Iran Elections: Were They Rigged?

Whatever the future of Iran's regime, religious fundamentalism will continue to play a major part in world affairs. It's here to stay! Bible prophecy indicates that powerful and aggressive religious forces will continue to drive world events, in both the West and the Muslim world, over the coming months and years.

So did he really win? Or was the vote rigged, as some allege?

Last Friday, June 12, the Islamic Republic of Iran went to the polls in a landmark election. The incumbent, Mahmoud Ahmedi-Nejad, had incurred the displeasure of the west with his incendiary rhetoric, Holocaust denial and his nuclear program, and had also become unpopular with many Iranians, especially the young and the sophisticated urbanites. With inflation estimated at 15 percent, and unemployment at an uncomfortable 26 percent, many Iranians charged Mr. Ahmedi-Nejad with mismanaging the economy, and causing their country's isolation from much of the rest of the world.

His opponent, Mir Hossein Moussavi, seemed to be riding a huge wave of reformist enthusiasm, especially among the young. As election day approached, the debate became heated, even acrimonious, and a close race was expected.

Then came the results, or at least the official ones: almost 63 percent for Ahmedinejad, and 34 percent for Moussavi. Many inside and outside Iran called foul, and demonstrations erupted on the streets of Tehran. US vice-president Joseph Biden expressed 'real doubt' about the results.

Then, in a surprise move on Sunday, Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khameini, reversed himself and agreed to an investigation of reports of ballot-rigging. Meanwhile, protests continued, and shootings took place on the streets of Tehran, as Western nations expressed concern and skepticism.

So, was it a clean election, or was it rigged? We may never know. But one thing's for sure: Islamic fundamentalism isn't going away any time soon.

Let's not forget it was Iran that got the ball rolling 30 years ago with the overthrow of the Shah, and the coming to power of the Ayatollah Khomeini; and ironically it's now Iran where many of the youth are disaffected by the heavy-handed rigors of the fundamentalist regime.

But whatever the future of Iran's regime, religious fundamentalism will continue to play a major part in world affairs. It's here to stay! Bible prophecy indicates that powerful and aggressive religious forces will continue to drive world events, in both the West and the Muslim world, over the coming months and years.

Let's watch, as world affairs speed up, and religion influences human history in these tumultuous days!