create awareness and do my part in this world. I'm working towards becoming a journalist and a human rights lawyer. Through the process of blogging, I'm looking to share and debate ideas in order to increase my knowledge and understanding of the world around me, so any ideas, thoughts and notions you have, please share and enlighten me.
"Peace, in the sense of the absence of war, is of little value to someone who is dying of hunger or cold. It will not remove the pain of torture inflicted on a prisoner of conscience. It does not comfort those who have lost their loved ones in floods caused by senseless deforestation in a neighboring country. Peace can only last where human rights are respected, where the people are fed, and where individuals and nations are free." -Dalai Lama
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Arfa: props to you for seeing the truth, and taking the correct stance. To assert that God is somehow in communion with Iran’s President (Ahmadinejad) and his religious supporters is a delusion of the highest order. This kind of nonsensical claims to a personal relationship with God and His favor were never even made by a Prophet.
This attitude is turning people away from faith and making them angry. How can that kind of behavior be favored by God? And why would God choose Ahmadi over Mousavi?
The Irani youth have taken a rightful stance based on real and verifiable tenets of faith — foremost of which is human rights.
If history moves any way, it moves in the direction of the youth, and not of the old, of course. The Muslim belief is that everything comes from Allah and that Allah is the Master of the hearts. Well, it’s quite clear that the hearts of the Iranian youth are not with Ahmadinejad’s incapable government.
I wish the youth the best and hope that change comes in Iran as peacefully as it may.
I think you’ve said it all, Green Wave.
Perfectly well.
While everythign does come from Allah, it is our job to ensure that we tie our camels before placing our trust in Him =)
Peace.