2009 Iranian presidential election protests

2009 Iranian election protests
Protests against the election results on the streets of Tehran, 16 June.
Location	Iran: Tehran, Ahvaz, Arak, Bandar Abbas, Birjand, Babol, Bushehr, Isfahan, Karaj, Kerman, Kermanshah, Khoy, Mashhad, Qazvin, Rasht, Sari, Shahr Kord, Shiraz, Tabriz, Urmia, Yazd , Zahedan Template:Country data World (By Iranian diaspora worldwide) United States: Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Columbus, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Indianapolis, Irvine, Las Cruces, Los Angeles, Madison, Miami, Minneapolis, New York City, Orlando, Philadelphia, Portland, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, Seattle, Tempe, Washington, D.C. Canada: Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax, Hamilton, London, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver, Waterloo Germany: Berlin, Bochum, Cologne, Dortmund, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Heidelberg, Münster Sweden: Stockholm, Gothenburg, Malmö, Skellefteå Netherlands: The Hague, Amsterdam, Delft, Groningen, Maastricht, Italy: Rome, Milan, Turin, Florence Switzerland: Geneva, Lausanne, Zurich, Bern Australia: Sydney, Melbourne Spain: Madrid Ukraine: Kiev, Kharkiv United Kingdom: London, Manchester, Sheffield United Arab Emirates: Dubai France: Paris New Zealand: Auckland Malaysia: Kuala Lumpur Portugal: Lisbon Austria: Vienna Romania: Bucharest Hungary: Budapest Armenia: Yerevan Czech Republic: Prague Japan: Tokyo, Yokohama, Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya Denmark: Copenhagen, Aarhus Norway: Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim, Stavanger, Arendal, Kristiansand South Korea: Seoul, Busan, Daegu Russia: Moscow Israel: Tel Aviv
Date	June 13, 2009 - Ongoing Afternoon 12 GMT (+4)
Deaths	30 confirmed and 150 unconfirmed .

Protests following the 2009 Iranian presidential election against alleged electoral fraud and in support of opposition candidate Mir-Hossein Mousavi are as of 24 June 2009 underway in Tehran and other major cities in Iran and around the world. The ongoing protests have been given several titles by its supporters including Green Revolution or Sea of Green, due to presidential candidate Mousavi's campaign color, and also Persian Awakening. In response to the protests, other groups have rallied in Tehran to support the re-election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Some analysts called the controversial election results a coup (or "کودتای ۲۲ خرداد" in Persian—the Anno Persarum 1388 Khordad 22nd Coup d'etat). Widespread editorial analysis assert that the 2009 election marks the official end of the Islamic Republic and the beginning of the Abadgaran Regime. All three opposition candidates have claimed that the votes were manipulated and the election was rigged, and candidates Mohsen Rezaee and Mousavi have lodged official complaints. Mousavi announced that he "won't surrender to this manipulation" before lodging an official appeal against the result to the Guardian Council on June 14.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declared the unprecedented voter turnout and coinciding religious holidays as a "divine assessment" and urged the nation to unite, but later ostensibly ordered an investigation into the claims of voting fraud and irregularities. Mousavi is not optimistic about his appeal, saying that many of the group's members "during the election were not impartial". Ahmadinejad called the election "completely free" and the outcome "a great victory" for Iran, dismissing the protests as little more than "passions after a soccer match".

Police and a paramilitary group called the Basij have violently suppressed the protests, firing into crowds and using batons, pepper spray, and other weapons. The Iranian government has confirmed the deaths of twenty people during the protests, while unconfirmed reports by dissidents say that there have been nearly 250 deaths in the 10 days preceding June 25. Iranian authorities have closed universities in Tehran, blocked web sites, blocked cell phone transmissions and text messaging, and banned rallies.

Background

The election of the president of Iran in 2009 was preceded by many Iranian surveys and a survey by the US-based Terror Free Tomorrow organization. The Terror Free Tomorrow opinion poll, conducted from 11 May to 20 May 2009 predicted the high participation and showed similar ratios for the candidates to the later official result, with over a quarter yet undecided. The many Iranian surveys show a wide range of differing results. An opinion in the New York Times claims that this is due to the high fluctuation among voters during the campaign season.

Also by mid-2009 public morale with Ahmadinejad was at an all time low. The younger generation of Iranians (demographics show that ages 35 and under constitute approximately 60% of Iran's population) have shown the most disapproval towards his policies since they bear the brunt of it. They are blamed for a rapidly deteriorating economy, a supposed 12% unemployment rate (unofficial sources place this as high as 40% and growing), massive inflation, and uncontrolled spending amid the huge expenditures towards the nuclear program and little output from it (the current nuclear reactor at Bushehr and the only one to produce commercial energy had just been completed after being dormant for 20 years and another 10 to complete it, and has not been connected to the national grid yet). His rhetoric towards Israel and denial of the Holocaust have been shown to be massively unpopular (even within the conservative corners within the government itself) and have been blamed for a chain of sanctions (coupled with his refusal to comply with UN Security Council Demands to halt nuclear enrichment) that have crippled all sectors of the economy.

