Morphing a Theocracy

An alternative to those disillusioned by the breadth of poor political choices available

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Morphing a Theocracy
by LalehGillani
31-May-2009
 

There is election fever in the air, not in Iran but on Iranian.com. The mounting excitement transmitted through a number of consecutive articles and a barrage of favorable comments has been contagious. Iran’s reform movement has been mobilized to silence the critics and downplay the significance of daunting issues.

The showdown, however, doesn’t appear to be between the opposing candidates from the conservative camp and the Reforms Front. Here, on Iranian.com, the face-off is between those seeking to rehabilitate the Islamic Republic of Iran and the political activists in quest of overthrowing the regime. After all, the prevalent fear amongst the reformists isn’t losing an election by large or small margins. Quite to the contrary! What keeps the reformists awake at night is the forfeiture of the underlying premise that a theocracy can be morphed into a democracy by gradual reforms imposed through theatrical elections.

The missing ingredients as advocated by the reform movement are patience and perseverance, but an ironclad commitment to the unconditional survival of the Islamic Republic of Iran is also evident. The benefits of such approach are explained to be multifaceted, the least of which is the peaceful transition of power from one camp to another.

Accordingly, after every election cycle, the fate of our nation is placed either in the hands of the hardliners or the reformists, resulting in revolving periods of death and destruction followed by relative redress and recovery. This solution, we are reminded, is preferable to the alternative: total death and destruction without periods of relief or, God forbid, contemplating a secular democracy without the mullahs.

Since the former Prime Minister Mir-Hossein Mousavi, in an article published on Iranian.com, pledged to safeguard and protect human life and dignity, his ability to uphold such a commitment based on past performances has been scrutinized. As a result, the reform movement is hampered by those disheartening bygone years as it struggles to thread its way through the current election. Amongst the controversial subjects brushed under the rug is a pair of inconvenient reminders that refuse to fade away: The leaders of the reform movement are not dissidents but rather government insiders whose career trail leads to the massacres of political prisoners in 1980’s while their financial interests are traceable to the daily looting of our national wealth.

Unable to address such issues, the reform movement has either downplayed the enormity of such crimes or simply asked the critics to comprehend the circumstances under which such crimes have occurred. Nonetheless, whether out of sheer incompetence, absolute helplessness, or blatant criminality, the reformist leaders have become a material liability for the movement.

To revitalize the public persona of its leaders, the reform movement has capitalized on Iran’s current state of affairs only to remind the nation that last time one of their own held the Office of the Presidency, the conditions were more tolerable and prosperous. Not surprisingly, after hailing Ayatollah Khatami’s era, the reformists are dumbfounded by any attempt to spoil his accomplishments or dispute his effectiveness. Although the historical conditions that necessitated the emergence of the reform movement in Iran are often overlooked, in the light of the current election, a rudimentary understanding of those years is long overdue.

In essence, there were two political and social circumstances that attributed to the rise of the reform movement in Iran: First, the mounting opposition and discontent with the regime amongst the upper and middle class Iranians became apparent to Shi'a intellectuals who feared for the future of Islam in Iran. Second, the brutality of the regime after the massacres of 1980’s and the chain killings of 1990’s left absolutely no room whatsoever for possible expressions of political dissent.

Consequently, any twinkle of opposition had to emerge from within the establishment to withstand mullahs’ wrath, to boast of any likelihood of survival, and finally to live to tell the tale. Once this phenomenon was born, political activists seized the opportunity to form NGOs and human rights organizations to combat the regime. As a result, the successful election of Mohammad Khatami to become the fifth president of Iran was not the cause but rather the effect of the reformists’ mobilization.

Another controversy plaguing the reform movement is the vetting process through which presidential candidates are permitted to enter the race. Deriving the selection criteria from Article 115 of Iran’s constitution, the Guardian Council hand-selects only candidates with “religious and political personalities” who have demonstrated their belief in “the fundamental principles of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the official religion of the country.” Simply put, with a single stroke of their pen, the members of Guardian Council eliminate all opposition candidates but retain “the faithful.” Believe it or not, even the reform movement is struggling to legitimize this mockery as an election but stops short of withdrawing from it.

