Iran Opposition Movement Forces Khamene’i to Investigate

15 June 2009 :: J.E. Robertson

Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamene’i, who had already declared the victory of President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad fair and legitimate, and most importantly, final, has agreed to investigate allegations the vote was rigged. He reportedly met yesterday with opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi, whom many believe actually received more votes than Ahmedinejad, to give his allegations a hearing at the top level of Iran’s revolutionary government.

The announcement of the pending inquiry is a sign that the supreme leader’s power is not in fact absolute, as many contend, as a serious and organized national opposition movement has demonstrated unprecedented resistance to the revolutionary leadership. Despite threats of arrest and even violence, hundreds of thousands of opposition supporters have rallied over the weekend and today. Today, Mousavi himself appeared in public for the first time since declaring victory on Friday.

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The New York Times is reporting:

Gathering in the early hours of Monday afternoon in defiance of a government ban on demonstrations, the broad river of people — young and old, dressed in traditional Islamic gowns and the latest Western fashions — marched slowly from Revolution Square to Freedom Square for more than three hours, many of them wearing the signature bright green ribbons of Mr. Moussavi’s campaign, and holding up their hands in victory signs. When the occasional shout or chant went up, the crowd quickly hushed them, and some held up signs bearing the word “silence.”

The demonstrators have been adamant about their intent to contest the election results and fight to have their votes counted legitimately, via non-violent means. Despite the non-violent nature of the demonstrations, reports are emerging Tehran suggesting that “armed men” have begun firing on the huge crowds of unarmed demonstrators. There are also reports that government forces “stormed university dormitories”, possibly using explosives or tear gas and arresting up to 900 students suspected helping to organize the opposition to Ahmedinejad.

The German government has “summoned” the Iranian ambassador to demand an explanation for the reports of violence against civilians and to press for a comprehensive investigation of alleged electoral fraud or assault against unarmed civilians. The US government says it will react to the facts, that the facts at present remain unclear, that official results are “not credible”, and the administration is still gathering facts.

Observers say the size of the opposition rallies and the persistence of support for Mousavi is an unprecedented challenge to the near limitless power held by the supreme leader of the Guardian Council of revolutionary clerics. But others suggest the investigation is just an attempt to “save face” in the international community, and that Khamene’i will not reverse his judgment that Ahmedinejad’s victory is a “divine assessment” of the direction of Iranian politics.

What is clear is that something has changed in Iranian politics with this election, whatever the outcome. The hardliners have lost credibility, and the supreme leader’s call for an inquiry into allegations of electoral fraud suggest recognition that the opposition must have a voice.

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