Candidates promise more social freedoms in Iran

Reuters, Swiss Info:

Leading candidates in Iran's presidential election race pledged greater social freedoms on Thursday after millions flouted the Islamic state's strict moral codes by celebrating a soccer victory through the night. READ MORE

Soccer fans in the nation of 67 million people flooded streets to celebrate the 1-0 win over Bahrain that booked Iran's place at the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany.

In scenes not witnessed since Iran beat the United States during the 1998 World Cup finals in France, young men and women danced and clapped to loud pop music and set off firecrackers.

Some women took off their headscarves briefly in violation of the country's strict dress code. Security forces kept a low profile, allowing, for one night at least, people to get away with behavior that would not usually be tolerated.

Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, 43, a former commander of the hardline Revolutionary Guards who has softened his image, said such celebrations were just as worthy as the Islamic mourning ceremonies endorsed by the state's clerical rulers.

"My view on people's celebrations is very positive. People should celebrate while respecting religious and national sanctities," said Qalibaf, running second in opinion polls ahead of the June 17 election.

Front-runner Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, 70, a moderate pro-business conservative who was president from 1989 to 1997, also suggested he favored fewer restrictions on social life.

"In the current environment ... there is no use imposing tastes, being strict and going backward," local media quoted him as saying. "Whoever becomes the president cannot work without considering the demands and conditions of the society."

PERIODIC CRACKDOWNS

Social restrictions have eased greatly under outgoing reformist cleric Mohammad Khatami, with young people now enjoying more freedom in what they wear, what music they listen to and in how they behave in public.

But periodic crackdowns occur and authorities still try to keep a tight rein on Western cultural influences by blocking access to thousands of Web sites considered immoral and maintaining a widely flouted ban on satellite television.

All eight presidential rivals are aware of the importance of appealing to young voters in a country where half the population is under 25 and the minimum voting age is 15.

Rafsanjani suggested censorship was not effective any more.

"We can no longer build a wall around ourselves, nor can we impose censorship to protect ourselves from the (enemy's) cultural onslaught," he said. "Global communication has become so widespread that nothing can be hidden from people."

The liberal Aftab-e Yazd daily noted the celebrations passed off peacefully: "People's activities will cause fewer mistakes if they are not confronted by strict restrictions."

But the candidates have to walk a fine line between appealing to the mass of disaffected Iranians who want more freedoms, while not alienating conservatives.

"I am very surprised that all candidates favor re-establishing ties with the United States," said Defense Minister Ali Shamkhani.

"When one sees the pronouncements of the candidates, one realizes they are not really any different from each other."

Politicians in Iran can promise anything and then blame the "hardliners" for crackdowns later since the Presidency is powerless anyway. The people of Iran know this too well.