Regardless of the upcoming election’s outcome on June 12, 2009, the reform movement remains to be a decisive force in reining the masses on behalf of the Islamic Republic of Iran and in shaping the regime’s chances of survival. As hardliners eye the Office of the Supreme Leader and consolidate the Faqih’s hold on the armed forces, Iran’s moderate Shi'a clergy is pushing the limits to test our nation’s resolve and thirst for fundamental, meaningful changes in economic, social, and political arenas. At the same time, the reformist leaders are assessing the tolerance of the hardliners with cautious overtures to share the levers of authority before it is too late. In other words, the reformist candidates are asking our nation to place one of them at the helms of power out of sheer desperation and utter apprehension of the alternatives.

Today, running on a reform agenda but hand in hand with the hardliners, the leaders of the reform movement, having benefited from the imprisonment and murder of political activists throughout the country, have apparently emerged as the only viable alternative to the merciless inquisitors of Tehran. Simultaneously, in league with their blood brethren, the reformist leaders have also looted the country lock, stock and barrel and pocketed the fruits of our labor while the populace is destitute and distraught.

Once again, Iranian political activists are outwitted to follow the mullahs’ lead. Once again, the nation is bamboozled into placing their fate and future in the hands of the Shi'a clergy. Once again, Iranians are told to choose between the bad and the ugly. Once again, we are gambling with our future and blindly settling for a change, any change.

Meanwhile, the temporary, lax and jubilant election environment has been seized by few political activists to form a coalition encompassing grassroots organizations that represent pro-democracy groups from all walks of life. The Solidarity for Democracy and Human Rights in Iran (SDHRI) has brought together organizations dedicated to the causes of women and workers while unifying secular movements such as the United Students Front, the Association of Liberal and Nationalist University Students, and Democratic Front of Iran. Additionally, our nation’s best and brightest legal scholars, human rights advocates, and seasoned patriots have joined forces to offer an alternative to those disillusioned by the breadth of poor political choices available.

The seed for this solidarity was planted by Dr. Mohammad Mossadegh in 1944, but the sapling was axed down long before it poked through the darkness. There, in obscurity, it lay dormant, spreading its roots silently but determinedly. Sixty five years later, after the failure of all flavors of Islam in Iran and after the collapse of all communist organizations, our path has taken us full circle to that seed, to that sapling, to that dream.

It is due time to nurture this sapling with light and guard it with our blood…

Acknowledgement
I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to Dr. Masoud Kazemzadeh for his informative and timely article: "Prospects and Obstacles: Solidarity for Democracy and Human Rights in Iran"

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more from LalehGillani
 
LalehGillani

Sanctions on Iran

by LalehGillani on

Abarmard wrote: “Those who advocate sanctions or would like harsher international pressure on Iran, make their arguments hard to digest.”

I don’t advocate sanctions on Iran or any type of pressure from foreign governments on IRI. Let me say it loud and clear so that there are no doubts about my position:

Foreign hands off Iran! In any shape or form!

I do believe in using international human rights organizations to exert pressure on mullahs and expose their crimes.


Fair

Thank You Ms. Gilani

by Fair on

and Mr. Kazemzadeh. For your brilliantly argued analysis, and refusal to accept that a token change is enough change.

I respect everyone's decision to vote or not vote, since it is a difficult choice- the regime has not given us much choice at all, and they hold absolute control over all policy and are not answerable to the people.

But to my friends I say this- No matter which choice you make, NO ONE CAN TAKE AWAY YOUR BELIEFS AND YOUR CONVICTIONS. If you want to see a modern, democratic Iran one day, hang on to that idea, and never settle for less. Think every day in everything you do, no matter where you live: what can you do to help this goal? No action is too small.

