Riots Rock Tehran in Election Aftermath

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad declares landslide victory and we are left asking, what’s next? With 62.63 percent of the vote, much skepticism has been raised surrounding the voting process. Opponent Moussavi supporters take to the streets, while the rest of the world is still trying to figure out what really happened. Is this democracy? Assuming that the election process was fair, it still feels difficult to absorb the notion that Ahmadinejad could actually win in a democratic vote. CNN Reports:

“In the aftermath of the vote, street protesters and riot police engaged in running battles, with stones thrown, garbage cans set on fire and people shouting "death to the dictatorship. […] Moussavi said the results from "untrustworthy monitors" reflects "the weakening of the pillars that constitute the sacred system" of Iran and "the rule of authoritarianism and tyranny." Independent vote monitors were banned from polling places.”

Maybe it was a big sham after all. With an over 80 percent voter turnout, perhaps the number is just too unbelievable? But if it all happened in a legitimate manner then maybe we just need to accept the facts: We all seem to be calling this a dictatorship but if fair elections were in fact held, when are we going to accept that this is what the Iranian majority wants.