If you’ve been following the Iran elections you will have come across an abundance of lively and exciting footage of Rouhani supporters at rallies gathering across Iran.
Lively #Rouhani rally in central #Tehran #IranElection2017. @FRANCE24 pic.twitter.com/6GstGScJAw
— Sanam Shantyaei (@SanamF24) May 16, 2017
#رقص آذربایجانی در همایش انتخاباتی #روحانی در #تبریز pic.twitter.com/y3LT3HLP5x
— انتخابات٩٦ (@election96) May 16, 2017
This is not surprising given the political stance of Rouhani and his moderate and reformist allies. He promised to bring about change and social freedoms when he was first elected to office in 2013, his biggest success being the achievement of the nuclear deal and lifting of crippling economic sanctions on Iran.
According to Isna news agnecy Rouhani's supporters include Oscar winning film director Asghar Farhadi, who told Iranian news agency Isna “I will vote for Dr Rouhani and I hope that those who remain undecided would use their basic right and vote despite all the understandable reasons and conditions that they may have, for the fate of children in our homeland and future generations.”
'Hardliner' supporters not what you may expect
Ibrahim Raisi, Rouhani's biggest competition in the race for presidency is an Islamic jurist, and custodian of the biggest (and wealthiest) Islamic shrine in the country, as well as being the Supreme Leader's 'favourite'.
His father in law, Imam Seyed Ahmad Alamolhoda is the leader of Friday prayers in Mashhad, and in 2007 stated that he would not participate in ceremonies where music is performed and that he ‘will do his best for fighting music’.
Strangely enough, a video has been trending on twitter of a street rally in support of Raisi, which looks more like an edgy underground music festival than a political rally for a conservative Islamic jurist in the Islamic Republic of Iran.
کنسرت خیابانی ستاد انتخاباتی رئیسی در یوسف آباد تهران.
— Aliz علی علیزاده (@Jedaaal) May 16, 2017
از جنس همان موسیقی که نزاع بر سر ممنوعیتش در مشهد ماه ها بحرانی سیاسی شده بود. pic.twitter.com/yFzZsXTPCQ
The ‘street concert’, run by supporters of hardliner candidate Ibrahim Raisi was held in the area of Yousef Abad in Tehran where loud, thumping with music is played by a live DJ. Young men and women gather together to show support for who they think will bring a brighter future for Iran.
It is evident from this that Raisi has succeeded in gathering a large amount of unexpected support from young people in Iran. Pre-election polls suggest that this may be as a result of the lack of immediate economic relief following the lifting of the economic sanctions, which many blame Rouhani for.
As of right now, two days before voters head to the polling station Rouhani is currently leading in the polls ahead of Raisi. With the other candidates withdrawing one by one and the unpredictable support Raisi has gathered in the last month, there is all to play for in the lead up to election day.
Sahar Esfandiari