However, Ahmadinejad has shown a complete denial of reality concerning economical and political situations going on. For example; during a debate within the Majlis between Ahmadinejad and the opposition, regarding a report by the National Audit Office about the 44 billion dollar deficit, missing oil revenues, billions of dollars worth of illegal oil revenues, and alleged corruption by the Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution on Ahmadinejad's behalf (as Ahmadinjad is a member of) explaining missing funds in the national treasury, he dismissed all allegations, claiming that treasury is without deficit, and corruption is non-existent. The Iranian public have blamed his lack of understanding of the current situation is the reason for the rapidly increasing unemployment and inflation.

The election for presidency took place on 12 June 2009. Unlike the election in 2005, there was a high participation. The official results were rejected by all three opposition candidates, who claimed that the votes were manipulated and the election was rigged. The last presidential election had already been controversial, but this time it escalated. Candidates Mohsen Rezaee and Mousavi have lodged official complaints. Mousavi announced that he "won't surrender to this manipulation" before lodging an official appeal against the result to the Guardian Council on 14 June.

The Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, declared the unprecedented voter turnout and coinciding religious holidays as a "divine assessment", and urged the nation to unite, and later ordered an investigation into the claims of vote fraud. Referring to Mousavi's appeal letter about the irregularities, Khamenei said that "the Guardian Council has been emphasized to carry out investigation into this letter carefully," and probe allegations of electoral fraud. Mousavi is not optimistic about his appeal, saying that many of the group's members "during the election were not impartial". Ahmadinejad called the election "completely free" and the outcome "a great victory" for Iran, dismissing the protests as little more than "passions after a soccer match".

According to an analysis by Professor Walter R. Mebane, Jr. from the Department of Statistics of the University of Michigan, considering data from the first stage of the 2005 presidential election produces results that "give moderately strong support for a diagnosis that the 2009 election was affected by significant fraud". This notion is also supported by the NGO UK-based thinktank Chatham House for a number of reasons:

Reason	Description
More than 100%	In two Conservative provinces, Mazandaran and Yazd, a turnout of more than 100% was recorded. However, it is noted that Iranian citizens are not required to vote within their home region, and can vote within whichever district they happen to be present. This could, theoretically, result in a voter turnout of over 100% in a given district, although it would require a significant turnout of voters already living within a district.
No swing	At a provincial level, there is no correlation between the increased turnout, and the swing to Ahmadinejad. This challenges the notion that his victory was due to the massive participation of a previously silent Conservative majority.
Reformist votes	In a third of all provinces, the official results would require that Ahmadinejad took not only all former conservative voters, and all former centrist voters, and all new voters, but also took up to 44% of former Reformist voters, despite a decade of conflict between these two groups.
Rural votes	In 2005, as in 2001 and 1997, conservative candidates, and Ahmadinejad in particular, were markedly unpopular in rural areas. The claim that this year Ahmadinejad swept the board in more rural provinces in 2009 flies in the face of these trends.

Timeline

Main article: Timeline of the 2009 Iranian election protests

Protesters marching towards Azadi Tower, Tehran, 15 June

On Saturday 13 June after election results announced that Ahmadinejad had won, supporters of Mousavi took to the streets to protest. The next day, protests grew, as did violence. On the night of 14 June the pro-Ahmadinejad Basij paramilitary group raided Tehran University, injuring many. On 15 June more than 3 million protesters marched on Azadi street and Mousavi made his first post-election appearance.

On 16 June protests continued, and the Guardian Council announced a partial recount would be conducted; however, the vote was not annulled. On Wednesday 17 June another large protest occurred; some members of the Iranian national football team wore green wristbands in support of Mousavi during their game against South Korea. On Thursday, 18 June more than 100,000 protesters held a candle-light vigil in Tehran following Mousavi's call for a day of mourning for those killed in protests. The Guardian Council invited the three major challengers to meet to discuss their grievances.

On Friday, 19 June Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khameini spoke during religious services, saying the election was legitimate and protests would no longer be tolerated. Protests occurred on a smaller scale. The next day, 20 June fewer protesters took to streets. At the protests that did occur, said to number in the tens of thousands of people, much violence occurred, causing many would-be protesters to stay in their homes the next day, Sunday, 21 June. On 20 June a young Iranian woman, identified as Neda Agha-Soltan, was shot by the Basij and died in front of cameras on Kargar Avenue in Tehran. Highly graphic amateur videos of the killing rapidly spread virally across the internet after being posted to Facebook and YouTube. On 22 June riot police broke up the main rally in Tehran with tear gas and live fire into the air.

During Friday prayers broadcast live on television on 26 June Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami is reported to have said that "Anybody who fights against the Islamic system or the leader of Islamic society, fight him until complete destruction". and called for the execution of leading demonstrators as they are "people who wage war against God".

