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IRANIAN PUBLIC STILL EXCITED ABOUT ELECTION RESULTS

June 19 2009

Tehran, Iran – Almost a week after the much watched Presidential election, Iranians are still pouring into the streets on a daily basis by the thousands. With both sides still firmly convinced of victory the parades and celebrations have continued unabated.
Revellers from both sides of the political spectrum have continued to celebrate victory well into the night as politicos still try to work out the details of how the new government will be organized and operate, the party atmosphere continues as both sides party like its 1979.

There has of course been a bit of controversy over the election results with incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejead claiming an overwhelming victory and challenger Mir Hossein Mousavi left with a suspiciously small number of votes. While the guardian council starts on a recount and international observers press the leadership for a full and accurate accounting of the votes, the parties continue. Even Republican Guard soldiers and police officers have joined in on the revelry with an omnipresent force at every party. Even with international reporters no longer allowed to report on the revelry, information and pictures have continued to leak out via the web.

“My time there was nothing like I have ever seen in Iran previously. People are pouring
into the streets at all hours, shouting and screaming and just plain enjoying themselves in a way that is totally uncharacteristic of modern Iranian society. The Iranian people are a passionate and lively people but because of government and religious oppression for so long that has rarely been seen in such a public way,” said Scrape TV Middle Eastern Embedded correspondent Niyoosha Ebtehaj. “I have been in and out of Iran for many years and have never seen the kind of outpouring and celebration that has so possessed the people of the country. It truly is wonderful thing to see.”

Reports indicate that there have been a few deaths as a result of the revelry but that has largely been attributed to ‘Bad Seeds’ amongst the partiers.

“I mean it is difficult to have gatherings of these sizes without a few incidents but they have been largely isolated and really not worth worrying about. We also can’t allow the concern over a handful of deaths to ruin the party and potentially inhibit the Iranian people just as they are starting to come out of their shell. Yes it is tragic, but you cannot allow a few bad elements to ruin the party for everyone,” continued Ebtehaj. “It’s truly a shame the government officials have so limited
international reporters. This is an opportunity to show the rest of the world that Iran isn’t all about subjugation and nuclear sabre rattling. It shows the light and lively side of the people of the country and that is something that should be embraced. Thank Allah for sites like Twitter which allow the people of the country to share their joy with the rest of the world.”

Websites like Twitter and Facebook have been a gathering place for people looking to join in on the party from other countries, something which was not available the last time such partying occurred in the country during the 1979 revolution. 

“Iran is a country that has long suffered under a number of mistaken impressions. They have been called mortal enemies with the west, they have advocated the
destruction of Israel, and they have been more or less a boogeyman throughout the region that seems to cause a lot of trouble for other countries. What we are seeing now though is that impression has been very much a mistaken one. People with that kind of hate simply don’t party like this,” said Scrape TV Middle East analyst David Gershwin. “Most experts have believed for a long time that the government of Iran hasn’t really represented the people of the country, at least not the true spirit of the people anyway. That of course very much flies in the face of the nature of democracy but is an unfortunate reality. Now though they are showing that they can party, and party hard, and that may forever change people’s impression of the country and the people of Iran.”

Reportedly party supplies have been flooding into the country from neighbouring Turkey and Iraq though American officials deny any involvement in that process.

Emil Uliya, International Correspondent

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