Iran: a blind leap of faith
Open Democracy / Nasrin Alavi
02-Jun-2009 (2 comments)

A high voter turnout will be decisive if a reformist is to win. Ahmadinejad's loyal supporters have proved that they will come out to vote for him. But experts argue that he has a ceiling of support of no more than 12 million. A turnout of above 30 million would prove disadvantageous for the incumbent. If a leading candidate gains less than 50% of the vote, a runoff election is held. No Iranian president has ever failed to get re-elected for a second term; but Ahmadinejad is the only candidate who has had (in June 2005) to face a runoff election to become president. The concerted effort of the reformists is to persuade apathetic urban voters who were left disappointed with Mohammad Khatami's presidency to return to them. Mohammad Gouchani, a journalist and supporter of Karroubi's campaign, writes that this is not an election "for the thinker of the century... but a man of action".

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Ali Lakani

no more mahmoud, please

by Ali Lakani on

Iranian artists, writers, economic and political analysts seem to be diverging on one point--everyone has to get out there and vote to keep Mahmoud from doing further damage to Iran.  I agree.


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Iran: a blind leap of faith

by Amirali1234 (not verified) on

Ali Jan. I've just read the article and followed the links to all the songs. They all seem to map out Iran's olden times. my times anyway. All the songs like from Saromad Zamestan to Mamad Naboudi. One was chereeky song and the other revolution and they both had me in tears. I never leave messages any where but I was so moved I had to write and recommend, I really cried for our Iranian Sedaghat and how people have used it. Especially for the banday girl in the film that called Ahmdinjad SHOJA & this Bit:

Sahar asks me: "Do you remember that wartime song Mamad Noboudi?" I do. The Mamad in the title was Mohammad-Ali Jahanara. The song is about the ordinary townsfolk of Khorramshahr, who under the command of the 26-year-old Jahanara battled against the Iraqi army. They sustained a valiant, inch-by-inch battle for the town before - after forty-five days - it fell to the enemy. The song, written by a comrade who fought alongside Jahanara, says: "Mamad, you're not here to see that our town is free".