Political upheaval surrounding a disputed presidential election in Iran dominated the news during the summer, and the story is by no means over. The June 12 election, in which the hard-line incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was declared the winner, was widely criticized by Iranians as having been rigged. Protesters alleging fraud took to the streets across the country. Presidential candidate Mirhossein Mousavi became the leader of the opposition. Major demonstrations in Tehran, Iran’s capital, were attended by hundreds of thousands. Eventually the protests were met with a harsh crackdown by government forces and pro-government militias. At least twenty Iranians were killed and more than a thousand arrested, according to human rights groups.
Many of the protests were organized through use of social-networking and messaging Web sites such as Facebook and Twitter. Mousavi’s official Web site has issued statements urging the pro-reform movement to continue. Mousavi and others called for memorial services on Thursday July 30 for the individuals who were killed in the protests. Although the government denied permission for such public gatherings, hundreds of mourners turned out, only to be met by police with tear gas.
It remains to be seen whether the pro-reform movement will maintain strength as time passes, but it is clear that public confidence in the Iranian regime led by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been shaken. Divisions within the country’s elite are likely to result in more unrest, if not genuine reforms.
Related Links
- Iran Police Clash with Mourners
This BBC article updates the status of the ongoing pro-reform protests in Iran. (Source: BBC, July 30, 2009) - Iran 101: Understanding the Unrest
This CNN article, written less than a week after the disputed election, provides context and background to the political turmoil in Iran. (Source: CNN, June 18, 2009) - Who Rules Iran?
This article from The Week looks behind Iran’s disputed presidential election to explore the nature of government in the Islamic Republic of Iran, led by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. (Source: The Week, July 17, 2009) - Country Profile: Iran
This BBC Web page features basic information about Iran and its history, plus background on Iranian society and politics and a time line including recent developments. (Source: BBC, July 28, 2009) - Map of Iran
Map of Iran from the University of Texas. This map shows the country and its neighboring countries in Southwest Asia. The country’s capital is Tehran. (Source: University of Texas)
Other Issues in the Region
Population Relocation
Expanding economies in the Middle East have led some countries in the region to rely on “guest workers” from other countries. While many guest workers are unskilled laborers, some take skilled positions in oil or high-tech industries. The presence of so many guest workers can lead to culture clashes. The workers face complicated employment laws, and sometimes live or work in unsafe conditions. They can also become the target of terrorists whose agenda includes removing foreign influences from their countries.
- Arroyo Announces P1-B Fund for Displaced Overseas Filipino Workers
President Arroyo of the Philippines has announced a program that will offer aid to Filipino workers living overseas in the Middle East. Many workers who moved from the Philippines to the Middle East have lost their jobs. The new program will help them find new work, or retrain them to work in other industries.
(Source: ABS-CBN, February 2, 2009)
Oil Wealth Fuels Change
Oil fuels the world’s industries and transportation—and its economies. Oil became a valuable strategic commodity, a resource so important that nations will go to war to ensure its steady supply. Southwest Asia contains much of the world’s oil supply, but oil prices rise and fall unpredictably. As a result, Southwest Asian countries cannot always plan how much revenue oil will bring in.
Economic development requires diversification—the development of multiple sectors of an economy, such as agriculture, mining, and technology. The countries of Southwest Asia are also investing oil profits in building and improving other infrastructure essentials, such as roads and telecommunications. Moreover, there is an awareness of the need to provide education, since economic development requires the knowledge and skills of a well-trained and well-informed workforce and citizenry.
Conflict over Land
Conflicts between Jews and Arabs over land controlled by Israel continue to disrupt life in the region. The Palestinian people living in Israel are seeking their own autonomous nation. The signing of the 1993 Oslo Accords between Israel and the Palestinians suggested that the two sides could achieve a permanent peace. But by the early 21st century, violence had spiked once again. In August of last year, Israel pulled all of its settlers out of the Gaza Strip region. Israel occupied the Gaza Strip in 1967, and since then it has been a major point of contention between Israelis and the Palestinians who live there and insist the land is theirs. In January of 2006, the Hamas Party was elected into power in the Palestinian Territories.
- Scale of Gaza Destruction Emerges
The three-week Israeli military offensive aimed at Gaza in January 2009 left 1,300 Palestinians dead and tens of thousands homeless. A cease-fire was called after three weeks of attacks, but Hamas soon began launching missiles into Israel again, and sporadic violence continued.
(Source: BBC, January 19, 2009)