The outcome of the election was not what we hoped for. It looks as if Ahmedinejad will be around for another four years. Even though the figures still differs with different sources it seems like the incumbent president has a clear majority of the votes.
However Mr. Mousavi and his supporters are claiming that irregularities and fraud have taken place in the voting process and that theory is supported by many outside observers. A fact that underlines this claim is that the Election Commission is part of the Interior Ministry, which is controlled by Ahmedinejad – not an optimal way to run a democratic election.
Nonetheless, even Ahmedinejad can't be blind to the winds of change and can't repress the students and the educated middle class forever. Even though the turnout is a disappointment I think and hope Iran’s, both foreign and domestic policies, will be more liberal and moderate in the future.
Just a few hours ago I got an email from an Iranian friend in Lund, he had talked to his family in Tehran and below is a quote from him which I think is very telling of how the average middle class Iranian thinks about the incumbent government:
“… the election was shocking and the whole nation got shocked, streets were full of people against the incumbent president and his government and everyone was expecting that his rival (Musavi) wins, but the offical votes says that Ahmadinejad won the election and the rivals and young people now believe that there is a big fraud in counting the votes, I was shocked too and didn’t sleep last night. I am still following the news and BBC TV station. It just seems like a coup made by Ahmadinejad and his armed supporters. So my uncle recommends you to postpone your travel in his email.
But It depends on you and If you feel that you want to travel at this time then be careful if you saw any demonstration just don’t go near it and never participate in them, and do not take pictures of them or from the police, just avoid them…”
Regarding the advice not to go: I have emailed his uncle for more information about the situation but as long as it does not get totally out of hand I have no plans to postpone my itinerary. Also, as long as the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (UD?) does not issue any warning I reckon I will be all right.
For even more info about the election: Both sides claim victory in Iran (once again take a look at the video clip, they show the force of the opposition more that words), SVD,
