A
New Day for Iran
By:
Amil
Imani
Compelled
by the inalienable right of the people to institute their government
and replace it when it fails to serve its constituents in the pursuit
of life, liberty and happiness, millions of Iranians representing the
entire spectrum of society are demanding change from the repressive
theocracy to an open secular democracy.
More
than three decades of rule by the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) has
not only failed to advance the security and well-being of the people,
it has ensnared the nation in a stifling theocracy where the rights of
the governed are routinely violated for the benefit of the governing.
The
revolution of 1979 that brought down Mohammad Reza Shah’s
dictatorship in the hope of instituting a democratic government was
quickly usurped by a religious autocracy.
Endemic
to autocracies is the subjugation of the interests of the people to
that of the state and the IRI has been no exception. In order to
maintain its hold on the nation, the IRI has employed suppressive
measures, some of which are briefly listed here:
▪
The IRI has replaced every protective provision of the Universal
Charter of the Declaration of Human Rights with theocratic fiats of
the state which govern all aspects of the citizens’ private and
public life.
▪
The IRI has abandoned the administration of justice in accordance with
the due process of law practiced in civilized societies and has
adopted the discriminatory laws of Sharia. The sacrosanct assumption
of innocence is discarded. Arbitrary arrests, long detentions without
formal charges, the administration of all forms of physical and
psychological torture, and summary execution of political dissenters
and religious minorities have became the standard behavior of the
system.
▪
All forms of freedoms, mankind’s precious legacy, were either taken
away or severely restricted. Freedom of assembly, of the press, and
association were taken away from the people and became the exclusive
prerogatives of the state.
▪
Journalists and writers of all subjects were forced to serve the state
or face merciless punishment. Numerous journalists, writers and
thinkers were imprisoned; some languished for decades and some met an
early death.
▪
The religious and ethnic diverse groups of the nation, which has been
a great source of its strength and cherished heritage throughout the
ages, were severely repressed in an attempt to force the populace into
a monolithic religious mold advocated by the state. Religious
minorities such as Baha’is, Jews, Christians and others found
themselves persecuted in a variety of ways in their own homeland. Some
abandoned their livelihood, homes and relatives to flee to the four
corners of the globe in search of religious freedom and safety. In
Iran many ended up as prisoners of conscience, some were forced to
recant their beliefs, and a number were executed and buried secretly
in unmarked graves.
▪
Women, who during ancient times were honored as equals to men, were
reduced to the rank of second-class citizens. Their family rights
became severely constricted. Their access to occupations such as
judgeships was denied, in line with the theocracy’s belief that
women are incapable of rendering sound verdicts, and allowed only a
token presence in high-ranking government positions.
Forward:
Secular Green Movement of Iran
Delving
extensively on the misdeeds of the IRI diverts us from focusing
attention on the most promising development that calls upon both
Iranians and the entire membership of the human family for change. The
Secular
Green Movement of Iran (SGMI), birthed by tens of millions of
liberty-loving, long-suffering Iranians, is squarely based on our
ancient triad of Good Thoughts, Good Speech, and Good Deeds.
The
guiding principles and objective of the SGMI, although presently
focused on Iran, can serve as a universal template for every people in
our common planet home. Close examination of the SGMI’s proclamation
reveals an enthralling vision:
▪
Fundamental to effective change is the replacement of the old faulty
and destructive beliefs with universally emancipating principles and
behavior. Prejudice of all forms has been the scourge of humanity
forever. Prejudice of gender, ethnicity, religious beliefs and more
has tied humanity to separate chains and has prevented it from living
as the true family that it is and from reaping the full benefits of
its potentialities on earth. It is with firm belief in complete and
unconditional equality for all people, irrespective of any and all
considerations, that the SGMI summons the entirety of the human family
for a new beginning.
▪
Some 2500 years ago, a farsighted and benevolent king, Cyrus the
Great, issued an historic proclamation to the varied peoples of his
vast empire. He granted every people their rights to dignity,
independence, beliefs and their way of life. The trailblazing king,
considered as the first author of the Charter of Human Rights, showed
the justice as well as the feasibility of diverse peoples living
peacefully with one another to the benefit of all.
