All blog entries represent the views and opinions of the blog author, not of Youth Politix.
In June of 2009 incumbent Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad defeated three opponents—most notably Mir-Hossein Mousavi—in Iran’s presidential elections, elections that the whole world was watching. When the polling closed however, and Ahmadinejad was declared the winner, riots erupted as accusations of election fraud grew louder and louder. Some reports stated that the total number of people protesting in Iran against Ahmadinejad could have been as high as 3 million, with thousands more protesting in front of embassies worldwide in London, Paris, The Hague, Berlin, Rome and many more.
In June of 2009 incumbent Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad defeated three opponents—most notably Mir-Hossein Mousavi—in Iran’s presidential elections, elections that the whole world was watching. When the polling closed however, and Ahmadinejad was declared the winner, riots erupted as accusations of election fraud grew louder and louder. Some reports stated that the total number of people protesting in Iran against Ahmadinejad could have been as high as 3 million, with thousands more protesting in front of embassies worldwide in London, Paris, The Hague, Berlin, Rome and many more.
The Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader, has repeatedly stated that the elections were fair and regular, and that any protesters would be punished; regardless, protests are still taking place today, and all the while the government is declaring that everything is calm, regular, and completely under control, even though it does not take a rocket scientist to know it’s not. BBC websites have been shut off within the country, NBC offices in Tehran have been raided, and an ABC News reporter was arrested (and released)—all in efforts to censor and block the foreign flow of information. Eventually all foreign media was ejected from Iran, and suddenly for those of us in Europe, US, Latin America, or even Asia, all news about the Iranian protestors disappeared. Today those protests have not ceased, yet all we get in the news is maybe one minute of coverage a day.
Some news is finding its way out of Iran however, and we can get a glimpse of what is going on within the country: people are being arrested for no reason, some are tried for their protests, and even more are sentenced to jail time. Despite all this, demonstrations persist, and people take the risks of showing the world what they are going through.
My message to the government of Iran is: Stop it. We're not blind, and we're not stupid.
The world is aware of the oppressions and censorships that the Iranian government is doing, and everyone expects now for the day when the current government will fall to come; this not out of spite, or hatred, but simply because of history and facts. When an oppressed people rises up against the oppressor, they usually win. Eastern Europe proved this to us in fighting against communism in the autumn of 1989, France showed it during the Nazi occupation, and even Iran proved to the world in 1979 how an oppressive government can be overthrown. It is imminent.
My message to the government of Iran is: Stop it. We're not blind, and we're not stupid.
The world is aware of the oppressions and censorships that the Iranian government is doing, and everyone expects now for the day when the current government will fall to come; this not out of spite, or hatred, but simply because of history and facts. When an oppressed people rises up against the oppressor, they usually win. Eastern Europe proved this to us in fighting against communism in the autumn of 1989, France showed it during the Nazi occupation, and even Iran proved to the world in 1979 how an oppressive government can be overthrown. It is imminent.
Therefore, Ahmadinejad, Khamenei and all others in charge: stop it. You are only hurting yourselves and your country. The voices and actions of millions of people fighting for freedom is much louder than that of a government who takes away the very freedom these people fight for.
Updated: December 28th, 2009.
Mousavi's nephew, Seyed Ali Mousavi, was reported killed during the protests that took place in Tehran during the religious celebration of Ashura. Fortunately, media agencies are now focusing more time on the Iranian struggle, as clandestine information keeps pouring out of Iran.
Over 300 people are reported injured and as many as nine killed during clashes between opposition protestors and government forces.
No comments:
Post a Comment