Changing From Within

I will not see it happen in my lifetime

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Changing From Within
by bahmani
21-Feb-2011
 

The key thing that many seem to forget or ignore is the way Iran's legal system and constitution is set up. This is the crucial point for all of us to get through our heads, because as wishful as we all are for various levels of reform to occur, it simply can't, according to established Iranian Law and it's strange Constitution.

It is currently a felony crime to suggest that Iran's constitution be changed. The warrant which can be issued if you keep pushing your luck, is the familiar "Corrupt Upon The Earth" (Mofsed-e-Fel-Arz) and "Anti-Revolutionary" (Zeddeh Enghelab), each of which carries the death penalty at worst, 10-15 years in prison at best.

So this means you cannot suggest any changes to Iran's Constitution.

As I am sure all of you are now a bit more aware, this is a key basis of the Supreme Leader's unelected role in Iran's governance, as well as all of the other Councils which hold various equally unelected powers of state.

So to change Iran from within and consequently peacefully, as we all aspire and hope for, would require the change of the Constitution, which as I hope you all now truly get, is illegal.

Even if Khamenei himself suggested revising the Constitution, he would be breaking the law. And I am sure there are many inside the many councils who would love the chance to hang him for that!

So this reason, and the fact that the leadership in Iran is sitting quite pretty now, reform of Iran's Constitution isn't going to happen from within. Ever.

To further secure their security, this second edition of the Constitution, which was revised after Khomeini's death, has also been declared a "Perfect Document" which also locks the deal tighter than a Seal's asshole.

What is an even more important subtle detail for all of you to know, understand, and try to digest into your articles, feedback, comments and posts, so that you really understand the current set up, and why street protests can never amount to peaceful reform, is this;

In the second revision, they also removed ALL amendment clauses, rules and regulations. This means that there is no rule, process, procedure for changing the Constitution. So you cannot for example ask the Majles to vote on an amendment that would eliminate the post of Supreme Leader, or require the SL to be elected etc.

Do you understand the impact of this?

I hope so, because as you can see, without tearing up the Constitution, (which would be illegal) even if done via a coup or second revolution, there is absolutely now way to change Iran's system of governance.



The only other way that Iran can reform from the current radical form of unelected governance that has these corrupt and unaccountable councils full of religious leaders ruling every aspect of government and life, is for these council members to slowly dissolve themselves over time. To make themselves irrelevant.



By the unlikely act of simply not showing up for work, or dying of old age one by one and not being replaced, so that many many many years from now, we end up with Constitutionally required traditional or ceremonial councils of elders, and a ceremonial Supreme Leader who are so old, weak, and out of it, that they really have little or no power anymore, and don't even want the responsibility. 

In mock executive orders that have no real Constitutional basis of power or credibility, they would "sign" over their decision making power to the new crop of "lower level" elected officials in a new ceremonial political tradition.



So when this reform through "attrition" happens one day, after a national election in which a new President was elected, the official (but ceremonial) Supreme Leader would symbolically hand over powers to the newly elected president and true representative of the people, and that would be that.

It would be carried live on TV across the land, and everyone would dress up in their finest, beaming smiles, and applaud and then exchange Sonbols. And then we would all go out for Chelo Kabab.

In the event of a bad President or crisis, the SL could theoretically take powers back according to the Constitution.



But this kind of Disney happy ending, is a very very very very very long ways away. I just turned 50 and firmly believe I will not see it happen in my lifetime.



Of course another alternative is the escalation fo these protests into a quick civil war, followed by another round of executions of top officials, and then we would all watch and see what the 30 somethings can figure out this time.

Based on the one in 1979, this whole mess could all be over in 2-3 years tops.

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more from bahmani
 
Joe L.

Escape

by Joe L. on

you sound like sarah palin and gelnn beck and that alone tells me what type of freedom you envision. as long as people here know what you think, its enough.
for iran, i don't know. i think its complicated but surely iranian dictators that i have started to meet in this site dont have the answer. that you can take to the bank. i even go further and say that islamic republic starting to look too good for a lot of people here who cant imagine a voice that isnt them. take a browse around and read the dictatorial comments. unbelievable. this is not from islamic republic, this is from dudes living in america.
do me a favor, next time you hear terrorist, take a longer time to read and analyze whats up. that israeli crab is starting to piss a lot of americans now. we dont have terrorists if we dont deal with those a$$wipe israelis. i am american and i love my country. i also know its problems and where they come from. do you know yours? read dictators here to get a clue.


Escape

Joe explain your idea of Freedom for Iran

by Escape on

Joe why don't you lay down for the record just what you think Freedom is for Iran yourself.Let's hear it Joe.I want to konow because I really think it is DO NOTHING and let ENSLAVEMENT REIGN..

I will give you some question's to help you.First,Is this Freedom you envision one within Islam? Is this Freedom you envision for Iran one of a Bombing Innocent civilians with suicide bombers? Joe do you envision Iran as being dominated by the IRI? And Most importantly Joe,do you believe Iran is free today and why not?How can that be acheived?


Joe L.

Escape

by Joe L. on

is this the way you think and support freedom and democracy for iran? what you learned living in the west has been the ugly part, go to iran and learn humanity. it does you good.
your writing is the proof. people read him, this is who supports freedom for iran!!!