On Monday, 29 June 2009, the Guardian Council certified the results of the controversial election. This set off a wave of protests, disregarding the Iranian governments ban on street marches. The Iranian intelligence chief alleged that western and "Zionist" forces were responsible for inciting the protests. Four British officials remain in custody under those charges. These four are what is left of the nine arrested on 28 June 2009.

Late July, protest had reportedly entered a "Phase II", using tactics such as the boycott of goods advertised on state-controlled television; attempting to deny power to state-run TV evening news broadcasts by turning on all electric appliances just before the news; "blitz" street demonstrations "lasting just long enough to chant `Death to the dictator!` several times", but not long enough for security forces to arrive; identifying paramilitary Basij vigilantes linked to the crackdown and putting marks in the opposition color green, or pictures of protest victims in front of their homes; scribbled anti-regime slogans on money. The new protest is reportedly based on the idea of Mohandas Gandhi that "even the most powerful cannot rule without the cooperation of the ruled."

Government reaction

Arrests

See also: Law enforcement in Iran and Human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran

On the weekend of 13/14 June, in a series of raids across Tehran, the government arrested over 170 people, according to police officials. Among them were prominent reformist politicians, including MIRO founder Behzad Nabavi, IIPF leader Mohsen Mirdamadi, and former president Mohammad Khatami's brother Mohammad-Reza Khatami, who was later released. Also arrested were Mostafa Tajzadeh and Mohsen Aminzadeh, whom the IRNA said were involved in orchestrating protests on 13 June. Unidentified sources said that the police stormed the headquarters of the IIPF and arrested a number of people. Iranian journalist Mashallah Shamsolvaezin claimed that presidential candidate Mir-Hossein Mousavi was put under house arrest, although officials denied this. An estimated 200 people were detained after clashes with students at the University of Tehran, although many were later released.

Former vice-president Mohammad-Ali Abtahi was among those arrested on 16 June, according to Reuters.

Acting Police Chief Ahmad-Reza Radan stated via the state press service on 14 June that "in the interrogation of related rebels, we intend to find the link between the plotters and foreign media". A judiciary spokesman said they had not been arrested but that they were summoned, "warned not to increase tension", and later released. Intelligence minister Gholam Hossein Mohseni-Ejehei linked some arrests to terrorism supported from outside Iran, stating that "more than 20 explosive consignments were discovered". Others, he said, were "counter-revolutionary groups [who had] penetrated election headquarters" of the election candidates.

Relatives of several detained protesters have confirmed that the interrogation of prisoners is now being headed by Saeed Mortazavi, a figure known in Iran as “the butcher of the press”. He gained notoriety for his role in the death of a Canadian-Iranian photographer who was tortured, beaten and raped during her detention in 2003.

Mojtaba Khamenei, the second son of Ayatolla Khamenei, has emerged as one of the driving forces behind the ­government's crackdown, diplomats and observers said. He is reported to have a strong influence over his father and is talked about as his possible successor. Mojtaba is affiliated with current Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

On 16 June, Reuters reported that former vice-president Mohammad-Ali Abtahi and former presidential advisor Saeed Hajjarian had been arrested. Human rights lawyer Abdolfattah Soltani, who had been demanding a recount of all votes, was also arrested on the the Tuesday according to Shirin Ebadi, who said that security officials had posed as clients. Over 100 students were arrested after security forces fired tear gas at protesters at Shiraz University on the same day. Reporters Without Borders reported that 5 of 11 arrested journalists were still in detention as of 16 June, and that a further 10 journalists were unaccounted for and may have been arrested.

On 17 June, former foreign minister and Secretary-General of the Freedom Movement of Iran, Ebrahim Yazdi, was arrested while undergoing tests at the Tehran hospital. In Tabriz, other Freedom Movement activists and eight members of the IIPF were arrested, with reports of at least 100 civic figures' arrests. The total number of arrests across Iran since the election was reported as 500.

Aaron Rhodes, a spokesman for the international campaign for human rights in Iran, stated that "Iranian intelligence and security forces are using the public protests to engage in what appears to be a major purge of reform-oriented individuals whose situations in detention could be life-threatening".

In Esfahan Province, prosecutor-general Mohammadreza Habibi warned that dissidents could face the death penalty under Islamic law. He also accused the protesters of being a "few elements controlled by foreigners [who were] disrupting security by inciting individuals to destroy and to commit arson" and urged them to stop their "criminal activities". It was not clear if his warning applied only to Isfahan or to the country as a whole.

On 20 June Committee to Protect Journalists reported that LIFE Magazine photographer Amir Sadeghi arrested by Iranian authorities. According to CPJ report, he released from Evin Prison on 28 June.

On 21 June Iranian officials detained Iranian-born, Canadian citizen and Newsweek journalist Maziar Bahari. . He has not been heard from since his arrest.

On 22 June The Guardian's live blog reported that at approximately 1:30 pm, General Ali Fazli, the newly appointed commander of the Revolutionary Guards in Tehran province, has been arrested for refusing to carry Khamenei's order to use force against demonstrators.