And for those who compare this selection to 2000 in the US with Bush vs Gore, I have this to say. I am sick of you comparing everything bad in Iran to something similarly bad in the US. Why don't you look at good things in the US as well? 45 years ago, a black man could not drink from the same fountain as a white man. Today the US has a black president. How many years do you think it will be before Iran has a Bahai president? And furthermore, there were more choices than Bush and Gore- there were Nader and other candidates as well. It was the people's choice for whatever reason to stick with the 2 large parties. Today in Iran, are there any candidates that are not connected to the power elite? Furthermore, the difference between Mousavi and AN are much less than that between Bush and Gore- Bush and Gore had fundamentally different foreign, domestic, energy, etc. policies. Mousavi and AN are both believers in the system first, - VF before everything else.

And finally, stop trying to drive a wedge between Iranians abroad and Iranians back home. Most Iranians abroad came here recently, and we have a right to our opinion too. Many Iranians at home today will be abroad tomorrow , will they suddenly be less deserving of a say in what goes on in Iran? Life abroad is not that easy for many Iranians, so stop treating us like we are any less entitled to our opinion.

Thank you very much once again.

 

-FAIR


LalehGillani

Iranian Political Activism

by LalehGillani on

Mammad wrote: “In comments on another article, the author made clear his/her way of changing the system: Armed confrontation. And, this from someone who uses Dr. Mosadddegh's picture in her article, the man who was the ultimate leader of nonviolent change. Tow khod hadis mofassal khaan az in mojmal.”

I don’t know whether you have misunderstood me or are intentionally trying to misrepresent my position on this topic. Nonetheless, I will explain myself again for the sake of other readers:

Iranian Political activism has drastically changed in the last thirty years. From the time when a handful of guerillas set out to overthrow the government, political activism has matured into non violent forms of resistance. NGOs, human rights organizations, women’s groups, workers organizations, bloggers, and students’ resistance are only some of the ways political activists are fighting the regime.

We must continue this trend and stay on this course simply because the secular, pro-democracy movement is young and fragile. We can’t risk a direct confrontation with the regime at this time.

Having said this, I must also be absolutely frank with all of you: Mullahs will not surrender power just because we asked them to do so. They will fight back with all they have.

The current regime has increasingly become militarized in the last few years. The Supreme Leader commands the armed forces and has their loyalty.

In order to bring about meaningful permanent democracy to our country, an armed confrontation with the mullahs is inevitable. The masses and the political conditions in Iran will dictate when and how this armed confrontation will happen.

In any case, if mullahs decide to pack their bags and vacate the positions of power, there is no need for a single bullet to be fired or a single person to be hurt.


Fred

Dr, Strangelove

by Fred on

Islamist collaborator presents his case for the defense of his Islamist republic, ie participating in its voting show, in a typical Islamist way by ridiculing the opposing view and setting a standard that he himself can not meet.

 The Islamist nuke lover has to first provide verifiable evidence of as he labels him “good guy” Khatami having done well. No excuses that he was not allowed and other usual Islamist line.


Second, Islamist has to account for murders, the ones that became public, under his “good guy” watch.


Third he has to account for the tremendous number of activists who believed in the “good guy” and made their dissent public and have paid and many are still paying dearly for their belief in the Islamist’s “good guy”.


Fourth, the Islamist collaborator has to lay out his plan, his since he identifies with all and yet none at the same time, for advancement of his agenda.


Fifth, except writing articles and arranging pro regime forumes the Islamist has to show what he has done, something that he ridicules others for, to presumably help Iranians.

Finally, the Islamist has to show why it is advantageous for the beleaguered Iranians who are under the tyranny of the Islamist regime to witness their oppressor getting nuke to load up on their operational ICBMs and thus become a permanent nightmare with no hope of their removal through peaceful means or otherwise.

 After the Islamist done that he has earned the right to question others’ methods for liberating Iran from his Islamist brethrens.


Abarmard

Two and a half points

by Abarmard on

1- The author has failed to admit that Iran is a Muslim Country. She absolutely misses the point. On denial? I would agree.

2. The issue here is based on people and what's best for them. Those who advocate sanctions or would like harsher international pressure on Iran, make their arguments hard to digest. Hate can not be a good substitute for the current or any other system. This might be a lesson worth learning.

