Joyous Iranians fill Tehran streets to celebrate Rowhani victory

[SupremeGuy]

Wild celebrations broke out on Tehran streets Saturday evening when the Iranian Interior Ministry confirmed centrist cleric (http://www.latimes.com/news/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-iran-victory-celebration-20130615,0,4540397.story)Hassan Rowhani (http://www.latimes.com/topic/politics/government/hassan-rouhani-PEPLT0009041.topic)’s presidential election victory, throwing open the political order after relentless crackdowns by hard-liners to consolidate and safeguard their grip on power. (http://www.latimes.com/news/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-iran-victory-celebration-20130615,0,4540397.story)An enormous gathering of chanting and cheering supporters flooded the center of Tehran where Rowhani's headquarters were located. Many of them wore purple T-shirts or scarves, the color of his campaign. (http://www.latimes.com/news/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-iran-victory-celebration-20130615,0,4540397.story)
(http://www.latimes.com/news/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-iran-victory-celebration-20130615,0,4540397.story)The mood was far different than four years ago, when enthusiastic reformers pinned high hopes on the prospects of reform candidates, only to see incumbent (http://www.latimes.com/news/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-iran-victory-celebration-20130615,0,4540397.story)Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (http://www.latimes.com/topic/politics/government/mahmoud-ahmadinejad-PERLL001899.topic) easily reelected. (http://www.latimes.com/news/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-iran-victory-celebration-20130615,0,4540397.story)
(http://www.latimes.com/news/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-iran-victory-celebration-20130615,0,4540397.story) Days of unrest followed that election. (http://www.latimes.com/news/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-iran-victory-celebration-20130615,0,4540397.story)
(http://www.latimes.com/news/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-iran-victory-celebration-20130615,0,4540397.story)“Long live Rowhani,” tens of thousands of jubilant Iranians chanted Saturday as security officials made no attempt to rein in crowds -- joyous and even a bit bewildered by the scope of his victory, more than three times the votes of his nearest rival. (http://www.latimes.com/news/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-iran-victory-celebration-20130615,0,4540397.story)
(http://www.latimes.com/news/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-iran-victory-celebration-20130615,0,4540397.story)Others chanted slogans not heard openly on (http://www.latimes.com/news/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-iran-victory-celebration-20130615,0,4540397.story)Iran's (http://www.latimes.com/topic/intl/iran-PLGEO0000011.topic) streets for years: calling for the release of political prisoners, including "green movement" leader (http://www.latimes.com/news/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-iran-victory-celebration-20130615,0,4540397.story)Mir Hossein Mousavi (http://www.latimes.com/topic/politics/government/mir-hossain-mousavi-PEPLT0000017570.topic) and opposition figure Mahdi Karroubi, both presidential candidates in 2009 and both under house arrest. (http://www.latimes.com/news/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-iran-victory-celebration-20130615,0,4540397.story)
(http://www.latimes.com/news/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-iran-victory-celebration-20130615,0,4540397.story)Others on the street cried: “Ahmadinejad, bye bye.” (http://www.latimes.com/news/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-iran-victory-celebration-20130615,0,4540397.story)
(http://www.latimes.com/news/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-iran-victory-celebration-20130615,0,4540397.story)On social media, many supporters posted images mixing the reformist "green movement" colors with Rowhani's signature purple along with the the boast: “We won!” (http://www.latimes.com/news/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-iran-victory-celebration-20130615,0,4540397.story)
(http://www.latimes.com/news/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-iran-victory-celebration-20130615,0,4540397.story)“It's the spring of freedom, too bad Neda isn't here,” some yelled in memory of Neda Agha Soltan, a young woman fatally shot during the 2009 unrest. (http://www.latimes.com/news/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-iran-victory-celebration-20130615,0,4540397.story)
(http://www.latimes.com/news/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-iran-victory-celebration-20130615,0,4540397.story)“People want a change in the economic situation,” said Saman Hasani, 26, an engineering student who took a more practical viewpoint while joining many others honking their car horns on the street. (http://www.latimes.com/news/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-iran-victory-celebration-20130615,0,4540397.story)





Good for them. This is a good step in the right direction for islam. I really hope they can continue to move forward and away from their barbaric culture and traditions.

[Wild Cobra]

Interesting.

Though they have elections, the president is still just a puppet of Ali Khamenei.

[baseline bum]

Centrist cleric? Sounds doubtful tbh.

[Jacob1983]

Isn't this basically blowback from America setting up the shaw? I mean just think of how different Iran and the world would be if America hadn't gone in there and fucked everything up.

[The Reckoning]

sad because iranians are good peoples. i hope their government changes for their sake.

[baseline bum]

sad because iranians are good peoples. i hope their government changes for their sake.

I hope I win $300 million in the lottery too. Iran is fucked as long as they're a theocracy. LOL electing clerics to be puppets of the extreme conservative cleric ruler. What makes him a centrist cleric? Does he not think the holocaust was a hoax, which was Ahmadinejad's favorite conspiracy theory?

[The Reckoning]

I hope I win $300 million in the lottery too. Iran is fucked as long as they're a theocracy. LOL electing clerics to be puppets of the extreme conservative cleric ruler. What makes him a centrist cleric? Does he not think the holocaust was a hoax, which was Ahmadinejad's favorite conspiracy theory?


according to my iranian roommate, the favorite candidate suddenly quit his campaign for no reason. the call for major overhaul reform is there, but they dont want bloodshed. they're trying to just wait it out until those in power die so they can elect progressive candidates and put an end to the regime peacefully.

[baseline bum]

according to my iranian roommate, the favorite candidate suddenly quit his campaign for no reason. the call for major overhaul reform is there, but they dont want bloodshed. they're trying to just wait it out until those in power die so they can elect progressive candidates and put an end to the regime peacefully.

But they don't elect the Ayatollah, correct? Not doing anything in that country until they make it secular.

[RandomGuy]

Centrist cleric? Sounds doubtful tbh.

"Centrist" being a relative term in this case.

Young Iranians have given up on getting all the change they want, and will settle for baby steps.

The mullahs of 1979 will die off, just as the bolsheviks of 1917 did, and that will unfreeze the Republic eventually. I hope.

[RandomGuy]

according to my iranian roommate, the favorite candidate suddenly quit his campaign for no reason. the call for major overhaul reform is there, but they dont want bloodshed. they're trying to just wait it out until those in power die so they can elect progressive candidates and put an end to the regime peacefully.

Heh, typed my response to this thread before reading this. Honest.