▪
Pivotal to the emancipation of the people, their well-being, and
prosperity, is the enshrining of liberty as the birthright of every
individual, group, and nation. Without freedom of thought, belief, and
conduct within the bounds of the law, both the individual and the
collective will be stifled resulting in a human enterprise unworthy of
the name. The SGMI is unalterably committed to freedom in all its
forms. It is freedom that energizes the flourishing of mankind’s
best ideas and achievements in all spheres of life. It is freedom that
sets humanity apart from other species that are captives of their
nature.
▪
Indispensable to the exercise of freedom and protection of the rights
of all people to choose their government is the complete separation of
religion and state. The merits of this principle are self-evident.
Religion and civil governance are two separate realms and intrusion by
one into the other is fraught with great harm. Hence, iron-clad
provisions are needed to keep the two domains apart.
▪
Iran is home to a religiously and ethnically diverse people and each
and every one is an equal shareholder of the homeland. Guaranteeing
equality to all its citizens, therefore, demands no less than full
adherence to the principle of unity in diversity, a unity of purpose
that draws from the strength and uniqueness of its constituents.
▪
Fruition of mankind’s perennial dreams is not possible without
permanently renouncing wars and the development of its cataclysmic
instruments. The SGMI renounces violence of all kinds, be they
execution of minors for alleged crimes, stoning of sexual offenders
and killing people for commitment of victimless crimes, genocidal
campaigns against groups, or aggressing against other nations.
▪
The non-violent position of the SGMI transcends its pragmatic value.
It is inspired by the longstanding Iranian belief in the organic
oneness of humanity as expressed by the classic Persian poem—“Bani
adam azaye yek paykarand; ke as adamiyat ze yek joharand; cho ozvi be
dard aavarad roozegaar; degar ozvhaara namaanad gharaar. In
English, “the children of Adam are members of one body; their
creation is of the same essence; when a member suffers; other members
have no peace.”
▪
Transition from the present failed Islamic regime to a secular
democracy is the central objective of the SGMI. In pursuance of this
objective, a Constitutional Assembly, elected by the entirety of
eligible Iranian voters under the supervision of international
monitors could be the means to usher in the new system of governance.
The SGMI, without reserving any special privilege for itself, would
gladly serve as a sponsor and a clearinghouse for any and all
preliminary consultations and actions that are needed to implement the
transition.
▪
Vital to the success of the effort is the abandonment of old
suspicions, parochial thinking, and scheming for special privileges
for any individuals or groups. Goodwill and work for the common good
is required of all. This new beginning is a paradigm shift from the
destructive ways of the past. There is much to be gained by all when
justice and equity are not exclusive to the few. Justice in all its
forms, as is the case with freedom, must be the guiding principle of
the new Iran, recalling the warning of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.:
Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.
▪
This is the dawn of a new day for our homeland, Iran. Over three
decades of darkness has reached its inevitable end. People on the
mountaintops are clearly discerning the rays of the new sun that
inevitably will chase away the gloom of darkness. And these witnesses
make up the Secular Green Movement of Iran which, with open arms,
welcomes every Iranian into one unified, free democratic nation. It is
time to celebrate the new day by enlisting all of us in the work of
ushering in the light of freedom and insuring that never again will it
be replaced by the darkness of oppression. The SGMI is calling upon
all Iranians, whether at home or abroad, as well as all individuals
and nations to join in ushering in the new day and to contribute
whatever they can to make it a truly magnificent change of fortune for
Iran as well as for the entire home of humanity, the global village
earth.
January
20, 2010
http://www.newmediajournal.us/staff/imani/2010/01202010.htm
http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/19220
http://www.rightsidenews.com/201001228283/editorial/a-new-day-for-iran.html
http://www.losangeleschronicle.com/articles/view/137765
http://www.familysecuritymatters.org/publications/id.5335/pub_detail.asp
