Iranian Clerics Call Election A Sham

Could this pave the way for a revolution?

From Times Online:

Iran’s biggest group of clerics has declared President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s re-election to be illegitimate and condemned the subsequent crackdown.

The statement by the Association of Researchers and Teachers of Qom is an act of defiance against the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has made clear he will tolerate no further challenges to Mr Ahmadinejad’s “victory” over Mir Hossein Mousavi.

“It’s a clerical mutiny,” said one Iranian analyst. “This is the first time ever you have all these big clerics openly challenging the leader’s decision.” Another, in Tehran, said: “We are seeing the birth of a new political front.”

So what does this mean?

1. It officially and unequivocally calls into question the authority of the Supreme Leader.
2. The clerics might be able to possibly unseat the Supreme Leader if this foments a revolution.
3. Mousavi just got a lot safer as his arrest at this point would be unwise even though Khamenei has called for it.
4. This is far from over and Iran could be turning a corner.

Also, let’s not forget that even though the protests were quashed last week, folks will be coming out in about 20 days to mourn the deaths of the protesters who died during the first round. And this could lead to more deaths, which will lead to more protests, etc. And that’s how the revolution in 1979 happened, so there’s a possibility it could happen again.

Here’s the question: Will Iranians rise up or do you think the government has won?

(Photo: Reuters via Daylife)