Militia violence

Several Basij members have been filmed breaking into houses and shooting into crowds. A number of hospital staff protested after people have been transported to the hospitals dead or in critical condition with gunshot wounds. The IRG and the Basij also attacked Universities and students' dorms at night, and destroyed property.

The Los Angeles Times reported that militiamen from the hard-line Iran-based Ansar-e Hezbollah group "warned that they would be patrolling the streets to maintain law and order".

Casualties

See also: Death of Neda Agha-Soltan, Sohrab Aarabi, and 2009 Iranian university dormitory raids

While the incident involving Neda attracted widespread media attention, The Guardian is also maintaining a list of numerous other people who have ostensibly been either killed or arrested since the election. The government has issued very little official information on who has been killed or arrested (except Neda Agha-Soltan, whose video circulated quickly on the internet). Hospitals were prohibited from registering the dead bodies or injured people, as a medical student at Rasoul-Akram hospital witnessed on the night of June 15: "Nine people died at our hospital and another 28 had gunshot wounds... [the government] removed the dead bodies on back of trucks, before we were even able to get their names or other information... No one was allowed to speak to the wounded or get any information from them" . Hospital staff protested due to the restrictions . The government admitted to at least 27 fatalities in Tehran, while CNN and other news organizations reported 150 unconfirmed casualties from June 20 protests. International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran counted 34 of them, claiming to have eyewitness reports of much higher numbers. Human rights activists in Iran called for independently collecting information about the killed, injured and arrested people.

Among those who are killed by the government forces, names such as Sohrab Aarabi, Naser Amirnejad, Masoud Hashemzadeh and Mohammad Kamrani are confirmed. Among them, the death of Sohrab Aarabi received special news attention, after Mousavi and Karroubi visited his family.

The families of those who died were allegedly subjected to penalties and bureaucratic red tape, such as being asked to sign paperwork that they do not have complaints against the government prior to being allowed to claim bodies. When the death was due to gunshot wounds, some were reportedly asked to pay a $3,000 fee, ostensibly for the bullet used by security forces. Restrictions on burial locations have also been reported, and the Iranian government did not permit a memorial service for Neda Agha-Soltan. Time magazine speculates that the Shi'ite cycle of mourning on the third (June 23), seventh (June 27) and 40th (July 30) day after a person's death may give the protests sustained momentum, similar fashion to what occurred during the 1979 Iranian Revolution.

Allegations of foreign involvement

On June 16, Der Spiegel cited Voice of America as reporting that the Iranian government had recruited as many as 5,000 Lebanese Hezbollah fighters to clash with protesters. On 17 June the Jerusalem Post quoted two Iranian protesters who stated that "Palestinian forces" (which the article states are members of Hamas) were working with the Basij in helping crush the protests. A Jerusalem-based reporter for WorldNet Daily asked multiple Hamas officials to comment on this accusation, including spokesman Fawzi Barhoum, parliamentarian Mushir-al-Masri, and top Gaza political advisor Ahmed Yousef. All Hamas officials strongly denied any Hamas involvement in responding to the Iranian election protests and called the accusations "completely untrue", questioning why the Iranian Revolutionary Guard forces would require help from Hamas. On June 19 CNN reported that the Basij are receiving assistance from non-Iranian, possibly Arabic-speaking members who are suspected of being Lebanese Hezbollah militiamen.

The Iranian Government accused the U.S. of involvement in the protests and with interfering in Iranian internal matters, asserting that the CIA is running a $400 million covert operations to destabilize the country. In an article in the U.S. Foreign Policy Journal, the question of whether there was U.S. involvement in fermenting unrest during the election was: "given the record of U.S. interference in the state affairs of Iran and clear policy of regime change, it certainly seems possible, even likely, that the U.S. had a significant role to play in helping to bring about the recent turmoil in an effort to undermine the government of the Islamic Republic." The article also quoted evidence concerning interference by the U.S. based Twitter, asserting that “in terms of involving the huge Iranian diaspora and everyone else with a grudge against Ahmadinejad, it has been very successful.”

Censorship

See also: Censorship in Iran and Communications in Iran

News media

File:Tehran protests (18).jpg

A protester holding up a photo of a bloodied protester casualty and men carrying him to safety, Tehran, 16 June

According to the Telegraph, on 14 June "Iran's regime was doing its utmost to choke off the flow of news from its capital". Al Jazeera English has leveled allegations of direct media censorship by the Iranian government, stating that "some of the newspapers have been given notices to change their editorials or their main headlines". The Al Arabiya's offices in Tehran were closed on 14 June for a week by Iranian authorities, who gave no explanation for the decision. NBC News offices in Tehran were raided, with cameras and other equipment confiscated. Meanwhile, the director of BBC World Service accused the Iranian Government of jamming its broadcasts to the country. Peter Horrocks said audiences in Iran, the Middle East and Europe had been affected by an electronic block on satellites used to broadcast the BBC Persian Television signal to Iran, adding: "It seems to be part of a pattern of behaviour by the Iranian authorities to limit the reporting of the aftermath of the disputed election". A BBC corporate official has referred to the network's conflict with the regime as 'electronic warfare'.

