 RFE/RL Iran Report 12.06.2009 A review of RFE/RL reporting and analysis about Iran.For more stories on Iran, please visit and bookmark our Iran page . |
 Iranians Vote, Even In New York City At least 5 million Iranians live outside their homeland and a record number of them are expected to participate in the presidential election. Even in the United States, which has no diplomatic relations with the Islamic republic, voting is taking place. More  Pro-Musavi Websites Reportedly Blocked On Election Day Reformists in Iran say a number of websites supporting presidential candidate Mir Hossein Musavi have been blocked. More  Revolutionary Guard Warns Musavi Over 'Interference' Claim On June 11, the day before the vote, reformist candidate Mir Hussein Musavi issued an open letter to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei complaining of "interference" by the Revolutionary Guard and Basij militia in the presidential election. More  Hope And Trust Ahmadnia, a university professor in Tehran, hopes that the trust Iranians are displaying in their political system is fulfilled. More  Iran Extends Voting Hours Voting in Iran has been extended into the evening to accommodate long lines at polling stations. Voters are choosing a president from among four candidates who have waged a hard-fought race marked by unprecedented public debates and massive rallies. More  'Why I'll Vote This Time' I wish I could go back to Iran to vote, but I won't risk being detained or harassed as many of my colleagues have been for the "crime" of disseminating information that Iranians cannot get from the country's strictly controlled media. More  The Election That Changed A Nation Westerners whose image of Iranians has been formed by watching Ahmadinejad on the world stage might be surprised to learn that Persians know how to kiss and make up. But this time, perhaps too many glasses have been broken. More  Festival Aims To Dispel Misconceptions About Islam Over 300 Muslim artists, performers, craftspeople, and scholars have gathered in New York for a 10-day festival highlighting the best in culture and performance from the Islamic world. While the "Muslim Voices: Arts And Ideas” event may not bring an overnight end to U.S. misperceptions about Islam, organizers hope the festival will improve understanding between different religions and cultures. More  Critics Say Vote Free, Fair Only On The Surface Campaigning in Iran's presidential race has had all the trappings of a Western-style vote -- a choice of candidates, televised debates, mud-slinging, and rallies by enthusiastic supporters. But critics say any similarities to real democracy end there. More  Ahmadinejad Cites Corruption Watchdog's Use Of 'Zionists' President Mahmud Ahmadinejad criticized his rivals on June 10 for citing reports by Transparency International to indicate "the hike in corruption in Iran over the last four years." More  In Iran, The Election Is Being Televised Some have argued that participating in this presidential election may be seen as legitimizing a rather undemocratic regime. But I see it as a step toward a more open, democratic political system. More  Economy Looms Large In Vote Iran's president is known outside the country for his confrontational style. He dismisses UN resolutions as "scraps" and calls the Holocaust a myth. But when Iranians vote on June 12, their main interest will likely be how he has managed the economy. More  Gentlemen, The Clock Is Ticking Amid much speculation, the committee that monitors state television's coverage concluded that the incumbent deserved 19 minutes and 46 seconds, while the others deserved: 1 minute and 41 seconds (Mir Hossein Musavi); 1 minute and 16 seconds (Mehdi Karrubi); and 1 minute (Mohsen Rezai). More  My Eye Shadow Is Also Green Kavi-e Semnan, writing in verse, explains her personal motivation for her campaign activities. More  Healthy Election Entertainment Zahra-hb says word on the street is that enthusiasm and public displays of voter preference are at a fever pitch. More  Ahmadinejad Takes Exception To 'Insults' The president, who has suggested the Holocaust is "a lie," said opponents have appropriated the smear tactics once used by Adolf Hitler. More  Police Give Stern Warning Against Unsanctioned Rallies In an indication of how seriously authorities are approaching this election, Moghadam warned that Iranian police face a particularly difficult challenge in maintaining such order in the current pre-election environment. More  Ex-President Says Incumbent Playing With 'Fire' Former Iranian