DUBAI // More than 200 people gathered outside the Iranian consulate in Dubai yesterday in further protest against the result of Iran's presidential election.
For two hours, from around 9am, they chanted slogans against Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the re-elected president, and waved banners saying "Where is my vote?"
The protest followed a similar gathering of about 60 demonstrators on Sunday and dispersed in response to a police warning at about 11am. However, around 100 people returned in the late afternoon to continue voicing their objections to what they claim was a rigged election result.
During the later protest, what appeared to be teargas was released into the crowd, causing temporary physical distress to people nearby, but otherwise it had little effect. It was not clear who was responsible and police denied any knowledge of the incident.
Supporters of Mir Hossein Mousavi, the opposition candidate who stood against Mr Ahmadinejad, had gathered to say they wanted their voices heard and their votes counted. "They cheated in the elections," said Zeina, a 26-year-old Iranian living in Dubai. "We don't want him to be president, and it is very clear that they changed our votes."
Referring to violent clashes between protesters and police in Tehran, she added: "We are supporting the people who are being attacked in Iran for this, for being against these results."
Parsa, another demonstrator, said: "This is the least we can do to support the people who are being beaten in Iran.
"We want to show them that they are not alone... We are asking for a re-election, not a regime change. It's a shame that we have to hide our faces in order to voice our frustrations," he added.
Demonstrators, wearing green scarves and covering their mouths and faces with masks to conceal their identities, pumped their fists in the air as they chanted "Mousavi! Mousavi! Get us back our votes!" and "Ahmadine! Leave Iran!".
Standing in the searing heat, protesters waved placards saying "We wrote Mousavi, they read Ahmadinejad" and "Ahmadinejad's logic: 2 x 2 = 10". Crowd members included people with their children, as well as others with their colleagues, family members and students.
"Ahmadinejad is telling everyone that everything is fine with the elections, and we want to show the world that it is not," said Ali Meshki. "Where have the millions of votes that we cast gone?"
As the morning protest picked up momentum, about 30 police turned up with riot vans.
They made several early attempts to disperse the crowd, claiming the protesters did not have permission for their demonstration, but the crowd stood firm.
"They are holding a demonstration without having the necessary permissions," said Lt Col Ahmad Al Mansoori, head of the emergency department with Dubai Police, who was trying to secure the area.
"Everyone has limits, and this is the reaction to what has happened in Iran," said Fariborz, another demonstrator. "We are here to voice our concern, to raise the issue of a recount, and to show that the elections have been a fraud."
Other protesters pushed for more than just a re-election, but for a complete change in the regime. "We are protesting to trigger a coup d'état," said Mussoud, a 42-year-old Iranian. "We have been living with a dictatorial regime for the last 30 years. We want our voices to be heard outside of Iran and to gain support."
nsamaha@thenational.ae
Business Insights
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Disclaimer
Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Stars: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Lesley Manville
Rating: 4/5
Company%20Profile
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'Operation Mincemeat'
Director: John Madden
Cast: Colin Firth, Matthew Macfayden, Kelly Macdonald and Penelope Wilton
Rating: 4/5
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
SPECS
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From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
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TV: World Cup Qualifier 2018 matches will be aired on on OSN Sports HD Cricket channel
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
THE BIO
Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979
Education: UAE University, Al Ain
Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6
Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma
Favourite book: Science and geology
Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC
Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.
The specs
Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
Company%20profile
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
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Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Singham Again
Director: Rohit Shetty
Stars: Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Deepika Padukone
Rating: 3/5
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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RESULT
Shabab Al Ahli Dubai 0 Al Ain 6
Al Ain: Caio (5', 73'), El Shahat (10'), Berg (65'), Khalil (83'), Al Ahbabi (90' 2)
THE BIO
Favourite place to go to in the UAE: The desert sand dunes, just after some rain
Who inspires you: Anybody with new and smart ideas, challenging questions, an open mind and a positive attitude
Where would you like to retire: Most probably in my home country, Hungary, but with frequent returns to the UAE
Favorite book: A book by Transilvanian author, Albert Wass, entitled ‘Sword and Reap’ (Kard es Kasza) - not really known internationally
Favourite subjects in school: Mathematics and science