On 15 June, Belgian national television reporter Jef Lambrecht from the Flemish public television broadcaster VRT and his sound technician, were arrested in Tehran. They had been doing a story on the riots, and had gotten caught in the middle of the violence. While Lambrechts had taken a punch, Vandervorst was arrested by riot police. When Lambrecht went to check where Vandervorst was being taken, he was promptly arrested as well. Both were taken to the Ministry of Information and detained in the basement. They were both released after two hours with strict instructions not to make any photos or film recordings of the protests. At the same time, two Dutch reporters from Nova were also arrested and deported.

On 16 June, the Ministry of Culture issued a directive banning all foreign media from leaving their offices. This directive stipulated that international news outlets could still talk about rallies in their live reports, however they were not allowed to leave their hotel rooms and offices to witness the protests. Iranian government-run television was not affected by the restrictions. On 20 June, the Ministry of Culture intensified the restrictions by banning international media from reporting on the demonstrations altogether unless they received permission from Iranian authorities.

BBC correspondent John Simpson was arrested, his material confiscated, and then released. Reporters from the Italian public television broadcaster RAI stated that one of its interpreters was beaten with clubs by riot police and the officers then confiscated the cameraman's tapes. ABC News reporter Jim Sciutto has also had material taken. People from the German public broadcasters ZDF and ARD have been harassed as well, with men carrying batons and knives reportedly storming the ARD's Tehran office and taking the technician for further questioning (who was released the day after).

Ahmadinejad responded to civil liberties concerns by stating Iranians enjoyed "absolute freedom" of speech. "Don't worry about freedom in Iran ... Newspapers come and go and reappear. Don't worry about it."

On 5 July 2009 the Sunday Times reported that the Iranian state media have been transmitting “confessions” by demonstrators against the alleged rigging of the presidential vote claiming they did so under the influence of the the Voice of America, the BBC and other foreign media agencies. Their faces have been obscured in the TV broadcasts which the newspaper claims, after speaking to witnesses, is due to facial bruising resulting from torture whilst in custody including several instances of male rape.

Internet censorship

Main article: Role of Internet

On Saturday following the elections, Mir-Hossein Mousavi's supporters started DDoS attacks against president Ahmadinejad's site and exchanged attack tools through sites such as Facebook and Twitter. After the attacks, the government stopped internet access. On 13 June as the election results were being announced, Iran shut down all Internet access for about 45 minutes, then restarted it apparently with lower bandwidth; this may have been in order to set up filters to block sites like YouTube that could be used for political purposes. When thousands of opposition supporters clashed with the police on 13 June, Facebook was filtered again. Some news websites were also blocked by the Iranian authorities. Mobile phone services including text messaging also had stopped or had become very difficult to use since the day before the election. Specifically, all websites affiliated with the BBC were shut off, as well as those affiliated with The Guardian. Iranian internet users used social media to trade lists of open web proxy servers as means to get around the restrictions, but the Iranian authorities monitoring these media gradually blocked these proxies, so that after two weeks very few proxies were still working in Iran. Associated Press labeled the actions as "ominous measures apparently seeking to undercut liberal voices".

Iran was known to operate one of the world’s most sophisticated Web filtering systems, with widespread blockades on specific Web sites. During the protests, this has been intensified dramatically. Some of the monitoring technology was provided by Nokia Siemens Networks, a joint venture of Nokia, the Finnish cellphone maker, and Siemens, the German technology giant.

June 13 Letter

On June 18, a letter was leaked out of Iran by Iranian filmmakers Marjane Satrapi (director of the critically Acclaimed Film Persepolis) and has since been widely circulated with Mousavi Supporters. The letter which was allegedly written by Interior Minister Sadegh Mahsouli to Ayatollah Khamenei on June 13 (a day after the elections), acknowledges the fraud and even lists the authentic vote count. The Letter was roughly translated as follows;

Salaam Aleikum.

Following your concerns regarding the results of the presidential election and per your given discretion to have Dr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad remain as president during this sensitive juncture. Therefore, everything has been planned in a way that the public announcement will be made in accordance with the interests of the regime and the revolution. All necessary precautions have been taken to deal with any unexpected events of election aftermath and the intense monitoring of all the parties' leaders as well as the election candidates.

However, for your information, the real votes counted are as follows:

Total number of votes: 43,026,078

Mir Hossein Mousavi: 19,075,623

Mehdi Karoubi: 13,387,104

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad: 5,698,417

Mohsen Rezaee: 3,754,218

Void: 38,716

Minister of Interior

Sadegh Mahsouli

Since neither candidate got the 50% majority, it would have actually been a run-off between Mousavi and Karroubi and both conservatives Ahmadinejad and Rezaee would have been dropped from the election.

