American Morning
Expert: Protesters want civil rights, not revolution
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/06/22/intv.dabashi.cnn.art.jpg caption="Hamid Dabashi tells CNN Iranian protesters want civil rights not revolution."]
More election protests are expected today in Iran. Some say the massive show of support for the opposition candidate signals a revolution in the making.
Hamid Dabashi, a professor of Iranian studies at Columbia University, doesn’t quite see it that way. He spoke to John Roberts on CNN’s “American Morning” Monday.
John Roberts: Let me ask you first of all, the declaration from the Guardian Council that yes it appears there were some voting irregularities; some three-million more votes were cast than people eligible to vote, but at the same time they say it wouldn't affect the overall outcome of the election. What effect do you think that will have on the demonstrators today?
Dabashi: Well it simply acknowledges that there are certain irregularities as Mr. Moussavi and other opposition candidates have indicated. To what degree this will satisfy Moussavi’s camp and other oppositional figures remains to be seen. In his Friday sermon, Mr. Khamenei in effect prejudiced the decision of the Guardian Council by siding completely with Ahmadinejad and saying that his position is very close to me. So I don't believe whatever the conclusion of this particular round of calculations by the Guardian Council might be is going to have much effect on the demonstrations…
These scenes you're seeing coming from Iran…it is important for your audience to know the reason you see these scenes of confusion and chaos is these people have been denied their constitutional right for peaceful protest. Under Article 27 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic, Iranians are entitled to peaceful protests and not even under the condition of so-called national security are they to be denied their constitutional rights. So it is really the custodians of the Islamic Republic who are in violation of their constitutional right rather than the other way around.
Iranian protester pleads for U.S., world to intervene
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/06/22/iran.protests.police.getty.art.jpg caption="A picture obtained on June 21, 2009 shows Iranian riot police on a street of Tehran on June 20, 2009."]
An Iranian student protester in Tehran made a passionate plea for help from the world community this morning in a phone call to CNN’s “American Morning.”
For safety reasons, CNN can only identify the student by his first name, Mohammad. He's been a part of the protests and a target of the violence there. Below is an edited transcript of the interview.
John Roberts: What is the scene like on the streets? Are there more demonstrators out there on the streets? Or is it much quieter than it has been in recent days?
Mohammad: Hello. Actually I participated in Saturday's demonstrations in parts of Tehran. What I saw, I saw thousands of security officers that tried to break up the crowd. They used canisters and batons and water cannons against us. They attacked us. And we also in response attacked them. We attacked them by throwing stones. And we built trenches in the streets and actually defended too.
Roberts: So there was quite a large confrontation going on there over the weekend. But can you tell us what the scene is like on the streets today?
Mohammad: Today was a long day in Tehran. And yesterday there weren't any organized rallies in Tehran. Because we take orders from our leader Mr. Karroubi and Mr. Mir Hossein Moussavi. The connections, the communication is very difficult, more than even you can imagine in Tehran. But I myself haven't received any orders from our leaders yet. But as soon as I get any order, I will participate in any demonstration that they tell us.
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What’s on Tap – Monday, June 22, 2009
Here are the big stories on the agenda today:
- A stunning admission from Iran – now saying what critics had accused all along: Ballot boxes were stuffed with extra votes. But the powers that be are still rejecting claims that the vote was rigged.
- The story and video of one woman, apparently gunned down during a rally – has deeply shocked Iran, and the world. Her name is Neda. She’s one of the reported 150 victims of the post-election crackdown, one of the few whose name we know. And Neda is quickly becoming the face of the resistance.
- Neda's story is also bringing something else to light. Women are on the frontlines, and it’s about more than one election. It just underlines a real desire for equality by so many in the Islamic nation. We take a look at the struggle within the struggle.
- He may have thought it was now – or never. New York Times reporter, David Rohde, is free this morning, after a desperate and daring escape from the Taliban. He'd been held for seven months in northwestern Pakistan. Nic Robertson is live with details of how he broke free, why now… and why he’s not telling his story.
We Listen! Your comments – 6/19/2009
The Iranian election remained the focal point of American Morning’s Friday audience. The GOP was strongly criticized for demanding intervention in Iran, as most respondents recalled the “stolen election” in the United States and the GOP’s silence at that time. President Obama was mostly praised for his careful response to the Iranian election; but others questioned why the U.S. had intervened in the political affairs of countries like China and Northern Ireland, yet allowed this situation to be ignored.
- Sherry: I support Obama's position on the Iran election. Let the internal politics of Iran stay internal. Would we want them interfering in our elections?
- John: Where were the Republican anti Obama people when Bush stole our Election. We should have hit the streets then. And how would they have liked the world sticking there noses in our business. Obama should watch vigilantly what is happening but stay out of there politics.
- Jean-Louis: How interesting that those Republican politicians who are calling for US intervention in Iran are the same ones who said there are weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, the ones who led the USA into an unnecessary war!
- Bill3: I tend to believe that this is another ploy be the US to start a war that they have no business in. Over the past months there has been harsh criticism from the US on Iran. Now the election is in question?? the country bans press coverage. It is now the top story in America. Try to focus on the real issue good hard working Americans are losing their jobs and homes. America wake up take care of your own backyard first!
- Bill: I love my country, the USA, and I wish freedom for everyone around the world. I understand the concern about Tiananmen Square and now Iran but wonder where was the concern when British Troops fired into peaceful demonstrators in the United Kingdom (Northern Ireland)? As I recall, one of the thirteen unarmed people killed was a thirteen year old boy. No less an American than Gail Sheehy describes this incident as she was there and the boy was standing next to her. Are our allies allowed the type of conduct we condemn in other countries? It really doesn't make much sense to condemn some and not all as the discrepancies are seen all around the world.
- Ginspelts: Where is one of those great inspiring speeches from the President in support of the Iranian people. Maybe the American people will have to take to the streets with their signs in support of the Iranian people. Afterward we are talking about freedom !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
As one viewer noted, the U.S. has involved itself in past internal politics with such countries as China and Northern Ireland; should we become involved in Iran’s presidential election?
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