What is Going On With The Recent Unrest?

This piece was written by a sympathizer of the American Iranian Friendship Committee, with the intention of inviting comments and discussion of his ideas. We therefore encourage responses and polite debate. Please send your comments/analysis to: AIFC@optonline.net and put in the Subject Line: Response to Unrest in Iran. Thank you! AIFC Editors


What is going on in the political arena in Iran is what started in the midterm of President Khatami--the formation of two distinct political parties, which most recently declared their existences during the last presidential election. These two established parties were so well known to the Iranian people for so many years, to the point where each party had its own candidate in the final round of the presidential election. The result of the election: Mr. Ahmadinijad (fundamentalists/principalists), with 21 million votes, and Mr. Mousavi (green party/reformists), with 11 million votes.

The election was an appropriate time for the Green Party to announce itself. By marching in the streets at first peacefully, they were showing their discontent with the election results. Later demonstrations turned into riots, using election fraud as their slogan. The principalists also declared their enormous numbers in the streets later. After the issuance of Mr. Mousavi’s letter of “national unity/concession”, Tehran has been quiet.

These events are normal for a new democracy. From all these events, one may conclude: first, there is enough democracy in Iran that allows such demonstrations; second, that Iranians can resolve their differences; and third, that American dollars with its propaganda machine have failed.

The world should recognize that democracy and freedom are stronger now than ever in Iran. Iranians are trying to “walk and chew gum at the same time”, meaning defeat the Imperialists and seek more freedom, concurrently. Iran needs more time for its people to develop, because educated people are often the agents of change.

The Principalists are also for change: “Our problem in Iran is not the woman’s dress code,” Mr. Ahmadinijad said. The Green Party is also against any friendly relationship with the United States: “We did not send any letters to them, like some people did,” Mr. Mousavi wrote.

Iranians now are proving that they are ready to be freed from some of these strict and religious rules, which were established, in part, to combat the Imperialists. The political leaders once more proved that no matter how big their differences are, at the end of the day they unite.

Iran should not have any friendly relationship with the United States and its cronies; otherwise, Tehran would turn into the center of terrorist activity by those neighboring countries oppressed by the United States. Also, depending on the terms and the extent of a relationship with the U.S., Iran’s interests can go either way. It has the potential for Iran to lose its allies around the globe, face economic sanctions and even bombardment and war. Because of its strategic location, its oil, and its growing political power in the Middle East, Iran is important to both the West and the East. Iran needs to benefit from the attention and relations with both sides. Many of the political leaders in Iran have proven to be savvy. Misters Larijani, Khatami, Ahmadinejad, and Mousavi are among the prime examples. Iranian political leaders have done well for the people so far, considering the messy political world situation caused by the powerful oligarchies based in America, Israel, and England. Now is the time for the slogans to say, “With the East AND with the West”.

Mr. Ahmadinejad put emphasis on education, similar to his predecessors. Again, education enables people to change society for the better.

There is no room for violence. It’s obvious not all Green Party members are rioters, but the government needs to punish those who in fact did riot. Mr. Mousavi himself denounced the rioters.

Active democracy was in full swing during this last election in Iran, shown by the fact that 85% of the eligible voters went to the polls and cast their ballots, which beats any western election in modern history. The rate of political progress is directly proportional to the percentage of moderates in a society. In the Iranian political system, there is no need for extremism. Support for one party, at the cost of unjustifiably smashing the other, creates a wedge among Iranians.

But dividing up the Iranian people is exactly what the Imperialists want, and this should not be allowed to continue.

The question now is whether there are enough moderates in Iran to “walk and chew gum at the same time”, meaning to both keep the struggle for independence going while also striving for more freedom.

Submitted by Ahmad Aleagha