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Iran: Ahmadinejad's Car, A Woman, And a Hungry Old Man

Categories: Middle East & North Africa, Iran, Food, Governance, Women & Gender

An online video showing a young woman jumping onto the hood of the car of Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad while he was visiting Bandar-Abbass (a southern coastal city of Iran) on 10 April, 2012, is making a big splash.

The young woman speaks briefly to the president whose vehicle is surrounded by onlookers. Meanwhile, an old man also tries to approach Ahmadinejad. He cries out, “Ahmadinejad, I am hungry! Ahmadinejad, I am hungry!” Ahmadinejad keeps smiling and waving as he peers out from the sunroof of the car.

Curiously, while most western media have been talking about the girl [1], Iranian bloggers focused on the hungry old man.

Karansadr says [2] [fa]:

This old man who shouts “I am hungry, I am retired” shows that all of Ahmadinejad's promises were false. We still remember when he said that Iran is the only country where there is no hunger.

Babak Dad writes [3] [fa]:

One day, these people will ask us, “What were you doing when we used to struggle with hunger?” Do we have an answer? I have doubts.