President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani has inflamed an already heated presidential race. In an open letter to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, Rafsanjani calls on Khamenei to prevent the "fire" sparked by President Mahmud Ahmadinejad's accusations against his main rival from spreading “through the election and beyond." More “The New York Times” has an interactive feature on part of a new exhibit by Iranian artist Negar Ahkami. Ahkami's piece “The Fall” speaks to the country's political and cultural upheaval, which is especially evident this week as thousands rally on the streets for their candidates in the June 12 presidential election. More  Even Iran Can Change It seems there's a real chance of Mahmud Ahmadinejad becoming the first Iranian leader since the Islamic Revolution 30 years ago to be turned out of office after just one term -- if turnout is high, that is. More  Checkered Past In Iran Leaves Much In Doubt Polling in Iran suggests that two reformist candidates could pose serious challenges to incumbent President Mahmud Ahmadinejad in this week's voting. But opinion polls there are notoriously inaccurate, particularly when trying to predict election results for the entire country. More  With Him Or Against Them Basijisiasi accuses the incumbent's presidential rivals of rejectionism...of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. More  Revenge Of The Dogs Remember Tehran's "dog prisons"? More  The Cleric And The Rapper We reported earlier that reformist presidential candidate Mehdi Karrubi, who is the only cleric running in the race, had met with artists and pop singers, including an underground rapper, Sasy Mankan. More  Ahmadinejad's 'Halo' Makes A Comeback In 2005, Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad claimed that a light surrounded him as he delivered his speech before the UN General Assembly and that the attention of the audience was unblinkingly focused on him. More  Rallies Bring Out Biggest Crowds Since Iran's Revolution The rapid approach of Iran's presidential election is raising passions among voters to unseen heights. Supporters of reformist candidate Mir Hossein Musavi filled the streets of Tehran overnight in a direct challenge to supporters of hard-line President Mahmud Ahmadinejad, with some of the biggest crowds seen since the 1979 revolution. More  Karrubi Down, Out? After huge rallies by the supporters of Iran's President Mahmud Ahmadinejad and his main rival, Mir Hossein Musavi, Mehdi Karrubi's supporters are planning a rally today at a Tehran sports stadium. But is Karrubi preparing to step aside in Musavi's favor? More  Another Non-Debate The June 7 televised debate between the two presidential candidates from the reformist camp, Mir Hossein Musavi and Mehdi Karrubi, turned into a opportunity for both candidates to sound off against Iran's incumbent President Mahmud Ahmadinejad -- rather than do much debating of each other. More  Presidential Candidates Playing Ethnic-Minority Card Iran's ethnic minorities, which make up about half of the country's population, stand to have a huge impact on the country's June 12 presidential election. Well aware of this, the candidates are courting minority voters as the election campaign reaches its climax. More  Could Military Tip Iran's Electoral Balance? Since President Mahmud Ahmadinejad came to power, the militarization of politics in Iran has gained momentum. What role might the Revolutionary Guard, which answers directly to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, play in the upcoming presidential vote? More  Islam's Reformation and Obama's Speech President Obama can say very little about the specifics of the ongoing reformation of Islam. But modestly voicing support for those brave Muslim champions of Islamic diversity and civiilizational richness would actually be saying a lot. More With Iran's presidential election approaching, incumbent Mahmud Ahmadinejad is under fire. RFE/RL's Radio Farda correspondent Mehrdad Mirdamadi says all three of his main opponents have more authority in the Islamic republic and will be able to stand up to the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in changing policy in Iran. More  Ahmadinejad’s 'Saddest' Day Although Mohammad Khatami has decided against running for the Iranian presidency, it seems that incumbent Mahmud Ahmadinejad is still treating his predecessor as one of his rivals in the race. More  Forgive Me, Musavi Sirous touts the qualities of reformist candidate Mehdi Karrubi. More |
