University of Iowa student sees Iranian election unfold
Michael Dale-Stein
Issue date: 6/23/09 Section: News
Many of the protests in America called for fair treatment for the other Iranian presidential candidates.
The most popular of the losing candidates, Mir Hossein Mousavi, was seen by many as the more democratic option - a reformer, both economically and socially - and a popular choice for many, including the UI student.
The student, who moved from Iran to the United States when he was very young, said he could feel the excitement of the electoral atmosphere when he first arrived in Tehran, the nation's capital. Campaign fliers and billboards plastered the city, he said, and his family gathered in front of the TV every night, watching debates among the four presidential candidates.
"It was Obama versus McCain over again," he said. "Everyone had an opinion."
Though he did not feel that positive about any of the candidates, he said he thought Mousavi was the best option.
"He promises greater freedoms to the Islamic society and is willing to review laws that discriminate against women," he said.
Mousavi's supporters say the speed in which the voting ballots were tallied (they are tallied by hand) and the wide margin of victory for Ahmadinejad are signs of a rigged election.
The student said he suspects forgery because the voting numbers simply don't "make sense."
On Thursday, hundreds of thousands of people choked the streets of Tehran, joining Mousavi in mourning the seven demonstrators killed so far in the protests.
In the United States, many are debating the ramifications of mass demonstrations in Iran.
Sara Mitchell, a UI associate professor of political science, said if protests continue, the chance for dangerous governmental crackdown is high.
So far, the U.S. government has taken a fairly hands-off approach to the Iranian election controversy, leading to criticism of President Obama.
However, Mitchell said, "low-key statements by U.S. officials could actually have significant consequences and increase the risks for civil war in Iran."
The most popular of the losing candidates, Mir Hossein Mousavi, was seen by many as the more democratic option - a reformer, both economically and socially - and a popular choice for many, including the UI student.
The student, who moved from Iran to the United States when he was very young, said he could feel the excitement of the electoral atmosphere when he first arrived in Tehran, the nation's capital. Campaign fliers and billboards plastered the city, he said, and his family gathered in front of the TV every night, watching debates among the four presidential candidates.
"It was Obama versus McCain over again," he said. "Everyone had an opinion."
Though he did not feel that positive about any of the candidates, he said he thought Mousavi was the best option.
"He promises greater freedoms to the Islamic society and is willing to review laws that discriminate against women," he said.
Mousavi's supporters say the speed in which the voting ballots were tallied (they are tallied by hand) and the wide margin of victory for Ahmadinejad are signs of a rigged election.
The student said he suspects forgery because the voting numbers simply don't "make sense."
On Thursday, hundreds of thousands of people choked the streets of Tehran, joining Mousavi in mourning the seven demonstrators killed so far in the protests.
In the United States, many are debating the ramifications of mass demonstrations in Iran.
Sara Mitchell, a UI associate professor of political science, said if protests continue, the chance for dangerous governmental crackdown is high.
So far, the U.S. government has taken a fairly hands-off approach to the Iranian election controversy, leading to criticism of President Obama.
However, Mitchell said, "low-key statements by U.S. officials could actually have significant consequences and increase the risks for civil war in Iran."
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