Dying for Democracy - Iranian Issue.

How much responsibility do we have regarding the current situation in Iran?

Fact:

Admiral Mike Mullen stated in a IAEA report of Feb.19^th that Iran had a stockpile of 1,010 kg LEU (low-enriched uranium), proclaimed to be enough to create a nuclear weapon.

This however has been rejected by Peter Crail, research analyst for the nonpartisan Arms Control Association, who determines that this amount is adequate to power a nuclear plant – and nothing more. To build a nuclear weapon, the uranium must be highly enriched.

Whether Iran is a nuclear threat or not, there is no doubt that this question has turned our attention away from the conditions that the civilians in Iran have lived under for many years. It is always dangerous to only focus on regimes international wrongdoings, when human rights are compromised within the population. In this case, the nuclear-issue drowned the importance of the presidential election in Iran.

Why claim this election to be democratic?

Fact:

The presidential election in Iran took place on June 12^th 2009 and it had 4 candidates: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Mir-Hossein Mousavi, Mohsen Rezai and Mehdi Karubi.

Prior to this, many candidates had been rejected. 1 of those was Rafat Bayat, (MP), and the rejection was based on the fact that she was a woman.

The opposition to Ahmadinejad was not allowed a proper campaign, e.g. through posters.

On the very night between the 12^th and the 13^th, the Iranian press announced the winner. This in a country with 71 million people, 46.2 million eligible voters – and a record election turnout of 85%…

In the days after the election, tens of thousands of people took the streets of Teheran, demonstrating against the apparent rig made by Ahmadinejad.

As rumor has it, the Hizbollah-militia, soldiers from Baluch and Zobal and azerians were called in. Whether this is true or not, it is clear that Ahmadinejad has been summoning the troops to protect his presidentship by beating and shooting the protesters. The internet and mobile net have undergone government control and journalists have been denied access, therefore there are no transparent numbers available on the results of the attacks.

Only because of civilian recordings and reports, it is estimated that: Hundreds have been arrested or gone missing, thousands have been injured (some of those taken in by the embassies of approx. 12 different countries) and death tolls have reached at least 45.

Iran = Democratic?? It’s barely a Republic…