Europe's Iranians react: post-election iconic images
Published on
Story by
Metsa Rahimi
On the 10th anniversary of a student uprising that was, at the time, the biggest since the 1979 revolution, Iranians have taken to the streets again in large scale demonstration following a quiet week. Almost a month after the controversial election on 12 June, five European Iranians aged 16-50 reflect on the images, captured by civilians, of the post-election protests
'Even if they are so terribly far, I feel a part of my people'
Yasmin, 16, student, Italy
'From nazis to the soviet union, the people of Prague have experienced their fair share of political turmoil. One has to admire their resilient character'
Hossein, 27, recruitment, UK
'Nice to see the world saw what happened'
Sadaf, 29, student, France
'For most - not all - a day of fun and vain glory grabbing some of the limelight. While the Iranian middle class were protesting, the working class Ahmadinejad supporters (vast majority and no access to Twitter) were keeping the Iranian economy afloat'
Hossein, 27, recruitment, UK
'I wish more non-Iranians were involved'
Sadaf, 29, a student in France
'Two independant American pre-election polls put Ahmadinejad way ahead of Mousavi. Fact. Mousavi was heavily backed by Iran's richest and most powerful politician (Rafsanjani). Common sense dictates that any vote rigging would have surely gone Mousavi's way. We all saw how financial backing practically bought Bush presidency'
Hossein, 27, recruitment, UK
'Representative of Iranians’ first feeling everywhere in the world right after the elections: abused, cheated on and deceived'
Sadaf, 29, student, France
'Hague, the very place that Iranian could win back the control of their oil from the British. Could their sons and daughters win their votes back?'
Reza, 45, engineer, Sweden
'Response to Mr. Ahmadinejad’s insult calling his opposition some rubbish'
Farhad, 50, journalist, UK
'It’s great to see how the hope for change can help even religious figures realise that it’s unnecessary to adopt narrow-minded positions to keep the country united. No religious person would then have to fear for the Islamic Republic, because nobody would discuss the framework of the Islamic Republic, so why stop that?' says Yasmin, 16, a student in Italy. 'Mousavi was an integral part of the Islamic revolution and ordered the ethnic cleansing of thousands of Sunni Kurds during his last reign. Seeing shia mollahs marching for him is not surprising. Youth screaming Mousavi and freedom in the same breath, however, is laughable irony,' says Hossein, 27, recruitment, UK.
'Even as an admirer of both the current regime (mainly for their foreign policy) and Ahmadinejad I must condemn all involved and responsible for the deaths of protesters. Drastic reforms needed,' says Hossein, 27, who works in recruitment in the UK. 'The same picture over and over again almost loses its horror and pain. My thoughts go to all those arrested, tortured and killed in the prisons of Iran. In the hands of this regime a quick death by bullet is just a gift,' says Sadaf, 29, a student in France.
'There's not a single woman in this picture wearing hijab or any man with a beard. Are we really that surprised they want rid of the Islamic Republic?' says Hossein, 27, who works in recruitment in the UK. 'Reminds me of the pictures of the ‘79 revolution. People feel safe enough in London to bring their kids to demos,' says Sadaf, 29, a student in France. 'A great mistake to take children to such demonstrations. A child that age is not allowed to vote,' Farhad, 50, a journalist in the UK
'The steady hold of his mobile reveals the strength of his desire to show the world what's happening and make them participate,' says Yasmin, 16, a student in Italy. 'Improved net accessibility and 17 million mobile phone users is impossible to monitor thanks to social networking. The average citizen has more freedom of expression,' says Hossein, 27, who works in recruitment in the UK. 'It seems that in all these protests most are there to see and to tell, not really to act and to change,' says Sadaf, 29, a student in France. 'Instant capture of naked brutality sanctioned by a ‘god fearing merciful’ regime,' says Reza, 45, an engineer in Sweden
'Typical case of western double-standards. UK citizens are caught on camera 300 times on average a day. Iran will never catch up to that level of surveillance,' says Hossein, 27, who works in recruitment in the UK. 'In the days that most big multinationals are trying to be environment friendly and sustainable, Nokia-Siemens show who they really are, traitors. I am so angry that I’ve told everyone to boycott,' says Sadaf, 29, a student in France. 'The face of money and profit versus human rights. Boycott NOKIA products, boycott!' says Reza, 45, an engineer in Sweden