Escape

And the underground industrial complex?

by Escape on

  What about the Industrial complex that was going on in Fallujah? And the fully loaded head chop factory there? Expensive price to pay.Why not consider the weapons market in Pashtun? The Stans? Oh heck why not consider the weapons market of the I.R.I.? Without those markets we wouldn't be improving ours in the West.But I am thankful we do or we would not be able to maintain a civilized world with terrorists.They are truely amazing fighters,suicidally dedicated to War.


sumwoman

Zbigniew Brzezinski could careless about Iranians

by sumwoman on

Thanks Joe...we have to keep sounding the alarm until people get the message!

Iran does need reform, and so does CANADA and USA!

Canada just ordered another round of multi-million dollar helicopters....FOR WHAT!
Meanwhile, educated kids as old as 27 years old can not move out of their parent's houses, because they can't find jobs and rents are enormously high!
...WAR MACHINE is eating us alive!

Iranians who are helping Zbigniew Brzezinski and the military industrial complex to bring war to Iran - stop and think about what you are doing? Do you really, really think Zbigniew Brzezinski and the war machine give a sh*t about you and your need for democracy?

This green revolution is not about you.... it's about their need to control Asia! They are USING YOU!

PS: If you want good political analysis, check out tarpley.net

Apparently, Mubarak had to go because he would not allow US military bases into Egypt and he was meeting with Iranian officials.

Maybe one day these silly Iranian Americans will understand, these are dark days for Iran, the specter of all out war and annihilation surrounds her. The mullahs, Ahmedinejad and their keen sense of politics is all that is keeping her from sharing the fate of Iraq.

I suspect, if Iranians from California were in charge, Iran would now be under military occupation by foreign powers, and her children born with deformities from DU nuke bombs like the children in Fallujah.

Be so bold as to check out the photos of children in Fallujah, and see the fate that awaits the children of Iran, should you keep up with this Green Movement.

Iran needs your help, your love and your power. Do not give your power away to wolves in sheeps' clothing like Zbigniew Brzezinski and those Iranians beholden to the Military Industrial Complex.....They will betray you.

 


Joe L.

doctormohandis

by Joe L. on

i find most iranians similar to americans. as you see she is not frightened to speak up and you should learn from her. she is right on


default

Joe L and Sunwoman

by Doctor mohandes on

Please . get a rooom.


Joe L.

Mash Ghasem

by Joe L. on

if any man or woman from any country wants his or her country to be: invaded, go to civil war, or replaced by a foreign powers... that person has no right to claim to be from that place.
you as an american have a right to your opinion but thugs or no thugs, sumwoman gots it. take anything but this? something is wrong with that logic!!


Joe L.

sumwoman -alrighhhhhhhhht

by Joe L. on

I like this girl. iranians have a word: answer that breaks the teeth.


sumwoman

Yah, big talkers

by sumwoman on

You want regime change - go there and make it happen!

Are you ready to spill your blood?

I didn't think so.

PS: I presume you are an American....Please stop American War Machine it was been responsible for over 1 million murders in Iraq.

The best you can do as an Iranian american is call for regime change in America. Also, put a stop to the Central Banking system that is ripping everybody off, IMF.

From what i understand, Iran is one of the few countries in the world, that is not hooked into the Rothschild Central Banking Cartel.


Mash Ghasem

sumwomen,what planet have you been living for the past 33 years?

by Mash Ghasem on

On this planet , Earth, in  a country named Iran: the  ruling thugs have been murdering, raping, torturing,...Iranian people like there is no tommorow.

But that probably does not concern you, you seem to be in supoport of the ruling thugs?  please prove me wrong!


SOS-FREE-IRAN

thank you for spelling it out for us. Mr. Bahmani

by SOS-FREE-IRAN on

Mr. Bahmani, you have finally revealed the truth that these pseudoscholars sitting in their ivory towers have obscured and hidden from us for years -- pontificating about reform. I am referring to Dabashi and Milani and Nasr and et al -- the whole lot of these mullazadeh bastards. Shire malidan be sar ma in 32 years.

its time to call for entire nation to rise up against this Islamic regime and to overthrow it. if it takes a civil war or better European embargo of Islamic regime - the entire regime will collapse. But that is a waste of time. Iranians need to seize control of the government with force. 

The Libyans have done it. Why can't Iranians? Perhaps they need to hit a few important centers and then massacre the entire lot of these Islamic dictators and their minions. Blood shed is the only way out for these rabid animals. Can you talk to a rabid animal? nope. you need to put it out. these islamic luminaries are similar to rabid animals... infected with British virus of barbarianism/mercenerianism to devour iran and suck the blood out of iran and iranians. The rabid animal needs to be put to death. then the blood sucking virus/pest need to to be killed with strongest pesticide available.

Death to British islamic regime and its blood suckers.


sumwoman

Yah, 30 somethings get in there and spill your blood!

by sumwoman on

"Of course another alternative is the escalation fo these protests into a
quick civil war, followed by another round of executions of top
officials, and then we would all watch and see what the 30 somethings
can figure out this time"

Are you serious?

are you making a case for Iran to be invaded because Iranians can't legally change their own governing system?

...you want blood...send in your own kids. Even better, go yourself. Show'em how it's done old timer!

 

 

 

 

 


Mohammad Ala

Thanks you.

by Mohammad Ala on

Thank you Mr. Bahmani.

Our people are difficult to change.  They put personal interest(s) ahead of their national interest(s); yani, they care about their own interest(s).

My heart wants the changes that you proposed, but my mind says . . . . I won't see them in my life time.