Iranocalypse

June 16, 4:28 PMApocalypse ExaminerWyatt Shev

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Is a full-scale revolution brewing in Iran?

Unless you've been plotting the downfall of America in an Afghani mountain cave for the last week or so, you're probably aware of the widespread strife currently besieging the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The Iranian presidential election on June 12th saw incumbent nut-job Mahmoud Ahmadinejad rise to a sweeping victory, with 66% of the vote over his opponent, the popular, Obama-esque moderate Independent Reformist Mir-Hossein Mousavi. But it seems just about everyone is calling foul play. 

The European Union is 'concerned about alleged irregularites' throughout the voting process. Not surprising, considering Mousavi lost in regions where he was clearly in the lead- such as his home town, Tabriz, and the nation's capital, Tehran. Journalists around the world have voiced their doubts as to the validity of the election- after all, the election was called in Ahdmadinejad's favor well before all the ballots had been counted. 

The message is clear- Ahmadinejad is a cheat, and the power he currently wields is anything but legitimate.

Iran has not seen such violent division since the days of the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Of course, back then, the thousands of opponents to the emerging hard-line regime did not have access to the Internet- and social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook. In regards to the true human cost of the Revolution, the outside world was left more or less in the dark. 

But this is 2009. These days, we have the twenty-four hour news cycle, affordable personal camcorders, wireless routers and iPhones.

This time around, I'm fairly confident the revolution will be televised.

At the time of writing, more and more irate Iranians are hitting the streets in protest of Ahmadinejad's epic act of electoral fraud. The protests began almost immediately after the announcement of the incumbent President's victory, and have grown in scope and fury in the days that have followed. But not everyone is protesting in favor of Mousavi. Ahmadinejad has his fans, too- the Iranian versions of dedicated American far-right Republicans, who support their seriously unbalanced leader with blind fervor and endless reserves of unmitigated trust.  

It seems as if Iran is suffering a nationwide meltdown.

Pro-Ahmadinejad crowds have descended upon Tehran's Vali Asr Square. Mousavi has pleaded with followers to abandon plans for a counter-protest at the square, fearing further violence. Yesterday saw the slayings of seven pro-Mousavi supporters during mass protests.

All international journalists have been banned from covering the proceedings, even told to leave the country- and that's never a good sign. In the past, this would mean a news blackout... and that would mean the Ayatollah's Revolutionary Guard would have free reign to erase 'political dissidents' with impunity.

Well, it ain't 1979 anymore, kids.

The highly politicized youth of Iran- who lit the initial sparks for these revolutionary protests- are ensuring that their plight does not go unnoticed by a curious and concerned world.  But with communications and large gatherings banned by order of the government, how are their all-important reports making it past Iran's notorious censors?

You guessed it- Twitter.

Apparently, it's how Iranians are communicating with each other these days- and the outside world.

Below are some truly chilling recent tweets from some brave Iranians who are well and truly in the thick of it. Keep in mind, a tweet cannot be accepted as the whole and unfiltered truth, but considering our (very) limited options for gleaning news from Iran, the following can be considered as close to an approximation of the truth as we're likely to get right now.

From tehranbureau.com...

five students killed in the dormitory. They were scheduled to go to one of Tehran's hospital this morning.about 3 hours ago from web 

From IranRiggedEffect...       

Basij militia are constantly vandilizing the city and state tv is constantly blaming it on Mousavi supporters!!29 minutes ago from web

From IranElection09....        

To CNN & BBC, We have NUMEROUS eye witness accounts that the Basij militia are ransacking the city of Tehran, where are you? #iranelection7 minutes ago from web

 From madyar...           

Check this video out -- shooting to people... I am so sorry . I am very sad http://bit.ly/Q3q16 #iranelection19 minutes ago from web

Please, do an Examiner a favor... if you've got a Twitter account, go ahead and follow these guys. Their voices need to be heard by as many people as possible.  

I will continue to post more Tweets from Iran as the crisis deepens.

There are now only 1283 days left until the End of the World.