2.5. Alternatives are the most important for those who argue to provide a real option, in this case please read Mr. Mammad's comments.


LalehGillani

Hardliners Have a Death Wish?

by LalehGillani on

Mammad wrote: “The main theme of the article (aside from stating the obvious - the universally-known facts about the undemocratic nature of the IRI - which does not need any "bah bah va chah chah" by Kazemzadeh and a couple of others) is: The reformists are in fact in a conspiracy with the hardliners in order to fool people. They are part of the same repressive regime.”

The vetting process through which the Guardian Council eliminates the undesirable candidates proves that the reformist candidates are indeed part of the same repressive regime.

If you disagree, then we are left with the following hypothesis:

The hardliners have a death wish and are giving the reform movement a chance to overthrow them. Do you honestly believe that the hardliners don’t know what they are doing? Mullahs are shrewd politicians with survival instincts that surpass anyone’s imagination…


LalehGillani

Ian Wright’s Expedition into Iran

by LalehGillani on

Esfahani wrote: “For those who deny the Iranians are Muslim, take a look at all the Christians in Iran: //iranian.com/main/2009/jun/iran-global-t...”

Every time a foreign journalist or researcher travels to Iran, they do so with the explicit permission of the Iranian government. They are given precise guidelines within which they must operate.

Of course, once they leave the country, they can report whatever they want. However, keep one small fact in mind: If they choose to portray the regime badly, they will never be given another chance, another permit, another visa…

Foreign journalists such as Ian Wright are truly in love with the land which is greatly unknown to most outsiders. As a result, Ian Wright will never do or say anything to jeopardize his chances of going back.

Of course, we can argue over the realities of our homeland until we are blue in the face. The fact remains that mullahs have our country in a stranglehold. What comes out of that country is carefully monitored. It is only dissidents who put their lives in danger to smuggle pictures and videos out of the country.

Next time you come across these reporters or researchers, please ask them to visit Khavaran cemetery on a Friday night…


Mammad

Fantasy vs. Reality

by Mammad on

At the risk of being viciously attacked by the author of the article - similar to what he/she did in response to my comments on another article, and stating at the outset that I have nothing against the author, I just disagree with his/her opinion and analyses - I make the following observations:

1. It is, in fact, the boycotties that are extremely active in Iranian.com, not those who advocate voting. Therefore, a change of mirror is necessary. We look into a mirror, the mirror should show us, not others.

2. A main theme of the author is that, people in IRAN are indifferent to the elections. They do not care, he/she says. 

In fact, the opposite is true. Not only can we see this in, for example, the huge rally for Mir Hossein Mousavi in Tabriz (by the way I saw it on the CNN, not on the Sedaa va Sima), or for Khatami in Ahvaz, or for Karroubi in Amir Kabir University, but also the fact that some of the most hardened boycotties of the past, both inside and outside Iran, have moved to the voting block is the best evidence.

Why have they done so? Two developments have changed the nature of these elections different from the last one. One, a campaign based on demands by people. Tahkim Vahdat, Advaar-e Tahkim, and other credible university students organization, women groups, and labor groups (all of which boycotted the last elections) made lists of their demands and presented them to the reformists. They told them what they want, and demanded them to give them clear answers. This is vastly different from the past when candidates were either blindly supported, or boycotted. 

And two, the effective encircling of the system by the civil society. The deman-based campaign has effectively encircled the system. 

Due to the two, which are in fact complementary, both Karroubi and Mir Hossein have been forced - even if they do not believe in them - to make statements and take up positions that are unprecedented. Karroubi has courageously attacked the Sepaah for its interferrence in the elections and politics; he has spoken clearly about the need for respect of human rights, minority rights, religious rights, etc. In his nationally-broadcast speech, he said, "no one - professors, students, farmers, workers, women, just no one - has been secure under this government." These are tabbos that are broken one after another.

Mir Hossein has done very similar things. He has said that he respects the universal declaration of human rights, and has promised that Iran will join the international convention against discremination against women. He said that "we should carry Iran's flag, not Palestine's." 

