Global Information2009 Iranian presidential election information
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| Turnout | 85.22% | ||||||||||||||||
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 Most voted-for candidate by district | |||||||||||||||||
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Presidential elections were held in Iran on 12 June 2009,[1][2] with incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad running against three challengers. The next morning the Islamic Republic News Agency, Iran's news agency, announced that with two-thirds of the votes counted, Ahmadinejad had won the election with 62% of the votes cast,[3] and that Mir-Hossein Mousavi had received 34% of the votes cast.[4][5] There were large irregularities in the results and people were surprised by them, which resulted in protests of millions of Iranians, across every Iranian city and around the world and the emergence of the opposition Iranian Green Movement.[6][failed verification]
Many Iranian figures directly supported the protests and declared the votes were fraudulent. Among them, many film directors like Jafar Panahi[7] (who was consequently banned from making movies for 20 years and condemned to six years imprisonment),[8][9] Mohammad Rasoulof (also condemned to 6 years imprisonment),[10] actors and actresses like Pegah Ahangarani (who was consequently imprisoned),[11] Ramin Parchami (who was consequently condemned to one year imprisonment),[12] sportsmen like the whole Iran national football team who wore green wristbands in their game against South Korea to support the movement,[13][14] scholars like Mostafa Tajzadeh, Mohsen Aminzadeh, Akbar Ganji, Mohsen Sazegara, many religious figures like Mohsen Kadivar, Grand Ayatollah Yousef Saanei, Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Mohammad Dastgheib Shirazi, traditional singers like Mohammad Reza Shajarian, defected Basij and Iranian Revolutionary Guards like Amir Farshad Ebrahimi and those who confessed with covered faces.[15][16]
The European Union and several western countries expressed concern over alleged irregularities during the vote,[17] and many analysts and journalists from the United States and United Kingdom news media voiced doubts about the authenticity of the results.[18][19][20]
Mousavi issued a statement accusing the Interior Ministry, which was responsible for conducting the election, of widespread election fraud and urged his supporters to engage in peaceful protests. He also lodged an official appeal with the Guardian Council for new and more transparent elections. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei urged the nation to unite behind Ahmadinejad, labeling his victory as a "divine assessment".[21] Khamenei then announced there would be an investigation into vote-rigging claims.[22]
On 16 June, the Guardian Council announced it would recount 10% of the votes and concluded there were no irregularities at all, dismissing all election complaints.[23][24] However, Mousavi stated that a recount would not be sufficient since he claimed 14 million unused ballots were missing, giving the Interior Ministry an opportunity to manipulate the results.[25] On 19 June, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei denounced the pro-Mousavi demonstrations as illegal,[26] and protests the next day were met with stiff resistance from government forces, with many reported deaths.[27]
The Green Movement of Iran continued its peaceful protests until 14 February 2011 and radicalized itself demanding a total regime change and departure of Khamenei from power.[28]
- ^ "Iran To Hold Presidential Election In June 2009" (Reuters). Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 7 September 2008. Archived from the original on 12 December 2008. Retrieved 2 December 2008.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
dailywas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Ahmadinejad 'set for Iran victory'". Al Jazeera English. 13 June 2009. Archived from the original on 14 June 2009. Retrieved 13 June 2009.
"Doctor Ahmadinejad, by getting a majority of the votes, has become the definite winner of the 10th presidential election," the news agency said.
- ^ Worth, Robert F.; Fathi, Nazila (13 June 2009). "Both Sides Claim Victory in Presidential Election in Iran". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 23 September 2011. Retrieved 13 June 2009.
The election commission said early Saturday morning that, with 78 percent of the votes counted, Mr. Ahmadinejad had won 65 percent and Mr. Mousavi had 32 percent, Reuters reported.
- ^ "Ahmadinejad wins Iran presidential election". BBC News. 13 June 2009. Archived from the original on 13 June 2009. Retrieved 13 June 2009.
