The regime claimed turnout was at 65%. Other reports claimed turnout was much lower after about 90 per cent of reformist candidates were banned from contesting the election.
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s party of hardliners is expected to retain control of Parliament. This photo was taken of Mahmoud at the polling station today. (ISNA)
The regime in Iran held parliamentarian elections today.
The elections were already tainted after the mullahs disqualified thousands of reformist candidates. But, tonight there are allegations that voters were threatened by hardliners at the polling stations.
AKI reported:
Militants from the Basij Islamist militias have been accused of intimidating electors in Kianshahr, south of Tehran during Iran’s parliamentary elections on Friday, forcing them to vote for for hardline president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s candidates.
The reformist electoral website Baharestan made the claim and said similar episodes are reported to have occurred in several districts in Shahar Rey, south of the capital.
In Tehran, several conscript soldiers complained of being intimidated and threatened by their commanders, who wanted to coerce them into voting for Ahmadinejad’s supporters.
Amid fears of a low voter turn-out, conservatives were predicted to win the election and preserve their grip on the parliament.
Ali Alfoneh at the American Enterprise Institute says that Iran is morphing into a military regime as more and more Revolutionary Guard candidates make their way into politics. Unable or unwilling to exert reform and fearful of external pressure, the Islamic regime’s leadership has handed over executive, and now legislative, power to the military.
This is a frightening development for the international community as well as the reformers and activists at home in Iran.
Hat Tip Enuff
Winston reports that millions stayed home and did not vote yesterday.