Keep these in mind. Now the main point:

3. The main theme of the article (aside from stating the obvious - the universally-known facts about the undemocratic nature of the IRI - which does not need any "bah bah va chah chah" by Kazemzadeh and a couple of others) is: The reformists are in fact in a conspiracy with the hardliners in order to fool people. They are part of the same repressive regime.

Aside from the (2) above, consider the following: 

Ezzatollah Sahabi, Hasan Yousefi Eshkevari, Golamabbas Tavasoli, Mohammad Bastehnegas, Habibollah Payman, Emad Baghi, Hossein Loghmanian, Mohammad Ghoochani, Masoud Behnoud, Ali Akbar Mousavi Khoini, Abbas Abdi, Mohsen Kadivar, Asadollah Bayat, Abdolfattah Soltani, Saeed Hajjarian, Mashallah Shamsolvaezin, Gholamhossein Karbaschi, Lotfollah Maysami (who is blind) ..... (just to name those that I remember at this very moment), all went to jail, all were presecuted, all have been threatened, etc. They all are reformists, support the reformists, and have called on people to vote. The same thing about many of the leaders of the Jebheh Mosharekat.

So, we are to believe that, in order to fool people, all these people agreed to go to jail, agreed to  bring hardship to their families (some of them, I know for a fact, need financial help by others just to survive), only because they wanted to fool people and prolong the life of the system of Velaayat-e Faghih. I leave it to the reader to decide how realistic or real this is! 

Even the most fantastic fantasts - those who fantasize - cannot come up with such a complex plan, involving so many self-less people who are willing to suffer any degree of hardship, just to fool people! 

4. The article is supposedly about an alternative to the present way - gradual build up of the civil society and political parties in Iran. But, despite its length, there are only two short paragraphs about this alleged "alternative," which are shrouded by generic statements, with no details at all.The student organizations that the author mentions exist only on paper. I do not deny that there may be students that are, for example, opposed to Tahkim, but their number is insignificant.

Why is there not much about the alleged "alternative?" Because it either does not exist, or the author does not wish to repeat what he/she has said in another column on this website.

In comments on another article, the author made clear his/her way of changing the system: Armed confrontation. And, this from someone who uses Dr. Mosadddegh's picture in her article, the man who was the ultimate leader of nonviolent change. Tow khod hadis mofassal khaan az in mojmal.

5. It is, therefore, not surprising that Kazemzadeh - the same man who has advocated UN-approved sanctions against his country - is thanked at the end of the article, and is also the first to jump in with a "wow!" Wow, indeed.

I repeat what I said before:

The author and his/her cohorts do not represent any credible group, or any important segment of the population, within Iran. When asked who he/she represents, the author says that, his/her family, friends, and others who know him/her, tell him/her that he/she should not forget them, which is why he/she is "fighting" with the regime. Some fighting! On Iranian.com from thousands of miles away. Wow, indeed!

Mammad


LalehGillani

آمده ام...

LalehGillani


میر حسین موسوی میگوید: "آمده ام که جامعه را به آرمانهای امام خمینی نزدیک کنم... آمده ام تا نظرات مراجع معظم تقلید را در جامعه جاری کنم."

همان امام خمینی که دستور قتل عام هزاران زندانیان سیاسی را داد؟ همان مراجع تقلید که زهر کافر کشی را در جامعه ایران می پاشند؟ این اصلاح طلبی است؟

هموطن، این تقلید است! این اصلاح طلبی نیست!


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Dear friends

by Esfahani (not verified) on

For those who deny the Iranians are Muslim, take a look at all the Christians in Iran:

//iranian.com/main/2009/jun/iran-global-t...


capt_ayhab

Late Arrival

by capt_ayhab on

One commentator says[ my relatives in Iran go to churches to pray and they are not born to christian families just disillusioned with mullahs.]

I suppose we can consider that to be THE best study ever conducted on the Iranian people. It saves time , money and it is the most precise poll ever I suppose. Since her family goes to church[which  nothing wrong with it at all] then every one else MUST be doing the same thing.