Statements by Iranian figures

Government figures

• Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei initially urged the nation to unite behind Ahmadinejad, labeling a victory by him as a "divine assessment". On 15 June, however, Iran's supreme leader ordered an investigation into the claims of vote fraud. Referring to Mousavi's appeal letter about the irregularities, Khamenei said that "the Guardian Council has been emphasized to carry out investigation into this letter carefully". On 19 June he condemned the conduct of the Western World during the elections, claiming that the United Kingdom is the most "evil". This claim was immediately rejected by the UK Foreign Office as being, "unacceptable and not based in fact" and, "a step too far." Iran then expelled two British diplomats from the embassy in Tehran, accusing them of being, "involved in activities incompatible with their status." Gordon Brown informed the House of Commons on 23 June that the Iranian claims were, "absolutely without foundation," and that two Iranian diplomats of equal rank at the London embassy were to be expelled.
• Interior Minister Seyed Sadeq Mahsouli said that he had not received any "written complaint" about election fraud or irregularities. He also remarked that the vote proceeded in a way that "ruled out the possibility of cheating". Later has accused also the US intelligence agency CIA to helping and funding the rioters in the country: "Britain, America and the Zionist regime [Israel] were behind the recent unrest in Tehran" and "Many of the rioters were in contact with America, CIA and the MKO and are being fed by their financial resources".
• Chairman of the Assembly of Experts Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani was reported to have called a meeting of the Assembly, as they have the constitutional power to elect and dismiss the Supreme Leader.
• Speaker of Parliament Ali Larijani condemned the attack by police and militia at Tehran University, saying that the "[I]nterior minister is responsible in this regard".
• Iranian Minister of Intelligence told in a TV interview that he is not in favor of anyone spending even a night in prison or get hurt but his ministry is charged with keeping law and order. He further said, there is no practical possiblity of a velvet revolution in Iran though he accused United States and Britain of trying to orchestrate one. He disclosed that people such as Ramin Jahanbaglou and Haleh Esfandiari had been arrested in connection with such plots to instigate the Iranian intelligentia but due to legal complications, no prosecution could take place.

• In reaction to huge amount of complaints by people and opposition political figures about using plain clothes forces by the authorities to crush the protests instead of uniform wearing police, brigadier general Ahmadi-Moghaddam, the chief of Iranian police told the press, Why shouldn't we use plain clothes forces while all the people who were protesting in the streets were also wearing civilian clothes?
• Former Iranian president Abolhassan Banisadr was quoted by AFP as saying “Khamenei ordered the fraud in the presidential elections and the ensuing crackdown on protesters”

Candidates

File:Tehran protests (17).jpg

A protester holding a photo of Mousavi in the silent demonstration from Hafte tir Square to Enghelab Square, Tehran, 16 June

• Incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, in a live address on state run television on 13 June, called the election "completely free" and the outcome "a great victory" for Iran. He also said, "[T]oday, the people of Iran have inspired other nations and disappointed their ill-wishers ... propaganda facilities outside Iran and sometimes inside Iran were totally mobilized against our people". Ahmadinejad praised the country’s youth as well, but made no direct mention of the protests. He later dismissed the protests, comparing them to "the passions after a soccer match".
• Mir-Hossein Mousavi, the main opposition candidate, issued a statement saying, "I'm warning that I won't surrender to this manipulation." Mousavi lodged an official appeal against the result to the Guardian Council on 14 June. He is not optimistic about his appeal, saying that many of the group's members "during the election were not impartial".
• Reformist cleric Mehdi Karroubi, another opposition candidate, echoed Mousavi's demand for the election to be canceled. He said, "I am announcing again that the elections should not be allowed and the results have no legitimacy or social standing ... Therefore, I do not consider Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as president of the republic." He later declared in a speech to his supporters in Khoramabad that "this phase [Election dispute] will not subside until we [Reformist leaders] suggest so".
• Conservative candidate Mohsen Rezai, on 17 June, gave an ultimatum to Interior Ministry to release details of the results by that day, otherwise he would call for re-election. He said that "unprecedented delay has raised doubts about the possibility of manipulation in the results." Later he withdrew the election fraud claims, saying that the Guardian Council is not cooperating with him.

