Under the Surface in Iran

06/22/09

Once again, the Islamic Republic of Iran showed its true face, democracy has been in hibernation since long and the absence of freedom has coloured the tragic modern history of Iran in which an election has been stolen again.

The Iranian people's resistance and the colourful reactions that have confounded many around the world are admirable and followed internationally as both inspiring and strong. The elite that did not believe in the Iranian people's strength and capacity and predicted that the only solution for achieving change in the country would be to support a co-operation and dialogue with the government in which reform would emerge. Now, the same elite have come to realize and recognize that there has never been and never will be room for reform within the Islamic Republic's framework. Reform within a political system requires several ingredients of which the most important are freedom of speech, freedom of choice and a democratic electoral system.

Of all the hundreds of candidates, Khamenei chose narrowly and without the people's consent, Mahmud Ahmadinejad, Mir Hossein Mousavi, Mehdi Karoubi, Mohsen Rezai, and left the people with only four options that already had been chosen on their behalf. Can you name any other system besides a totalitarian dictatorship where freedom of choice is absent?

The majority of the political opposition both within and outside the country had predicted people's uprising in the search for freedom and justice and now the countdown to end this totalitarian dictatorial regime on the streets has started. There are dozens of interviews and articles, and thousands of comments from the opposition organizations and known political activists who believed that this day would come. Now that day has arrived, even if people unfortunately are forced to shelter themselves under Mousavi�s and Karoubi�s shield, we hope people have the courage to not just say no to Ahmadinejad, but also to the Islamic Republic.

The leader of the people will be found in this movement and only the ones who said "NO" to a partnership with this government will have a chance of winning people's trust and support, and not those who have worked in and with this government. The reform-minded forces within the government's true nature will not allow them to play along with this uprising in the long run. The government has entirely lost its legitimacy and the lost honour cannot be recovered even if they produce thousands of so-called neo reformists or moderators.

The conflicts within the government are also significant between khamenei and Rafsanjani, and as it seems the power struggle is paradoxical. Khamenei defended Ahmadinejad as the rightful winner. He accused Iran's enemies in the West for having supported the demonstrators and to have questioned the elections legitimacy.

If you remember the movie "Godfather" you know that it was about the struggle between the various Mafia families who were striving to have power over politicians and financial control over all instances, after a bloody war that took many lives, one of the families managed to seize the title and become the master of the others. In order to get involved in this power struggle the basic requirement was to already be involved in organized crime. Likewise in this election the real power struggle is between Ali Khamenei�s mafia organization against Hashemi Rafsanjani�s mafia.

However, Karoubi and Mousavi�s resistance so far must be applauded, although the reasons behind their opposition are for other reasons than the apparent ones. They understand that the government is approaching its "use by" date and with this they want to save themselves and the Rafsanjani Mafia. Even though they might not benefit as they would hope, they are aware that people will probably be more lenient with their crimes when the political turn will come. And no matter how much the government and their friends in the foreign media are trying to idolise Mousavi and make him look like a second Gandhi, he will never become another Ghandi and taking his side in this highly sensitive period of time is doomed to fail. Mr. Mousavi and Mr. Karoubi have themselves been active members in the government. Mir Hossein Mousavi, the fifth and final prime minister of Iran, he was the last Prime Minister before the post disappeared, when the Constitution was amended in 1989. Many human rights violations were committed during his time as Prime Minister that Mousavi bears to a large extent the responsible for.

In the case of Ahmadinejad it should be noted that he is nothing more than khamenei flunkey representing the ugly Islamic fundamentalists' anti-Semitic face.

Today, the Iranian people have risen. Their fate will be decided in the streets, the people's struggle must be supported by everyone, irrespective of ideology and their political standpoint. It's still far before the target is reached and it would be a grave mistake to allow this rebellion to be enslaved halfway or to be misled into a newer and more modern tyrannical regime, even if the Iranian people understand this well and has already proven that they are very politically aware and knowledgeable, a such outcome could be possible if the world chooses to be absent with their support at this crucial moment in time.

Long live the Iranian people's struggle for their lost rights, May unity and solidarity arise between the Iranian people for a common aim of a free Referendum!

Victoria Azad
Political activist in G�teborg
Authorised Nurse and Master Student at GU
Member of Amnesty International
Member of the People's Party and the Liberal women org.
Former member of the Work and Family Board
Nominated as a candidate to the Swedish parliament in 2002 (4^th place after elections)