Image: A group of UT students protest the Iranian election last Saturday at the corner of Lamar and 6th.
Last Friday for the first time in my life, I voted at the Austin polling station setup for the 2009 Iranian presidential elections with many other UT students from Iran. But having seen the aftermath of the election and what the Iranian government has done, I'm not sure if my vote really counted.
There has been an outpouring of protest over the past two days from the Islamic Republic of Iran and from Iranians and other outraged citizens around the world over the June 12th presidential election in Iran which may not have been fair and truly democratic. Two days ago in the largest demonstration in Tehran since the 1979 revolution brought together Iranians of all stripes. By some accounts close to a million people marched from Engelob Square to Azadi Square - from the Square of Revolution to the Square of Freedom - beneath the eyes of Tehran's brutal riot police.
The Iranian government is using brutal tactics to crack down on protesters, shutting down their means of communicating with each other, and arresting leaders of the opposition. The universities have been closed down, party leaders have been detained or are under house arrest. Cell phones have been cut off and the internet has been slowed down enough so as to become useless. There is fighting in the streets and scenes that are reminiscent of the 1979 revolution. The event is being called the coup d'etat of 22 Khordad (June 12th).
Dozens of people may have died in violent clashes with Iran's security forces, including 5 (17 by some accounts) students from the University of Tehran.
Today many of us are going to join our classmates in Iran, including the families of students Fatemeh Barati, Kasra Sharafi, Mobina Ehterami, Kambiz Shoaee and Mohsen Imani who were killed at their dorms and ask, "Where are Our Votes?"
We invite you to join us, in a rally and march at the corner of Congress and 11th street today (Wednesday, June 17) at 5 pm.
For more information visit utipj.com or the Facebook event. |
