Iran Election Protests | ABC30 Fresno | abc30.com

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By ABC30

Monday, June 15, 2009

Fresno, CA But, here in the valley, the Iranian community protested peacefully Sunday, claiming there is corruption in Iran. "Long live Iranian people! Long live Iranian people!"

About 40 local Iranians stood on the corner of Shaw and Blackstone in Fresno Sunday. Holding signs and encouraging drivers to honk their horns, they were there protesting Iran's presidential election.

"The votes, they're not right."

On Saturday, incumbent leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was declared the winner.

But many claim the real winner is Mir Hossein Mousavi, and that the election was rigged. "Iranian leaders choose Ahmadinejad for the second term and he is not the Iranian president.

Do you think the election was fraud? Absolutely it was fraud."

Iran's political scandal has triggered protests throughout the world.

In Tehran Sunday, witnesses say protesters have been beaten by police forces. "It breaks my heart for the young people. Instead of going to school and make somebody out of themselves, they're very smart people and they've been put in prison and beaten up."

Fresno state political science professor Al Evans says Iran's presidential election does raise some legitimate questions. "It's a little suspicious that the results of the election were announced very quickly after the polls closed."

But that it may not be enough to overturn an election Iranian officials have already declared over.

"Ahmadinejad is reelected. But of course, this creates a residue of bitterness. We've seen a taste of that in this country, but we've seen nothing in this country compared to what you're seeing now."

Many of the people at today's protest in Fresno say they want the US to get involved.

At a press conference, secretary of state, Hillary Clinton said they will monitor the situation closely, but that the US has refrained on commenting on the election.