Iran: Cartoonists Rage Against Khatami for Voting in Election

Posted 9 March 2012 0:12 GMT

Written byFred Petrossian

How you can be the “biggest loser” in an election just for voting? ProbablyMohammad Khatami, the former reformist president of Iran can answer this.

Khatami voted in the parliamentary election on Friday, March 2, 2012 ignoring preconditions he himself had formulated for his participation: “Freedom of [political] prisoners and creation of a free atmosphere for everyone and all groups, the authorities respecting the Constitution and creation of the logistics for conducting a healthy and free election.”

Given the popular calls for boycotting the elections, many reformists were disappointed to see Khatami go back on his word.

He later justified his actions by expressing hope that his vote did not disrupt “reformist solidarity.” He has reportedly stressed the “complexity” of the internal as well as the international affairs and called for, “understanding of these complexities by everyone.”

Several satirical cartoons published on the internet display anger and disappointment with the once popular Khatami.

Nikahang, a leading cartoonist and blogger, considers that Khatami ignored the blood shed during the 2009 protest against regime.

Mana Neyestani, another leading cartoonist, shows one of a character breaking a window on the head of Khatami.

An unnamed guest cartoonist on Khodnevis.org took part in a “cartoons against Khatami” campaign with this entry: