Rock On Freedom-Loving Iranians! By Andrew L. Jaffee, June 16, 2003	Home   Search   Forum   Terms

Sunday, a group of 248 Iranian pro-reform activists issued a statement asserting the right of Iranians to "fully supervise the actions of their rulers and to advise and criticize them, as well as to dismiss or oust them if they are not satisfied." The declaration was signed by influential journalists, liberals, intellectuals and even some religious clerics. The statement also chided the ruling Islamist elite saying, "sitting or making individuals sit in the position of divine and absolute power is a clear heresy towards God and a clear affront to human dignity." This declaration has added fuel to a steady schedule of protests over the last week.

Sunday night marked a sixth straight night of pro-democracy protests in Iran, in which thousands of people have participated. While the largest protests have occurred in Tehran, the capital, there are reports of demonstrations in other cities.

As usual, the right-wing, reactionary Islamist forces have struck back against the protestors. On Saturday, pro-dictatorship thugs broke into student dormitories at Tehran University to arbitrarily beat people up. Right-wing vigilantes have been attacking demonstrators across Tehran.

The Islamist dictators and their thugs will fail. Sooner or later Iran will be free. Democracy and freedom are what all people deserve. Alas, there are those who are terrified of freedom. They want to be told what to do. They are afraid of free will. The BBC posted a statement by one of those fearful people:

I absolutely reject the concept of "democracy" and "freedom" as nakedly false phantoms of the West. Who would ever want to be "free" when they could instead live in the glorious order and sanctified grace of Sharia?

I'd laugh if I weren't already crying. I feel sorry for this person who lives in total delusion. But to heck with him/her: Iran must be free!