One thing I can't understand about rest of the commentator though, with such a concert proof that this[Angel of all Polls] has set forth, why are you guys arguing still?

Every ill of the country is solved now people, US is going to build new embassy, we all are going to be making love and not war, it is going to be a endless huge orgy ;-), Economy is going to flourish, we are going to be driving Mercedes and BMW instead of Peykans , joblessness is going disappear, every one is going to be able to go to streets[kooon lokhti] if they so wish, all the political prisoners are going to be released, in a nut shell, life is peachy now, we have all died and gone to heaven, we just don't know it yet !!!!

How did we miss this important study about Iranian demographics, and where this ANGEL of all studies been to break the news earlier???

I thank you, my family thanks you, even my dog thanks you.

 

-YT


IRAN PARAST

Dear Laleh

by IRAN PARAST on

I have read many of the comments that people have left for you since I left mine earlier this morning.

There is one thing that you have to understand: When one lives under a repressive regime, one of the tactics that the regime uses to control people, is something in Farsi we call: Shol Kon, Seft Kon.

By that I mean, if you keep a person from drinking water for an extended period of time, and then just wet his/her lips, then that wetting appears as a blessing.

The people in Iran are so suffocated by all aspects of repression, whether that is in their personal lives, or other liberties, that when someone appears with just a modest improvement on his philiosophy on freedom, then that appears as a blessing.

Bear that in mind when reading some of these comments, especially those written by people who actually live in Iran. For those of us who live outside of Iran, we should give them as much moral support, and encouragement, as we can.

Take care :) !

 

 


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So then Hamas is right and Hitler was also right

by SmartAss (not verified) on

According to your argument, Hamas is right in firing rockets into Israel and Hitler was also right in attempting to annihilate all of Jewish people. Based on what you are saying, Hamas should not try to work within the legal and available venues to face the brutal and killing machine that is and has been Israel since its inception. When Israel bombs Gaza and whatever number of people get killed, including innocent children, Hamas should not try to understand the circumstances and should not use UN and other available routes to correct this situation but according to you, they should do all they can to acquire more rockets to fire into Israel.

Based on your argument, Hitler also should not have tried to fix the problem he felt he was having with the Jewish population in Europe through legal and logical ways. You are saying Hitler did the right thing by trying to completely "fix" this issue in a revolution style manner where a violent change and forceful is applied and where masses will be killed. You are saying Hitler's outcome was far better than if he had tried to understand what the problems were, if any, and then try to come up with logical answers. Well, it's outrageous to me to find out that the writer is actually an anti-Semite. Disgusting!


Parham

Daryush

by Parham on

First you say you don't speak for all Iranians, but then you do exactly that!

I know your point of view by heart, it's what one hears from most young people in Iran these days. Yet I'll tell you it's flawed -- ALL people you address your post to are Iranians, no matter what. Your leaving them out shows the roots of your thinking and where you're willing to lead yourself and the rest of us to.

If you're so unhappy about their voting because they live outside Iran (and therefore, according to you, not in touch with the realities of Iran), get them out of the voting crowd through the laws you abide. Otherwise, don't come here saying they're out of touch. Has it ever occurred to you that YOU actually may be out of touch with reality because of the way they've "led" you by cutting you off from the world?

Have you ever thought that by making you think you're stuck in a system, they've cut the chances for you to reach out for another one?
Have you ever thought that even though the majority population might be of Islamic faith, the rules you go by may have nothing much to do with Islam, that the Islam you talk about is only something they fabricate to make you bow?

Have you ever thought that it is the most unjust system to make a crowd bow to another crowd's rules on the basis of faith, which is something only personal (EVEN IN IRAN!), no matter how much that crowd could be in minority?

Have you ever thought that you're only being self-righteous with that sort of thinking and "lahn", that you're actually being very closed-minded instead of being open-minded, the way you'd like to sound? That you actually sound very conservative (I'd say even pathetically conservative) instead of progressive, the way you THINK you sound? Baba open you mind! A lot of these people you dismiss are telling the truth! There's murder! There is trampling of YOUR rights! And they're willing to fight! And they are! EVEN THOUGH they're outside Iran, where they can have a comfy life!