- ^ Tait, Robert; Black, Ian; Tran, Mark (17 June 2009). "Iran protests: Fifth day of unrest as regime cracks down on critics". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 21 December 2016. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
- ^ "Jafar Panahi at "33rd Montreal Film Festival" support the Green Movement of IRAN, September 2009". Archived from the original on 9 July 2015 – via www.youtube.com.
- ^ "Iranian filmmaker to be honoured in Berlin Festival". Radio Zamaneh. 19 January 2011. Archived from the original on 7 July 2012. Retrieved 7 November 2012.
- ^ Dabashi, Hamid (24 December 2010). "Jafar Panahi's reward for bringing cinematic glory to Iran? Jail". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 21 December 2016. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
- ^ "Jailed Iranian Filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof Delivers An Indictment With "Goodbye"". Indiewire. 8 November 2011. Archived from the original on 22 October 2012. Retrieved 7 November 2012.
- ^ "Iranian actor arrested en route to women's World Cup". The Guardian. London. 15 July 2011. Archived from the original on 18 December 2016. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
- ^ "Actor Ramin Parchami Sentenced to One Year in Prison". Archived from the original on 13 January 2012.
- ^ Weaver, Matthew; Nasaw, Daniel (17 June 2009). "Iran protests". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 21 December 2016. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
- ^ "Iran's soccer team wears symbolic green bands - CNN.com". edition.cnn.com. Archived from the original on 21 January 2012.
- ^ "Iran militia man: 'I hope God forgives me'". Channel 4 News. 16 December 2009. Archived from the original on 22 February 2012.
- ^ "Former elite officers in Revolutionary Guard reveal increasing tensions in Iran regime". 10 June 2010. Archived from the original on 21 December 2016 – via www.theguardian.com.
- ^ Colin Freeman; David Blair (14 June 2009). "Defeated Iranian reformist Mir-Hossein Mousavi calls for more protest against Mahmoud Ahmadinejad". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 17 June 2009. Retrieved 14 June 2009.
- ^ "Official: Obama Administration Skeptical of Iran's Election Results". Fox News. 13 June 2009. Archived from the original on 16 June 2009. Retrieved 13 June 2009.
- ^ Freeman, Colin (12 June 2009). "Iran elections: revolt as crowds protest at Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's 'rigged' victory". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 16 June 2009. Retrieved 12 June 2009.
- ^ Lyon, Alistair (9 February 2009). "Instant View: Iran's election result staggers analysts". Reuters. Archived from the original on 16 June 2009. Retrieved 13 June 2009.
- ^ "Election Battles Turn into Street Fights in Iran". ABC News. 13 June 2009. Archived from the original on 16 June 2009. Retrieved 13 June 2009.
- ^ Ian Black; Vikram Dodd; Matthew Weaver (15 June 2009). "Iranians march in protest at Ahmadinejad re-election". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 6 September 2013. Retrieved 15 June 2009.
- ^ "Iran Confirms Ahmadinejad Win After Partial Vote Recount". VOA. 29 June 2009. Archived from the original on 24 November 2010. Retrieved 25 August 2010.
- ^ "Iran's Guardian Council Affirms Vote Result; Recount of 10 Percent of Ballot Boxes Certifies Landslide Victory by Ahmadinejad". Encyclopedia.com. 30 June 2009. Retrieved 25 August 2010.
- ^ Octavia Nasr; Reza Sayah; Samson Desta (16 June 2009). "Rival demonstrations fill Tehran streets". CNN. Archived from the original on 17 June 2009. Retrieved 16 June 2009.
- ^ "Amnesty says up to 10 dead in Iran protests". AFP. 19 June 2009. Archived from the original on 9 July 2009. Retrieved 19 June 2009.
- ^ "Iran police 'use gas' on protesters". Al Jazeera. 20 June 2009. Archived from the original on 23 June 2009. Retrieved 20 June 2009.
- ^ "BBC فارسی - ايران - مشاور موسوی: ۲۵ بهمن یک پیروزی بزرگ بود". www.bbc.com. Archived from the original on 24 February 2012.