· June, 2009

Stories about Elections from June, 2009

Armenia: Opposition detainees released

Following a general amnesty agreed upon by the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia on 19 June, several senior opposition figures on trial and in detention for over a year since the 1 March post-election unrest in the country were finally pardoned and released. Many observers believe the trials were politically motivated.

Iran: Protesters in Tehran

We can watch a film on Iranian protesters in Tehran on Monday despite a warning by Iran's Revolutionary Guard against the kind of street demonstrations that have roiled Iran for more than a week.

Haiti: Run-off Elections

  22 June 2009

Repeating Islands says that “despite government efforts to lure voters to the polls in the Senate run-off elections held yesterday in Haiti, voters stayed away in protest against what they see as failed leadership and growing despair.”

Iran: Videos of protests and vigils

A disputed June 12 election in Iran that returned President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to power, has sparked the most violent unrest since the Islamic Revolution in 1979. Protesters and the opposition leader, Mir Hussein Mousavi are calling for an annulment of the election. Security forces killed at least 10 people in Tehran on Saturday, but protests have continued in different Iranian cities.

Iran: Revolution 2.0?

Security, in the Caucasus and beyond…. comments on the recent election in Iran and its aftermath. However, the analytical blog focusing on a region which directly borders the Islamic republic says that both the governmental and opposition candidates in the disputed vote were products of the same system. The blog...

Azerbaijan: All hail Iranian women

Following a post from Armenian blogger Ianyan in praise of women in Iran comes a similar response from Azerbaijan, another country that borders the Islamic republic. Re-posting an earlier video interview on the changing role of women in Iran, Baku-based Global Voices Online author Ali S. Novruzov also pays homage.

Maghreb: Views on Iran

As the world watches events unfolding in Iran, Maghreb blogs have been following and commenting on the rapidly developing crisis there. Some questioned the motives behind the way western media covered the events; others criticized Mir Houssain Moussavi's reaction, but it seems that the majority are supporting protesters.

Egypt: A New Presidential Candidate in the Making

In September 2005 Ayman Nour of Al Ghad Party and No'man Goma'a of New Wafd Party nominated themselves against President Hosni Mubarak. Nour was charged with fraud and Goma'a was accused of insanity! Since 2000, Gamal Hosni Mubarak has the been groomed to be his father's successor as the next president with no apparent opponent. Today, rumor has it that Omar Soliman, Chief of The Egyptian General Intelligence Services, is an eligible presidential candidate.

Iran: Reformist and activist bloggers arrested

As demonstrations continue in Iran against the results of the June 12 presidential elections, authorities continue their clampdown on activists, journalists and bloggers. Hamid Tehrani reviews the Iranian blogosphere, where several reports of blogger arrests are being circulated.

Iran: Khamenei on the election

Change for Iran tweeted that Iranian Leader, Ali Khamanei today said “people should not go to streets killing Innocent basij & police troops, it will have a bad outcome if it continues.” and “defeated candidates should accept the outcome of election and by calling people in streets, they help ennemies.”

Iran: Green Silent Protest Movement in photos

Protesters all over Iran continue their demonstrations against the June 12 presidential election result that declared Mahmoud Ahmadinejad the winner. Supporters of Ahmadinejad's challenger, Mir Hussein Mousavi, and many Iranians who profess to believe in “change” continue to use the colour green as the symbol of their movement. Mousavi and Mehdi Karoubi,...

Bahrain: Ahmadinejad, For And Against

Bahrain has many historical and cultural links to Iran. A number of Bahrainis (both Shi'a and Sunnis) have Persian roots and speak Persian, and many of Bahrain's Shi'a community regularly travel to religious sites in Iran. On Bahraini blogs and forums there has been a lot of support expressed for Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, thanks in particular to his reputation as a clean politician and modest person, but he is not popular with everyone.

Iran: The Power of Allaho Akbar

Jadi tweeted that this night the power of Allaho Akbar [God is Great] and Down With Dictator is at least tripled! At night people shout Allaho-Akbar from their rooftops to protest against Iranian presidential election's result.

Arab World: “Iran is a Democratic Dictatorship”

Reactions continue to pour across the Arab world over developments in Iran, in the aftermath of the country's presidential elections which saw Mahmoud Ahmedinejad winning a second term, with 66 per cent of the overall votes. In this round up of reactions, Arab bloggers compare between the political scenes in their countries with that in Iran as well as offer their insights to developments on the ground.