The fact that you don't want to fight and that you hide behind your vote instead, doesn't make THEM look like cowards...


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GREAT ARTICLE LALEH JAAN

by babakkhorramdin (not verified) on

I really enjoyed it! very well written and very truthful
I am disgusted by these mullah-loverz that attack you....shows you what kind of individuals are still trying to keep the decaying akhoond regime intact.
bottom line is that the akhoonds will do ANYThing keep their raping and pillaging continous. I dare the mullahs to have a true referendum and free elections tomorrow, and we'll see how they'll get thrown out of the country like decaying garbage that they are.
the mullahs have the full support of the french, russians, chinese, and, of course, the brits. it all comes down to oil and they're feeling of ENTITLEMENT as their own. The shah stood up to them in the 70's and overnight he was turned into a dictator who had blood dripping from his fangs!
the only way we will ever have democracy and a free iran, is to dismantle the akhoonds' corrupt system and throw them all into the sea....
javid iran, and may we all have a free vatan in 09!


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LalehGillani

by MasoudB (not verified) on

The answer why iran and iranian government is not saudi or russian is directly related with your lack of understanding and knowledge about Iran. Your family and friends certainly are Iranian and present some population sample, but it's ignorant to take that as an ultoimate fact to base your hypothesis on. That would just be ,well a bit stupid to put it politely.
I would want to get a sense what you think of Iran. When you say Iranians, are you considering the nation of Iran or northern Tehran? (Generally an specific social class?)
I just returned from Iran and although I believe that the public is not happy, but they are not what you are portraying here either. Are you truly interested to know what most people are moaning about?
NOTE: iranian value system is based on Islam. Period.when I also was in my 20's I thought very similar.


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intelligence or lackthere of...

by Omida (not verified) on

Have we learned nothing from the lack of sufficient evidence and intelligence that lead countries to wage war in the middle-east?

This is the point I'm trying to make. And the burden of proof is on you since you are the one who apparently is spearheading the effort to "fight" this regime.

I'm not claiming anything. All I am saying is that we dont know for a fact the religiosity trends in Iran.

Without concrete evidence and reliable data that goes with your well intentioned effort will reach a deadend.


LalehGillani

Lift the Sword!

by LalehGillani on

Omid Wrote: “Well, there you have it... it is an INTERNET survey. It doesnt take a genius to figure out how flawed they are. We have a population of 70 million, with 2/3 youth with only a small portion who have access to the internet. Of those with access to the internet, even a smaller portion responded to this survey.”

The solution to this problem is very simple. Contact IRI and get their blessing for an independent, all encompassing survey to prove that Iranians are 99.34% Muslims. After such a survey is conducted and published, I will formally issue an apology to everyone on Iranian.com.

You can’t bring spiritual comfort to people at the end of a sword! If Islam is so popular and loved amongst Iranians, lift the sword!


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how about a movie

by Anonymous khandeh (not verified) on

With curly and moe as the main characters who free Iran? Let's do it


LalehGillani

Q and I Agree on Something!

by LalehGillani on

Q wrote: “US government was undemocratic in many ways that I mentioned for years under the same constitution that it now has… The question of what's written down on the constitution is not necessarily a barrier to democracy.”

I agree. Isn’t this amazing?

Before amending it, US Constitution didn’t consider African Americans as whole people!

Article 1 – Section 2
Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Union, according to their respective Numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole Number of free Persons, including those bound to Service for a Term of Years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all other Persons.

So let's talk about what principles can be barriers to democracy. Why couldn’t Soviet Union become a democracy? Why can’t Saudi Arabia become a democracy? What do you think is the underlying reason(s)?


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Well intentioned but flawed survey there

by Omida (not verified) on

Well, there you have it... it is an INTERNET survey. It doesnt take a genius to figure out how flawed they are. We have a population of 70 million, with 2/3 youth with only a small portion who have access to the internet. Of those with access to the internet, even a smaller portion responded to this survey.