Clerics

See also: Stance of Marjas

• The Association of Combatant Clerics, a reformist clerical party headed by Mohammad Khatami, issued a statement posted on reformist web sites saying the election was rigged and calling for it to be canceled, warning that "if this process becomes the norm, the republican aspect of the regime will be damaged and people will lose confidence in the system".
• In a letter published on his website, Grand Ayatollah Hossein-Ali Montazeri, the highest ranking Iranian Islamic cleric, stated that government used elections "[in] the worst way possible. Declaring results that no one in their right mind can believe, and despite all the evidence of crafted results, and to counter people protestations , in front of the eyes of the same nation who carried the weight of a revolution and 8 years of war, in front of the eyes of local and foreign reporters, attacked the children of the people with astonishing violence. And now they are attempting a purge, arresting intellectuals, political opponents and scientists".
• Several clerics in the religious center Qom were given house arrest and cut off from communication.
• The clerics Hashemi Rafsanjani and Hasan Rowhani are trying to assemble an emergency meeting of the Assembly of Experts in Qom that could depose the Supreme Leader Khamenei. However, official Iranian media report that on 21 June the Assembly expressed "strong support" for the Supreme Leader. It remains unclear whether the statement has been signed by all experts and reflects their voice. However Rafsanjani's son apparently reported to the New York Times that his father is currently hiding until he can get the top clerics together as he is indeed trying to depose Khamenei.
• Referring to the 2009 presidential election protests, supreme leader's representative Ahmad Khatami stated that the leaders of the protests should be dealt with "severely and ruthlessly". "I want the judiciary to... punish leading rioters firmly and without showing any mercy to teach everyone a lesson".
• Grand Ayatollah Yousef Sanei considers the election results fraudulent.
• Grand Ayatollah Javadi Amoli has criticized the government's conduction of the election.
• Grand Ayatollah Bayyat Zanjani called the election results a "gross injustice."
• Grand Ayatollah Abdolkarim Mousavi Ardebili called for the state to give protesters a legal voice.
• The Assembly of Qom Seminary Scholars and Researchers, described as the "a leading clerical body in Qom, ... a mainstream group that includes many reformists in its ranks" issued a statement calling the vote count a fraud and condemning the killing of peaceful protesters.

Exiled groups

• Reza Cyrus Pahlavi, son of the former Shah of Iran Mohammad Reza Pahlavi who was ousted in 1979, said: "I would love to help them [the protesters] reach complete, real freedom under a secular democratic system where there's a true separation of religion from government".
• People's Mujahedin of Iran leader Maryam Rajavi said that the "religious dictatorship and all its suppressive institutions must be done away with so that the Iranian people can hold free UN-supervised elections". [5]
• The Tudeh Party of Iran declared that "the Supreme Leader and the coup d'état perpetrators under his leadership must be defeated vigilantly and by relying on the power of the masses".
• The Worker-Communist Party of Iran call for "the overthrow of the Islamic regime". It launched a six-points minimal program and call women to remove their veils. Its satellite TV, New Channel, broadcasts in Iran.

Miscellanea

• Columbia University's Hagop Kevorkian professor Hamid Dabashi said: "It seems to me that these brave young men and women have picked up their hand-held cameras to shoot those shaky shots, looking in their streets and alleys for their Martin Luther King. They are well aware of Mir Hossein Moussavi’s flaws, past and present. But like the color of green, the very figure of Moussavi has become, it seems to me, a collective construction of their desires for a peaceful, nonviolent attainment of civil and women’s rights. They are facing an army of firearms and fanaticism with chanting poetry and waving their green bandannas. I thought my generation had courage to take up arms against tyranny. Now I tremble with shame in the face of their bravery."
• Gholam Ali Haddad Adel, a former Iranian parliamentary speaker and father in law of Khameni's son, called on Mousavi to concede defeat, saying that then "everyone will benefit".
• Former Foreign Minister Ibrahim Yazdi has said, "[W]e don't have any doubt. And as far as we are concerned, it is not legitimate. There were many, many irregularities". He also described the process as a "coup". On 17 June, he was arrested and transferred to prison.
• Reformist politician Ata'ollah Mohajerani blasted the election as "The end of the Islamic Republic".
• Hadi Ghaemi, spokesman for the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, denounced the outcome. He also compared the government's post-election activities to those of the Chinese government during the Tiananmen Square protests.
• About eight players in the Iran national football team playing in their World Cup qualifier wore green wristbands in support for Mousavi for the first half of their game. During the break, they were ordered to remove them, seven of the eight complied. They were subsequently suspended.
• Popular classical musician Mohammad Reza Shajarian demanded that Iranian government television and radio never play his music again after Ahmadinejad called Mousavi supporters "brushwood and thorns". Shajarian remarked, "my voice is like brushwood and thorns".
• A group of Iranian "artists and writers in exile" published an open letter in support of the protests.
• Since 12 June, the Iranian film director Mohsen Makhmalbaf has been serving as the official spokesman of Mir-Hossein Mousavi's campaign abroad.
• Significant protests have been held in major cities all throughout the world. Demonstrators in Los Angeles have protested daily calling not only for election reform but complete regime change. Demonstrators have been seen holding signs stating, "No Ahmadi(nejad), no Mousavi, no Islamic Republic!," "No more Islamic Republic."
• Ali Motahhari, a member of Iranian parliament and a well-known conservative politician admitted that the Head of Guardian Council Ahmad Jannati and three other members of the council took side with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and that makes them unqualified to judge and verify the validity of the election results. He also slammed IRIB propaganda against ex-prime minister Mousavi and protesters.
• Iranian journalist and writer, Akbar Ganji, has announced that he and several other intellectuals will launch a three-day hunger strike in front of the United Nations building in New York on July 22 to call for the release of all those who have been arrested in Iran following the protests. Iranian pop singer Ebrahim Hamedi (Ebi) is among those who will join Ganji for hunger strike.

