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Polling stations in Tehran, other cities deserted |
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Friday, 24 June 2005 |
Iran – election – statement no. 1
Based on reports received until 11:00 am, local time, hundreds of
polling stations in Tehran and other cities were deserted, which
reflected a decisive boycott of the election.
In Tehran, reports from different parts of the city, including Geisha,
Al-Mehdi mosque Karaj, and north Amirabad polling stations, show that
the number of voters was less than 10 in these areas.
In an effort to show high voter turn out, the state-run television
broadcast reports from several polling stations, including Hosseineh
Ershad, Saddeqieh, Lorzadeh and Saddeqieh mosques, where everything was
stage-managed before hand.
In Hosseinieh Ershad, voters were being allowed into the polling
station in groups of three to create a line of voters that would give
the appearance of high turn out.
Despite the ban on election propaganda, a young woman who was handing
out posters in favor of Rafsanjani, said, “I am not voting for anyone.
You should not vote either. I am doing this because they gave me some
money. I have absolutely no faith in them.”
Reports from Shiraz, Ahwaz, Ghaemshahr, Hamedan, Neka, Roudsar, Bandar
Abbas, Siahkal and Khorramabad show that the polling stations were
deserted and that the boycott was nationwide.
Secretariat of the National Council of Resistance of Iran
June 24, 2005 |