I could go on but it would be pointless...


masoudA

Great Article Laleh

by masoudA on

So true -  When a regime has no more than maybe 5% popular support - then no wonder the real war takes place in iranian.com where some professional "Omat hazer dar Sahneh" try to make it look as though there is Democracy or even traces of it in Iran. 


Ostaad

Curly, I take my hat off to your Christian family members...

by Ostaad on

at least they are doing "something" about what they believe IN IRAN. Gilani and you can't hold a candle to those people. I'm not sure what you and Gilani are doing about solving the people's problems in Iran other than blogging your assess off. 

All bigots use cliches to spread their hatred for a group of people they target by citing a few selective facts that enable them to cloak their bigotry in a veneer of justification. David Duke and other well-know KKK wizards usually shower their audience with "facts" about Jews and Blacks, before claiming all solical problems are caused by them. That's exactly what LalehGilani is doing about Eslam in general and Shieh in particular.

 

 


default

lol, lol lol

by Mir Hossaing supporter (not verified) on

lol,
Curly writes: My family goes to church and prays.

LOL. Yes Eyranians are what you guys say. Exactly. Keep up your level of "irani Shenasi" and we the people will need your wisdom.
In the name of Jesus, Amen.

lol. Thanks guys> I am loving these comments as no jokes could make me laugh so hard. From the Patriotic fighters to Curly . lol.


LalehGillani

Survey Results

by LalehGillani on

Omid wrote: “Could you provide me with these indepentent studies? I would like to take a look at them myself.”

ACI’s survey results can be found at: //www.aciiran.com/English%20Ex%20Sum.pdf

An excerpt:

“23% of Iran’s 70 million population fall in the 20-29 years old age group. This generation, born since the 1979 Revolution, makes up the largest age group in Iran. In an internet survey carried out over a three month period their beliefs, anxieties and desires were measured.”

“Failure to islamicise the society in the last three decades is clearly demonstrated by answers to the section dedicated in assessing religion and religious viewpoints."

"Although state published figures declare 99.34% of Iranians as Moslems, almost 40% of this age group declared itself as without any religious convictions. Furthermore, almost 22% declared that they have turned against religion.”


default

Fred's post can be summed up in a few short phrases...

by Anonymous2323 (not verified) on

Islamists/Anti-Semites

lefty allies
Islamist appologists
loons
moonbats

blablabla... it's almost like reading sits like pajamasmedia, jihadwatch or littlegreenfootball etc etc


Fred

Squeal

by Fred on

The more the Islamists/Anti-Semites and their likeminded lefty allies including the underappreciated Islamist economist squeal the more they give themselves away. 


Ostaad

Daryush, now you know what a bigot...

by Ostaad on

sounds like. There are some insightful people on this site who saw through the author's gross bigotry and blatant hatred for Eslam, and the Shiehs, after the first glance at her claptrap.

 

Here's a sample of what's going on in Iran:

//www.bornanews.com/Flv/new/mosavi/mosavi.wmv

 


curly

Laleh jan great article

by curly on

I was going through the responses and it always is the same suddenly someone jumps out of the jungle and attacks. this time just keep the turban in his avatar and replace ferdowsi's face with any akhond you want!!! better for you if he never come to your blogs" khosh an baghi keh toreh azash ghahr bokokneh". what you have said is true young iranians are not considering themselves religious at all . my relatives in Iran go to churches to pray and they are not born to christian families just disillusioned with mullahs.

keep being vocal.


LalehGillani

Clearing the Path for Future Iranians

by LalehGillani on

Daryush wrote: “-Even if we are allowed to have an small but concrete freedoms as was offered during Mr. Khatami, we'll take it.”

After another Ahmadinejad comes along and takes this “small but concrete freedom” away, what are you going to do? Are you planning to repeat this cycle every 4 to 8 years? Is this what you are planning for the future generations of Iranians? Is this all you can do for them? Is this the way to “make the path clear for [your] future generations?”

Are you telling your offspring this is all you can promise them?