Hunger strike

A number of Iranian intellectuals organize a three day hunger strike in front of the United Nations. The invitation was signed by 42 scholars. The event is scheduled for 22-24 July 2009. The original initiative came from Akbar Ganji, renowned Iranian journalist.

Among the intellectuals that signed the invitation are: Abdolkarim Soroush, Hamid Dabashi, Mohsen Makhmalbaf, Abdol Ali Bazargan and Janet Afary. Among the supporters of the initiative are Reza Baraheni and pop singers Ebrahim Hamedi, Googoosh and Shohreh Aghdashlou. US citizen Noam Chomsky joined the hunger strike.

A number of Iranians have organized a two day strike at Brandenburger toer in Berlin, Germany. The event is scheduled for 24-25 July 2009. The invitation has had a list of over twenty people as strikers so far and a considerable list of supporters. Among the Iranians participating in the strike are: Daryush Shokof, Mila Mosafer, Farnood Farzad, Azar Adibi, Nastaran Chitzad, Marjan Eftekhary, Hamid Nozari.

The latest update on number of cities joining the Iranian global hunger strike has reached over 50 with London, Toronto, Vancouver, Washington DC, Los Angeles, Chicago, as well as Italy, Australia, and Ireland. The hunger strikes are for freedom of all Iranian political prisoners and for "not" recognizing the presidential elections and its president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in 2009.

Robert Redford joined and supported the Iranian Hunger Strike in Washington on July 20.

International response

Main article: International reaction to the 2009 Iranian presidential election

BBC News has described the overall reaction by the international community to the 2009 Iranian presidential election as "muted". Mir-Hossein Mousavi has not asked for any kind of foreign assistance or called on other leaders to comment. His spokesperson, Mohsen Makhmalbaf, has criticized U.S. President Barack Obama for maintaining that the difference between Ahmadinejad and Mousavi "may not be as great as has been advertised." Makhmalbaf retorted, "Does he like it himself [when someone is] saying that there is no difference between Obama and [George W.] Bush?" He also said that other nations must "not recognize the government of Ahmadinejad as a legitimate government" and that "it's not only an internal matter- it's an international problem".

Protesters have gathered in cities all over the world to protest the violence and election results. One of the largest protests was organized by United For Iran and held on 25 July 2009 in over 100 cities all over the world.

Religion

The Economist reported that supporters of Mousavi have enlisted religious symbolism on their side. This directly appeals to the notion of injustice and redemption at the heart of Shia Islam.

Protestors have deliberately dressed modestly. The marches in Tehran saw women in chadors and turbanned clerics, some of whom were seen thronging Mousavi's car during the June 15 rally at Revolution Square. According to Anna Johnson of Associated Press, conservative women in black chadors have joined the liberal youth for the common goal of trying to get their voices heard. The Time reported that some protestors believed they had a religious duty to protest.

Protestors have also made use of slogans such as "God is great" from the revolutionary era. Protestors on Twitter have urged marchers to carry copies of the Qur'an with them, citing its verses bringing about peace. When mourning the deaths of slain protestors, the marchers chanted "Peace be upon (Prophet) Mohammed and his family."

A bystander, Neda Agha-Soltan, who was killed by authorities, has been mythologised by the opposition as a martyr. The status of a martyr is revered in Shia Islam. To prevent this from happening, the authorities have tried to call off funeral services for her, which according to Shia Islam, must be held on the third, seventh and 40th day after the martyr's passing. Robert Tait and Matthew Weaver of the Guardian noted that it was funeral processions on the 40th day of mourning of fallen protestors in 1979 that created momentum in toppling the shah's regime. The idea of martyrdom resonates deeply amongst the Shiite Muslim population of Iran. The Shiite faith was founded on the idea of self-sacrifice in the cause of justice.

Inspired art

• Hamed Nikpay and his team made the song "The Owner of This Land!" in response to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's statement in which he called the protesters brushwood and thorns.
• Folk singer and activist Joan Baez performed in support of Iranian protesters.
• Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora and Andy Madadian record a musical message of worldwide solidarity with the people of Iran. The handwritten Persian sign in the video translates to "we are one".
• Rock music band, U2, performed "Sunday Bloody Sunday" in support of Iranian protests.
• Musicians, Mohsen Namjoo, Abjeez group, Googoosh, Dariush, Sattar also had performances in honor of the victims of the protests and to support the movement.

See also

• Iranian reform movement
• Iranian revolution
• Iran student protests, July 1999
• Baharestan
• Politics of Iran
• Where is my vote?
• The Green Scroll Campaign
• Kahrizak detention center
• 2009 Iran poll protests trial

References

"International protests over Iran election crackdown". Yahoo! Canada. 15 June 2009. Retrieved 16 June 2009.

External links

• Coverage from FARS News, Tehran Times, Aljazeera, BBC, New York Times