Unveiling a dictatorship

Alaleh Ashtari, iranian.com: I missed this before the election, but it is an important read.

After twenty-six years of desertion by the international community, the world is interested in Iranian politics. In light of the nuclear weapons threat and recent elections, nations around the world are inquiring about Iran's political state. As a result, the Islamic Republic of Iran is receiving an unprecedented amount of media attention. Thousands of photographers and reporters from around the world are in Iran in order to cover the first and second round of elections.

This is a great opportunity for a suppressed nation, who has been under a gag order for over two decades, to finally have a voice. But as the recent coverage of elections has proven, the international media is not interested in what the people have to say. Instead they have concentrated on the candidates and the "overwhelming" number of people at the polls. READ MORE

However, communication through a translator with Iranian politicians such as Mr. Rafsanjani, paints a tainted picture that is far from reality. Exposing what limited information reporters have gathered through the biased words of Mullahs and so-called government officials, gives the wrong impression of Iran to the international community. In order to truly understand the political atmosphere in Iran, the media must concentrate on the realities that exist behind what appears to be strong support for the government. Realities that people in Iran are afraid to expose.

In the last 26 years, the Islamic Republic of Iran has violated all international, constitutional, and human rights. They have done this solely for personal monetary gain. The citizens of Iran are truly tired. They are hungry; they are weak; and more importantly, they are afraid.

Islamic Republic of Iran rules under the pretense of a democratic society. But as the recent election clearly demonstrates, the country is under the rule of one un-elected official, the Supreme Leader of Islam, Mr. Khamenei. All Presidential candidates are first selected by Mr. Khamenei, and only then, people can vote for their choice candidate. As the recent election demonstrated over one thousand men and women registered to be considered for candidacy, but only seven were selected, none of whom were women.

Pictures of the huge campaigns for the candidates might suggest great interest in the elections. It might falsely lead one to believe the Iranian people are hopeful and believe in their power to change things by supporting a candidate. However, what the pictures fail to show is why these young men and women are in the streets with campaign posters, bumper stickers and banners.

In a country where most young people cannot get into college, cannot get jobs, cannot express their political and religious views, the key to success is support of the government, even if it is only on the surface. To put it simply, it is all theater. The reality is that the government has forced obedience upon its people.

In Iran, the government exercises control over universities, banks and businesses. In order for businesses to operate they must obtain annual government permission. They will not be licensed if they do not participate in religious and political activities. Universities are run by extremist government officials.

Documented participation in political and religious activities such as Friday prayer and elections are among the many unreasonable requirements for admission into a university. In fact, before allowing registration, students' IDs are checked for voter stamps to confirm their participation. Additionally, employers and business owners require their employees to participate in campaigns and elections in order to comply with government regulations.

In short, the "large number of voters" parading in front of media cameras, are there not of their own volition, but because their livelihood depends on it. However, inside those election boxes lie millions of ballots with nothing but graffiti and words of condemnation on them. Unfortunately, the corrupt government will report all those invalid ballots as votes for its favorite candidate.

Of course there are some true supporters of the government among the people of Iran. But they are few in number. There are people who have made millions of dollars by taking advantage of a lawless and corrupt society, thereby creating the super-rich/super-poor classes that make up the people of Iran.

There are also the religious fanatics who truly believe in Mr. Khamenei as their Islamic leader, and will follow his direction at all cost. These are the people the media tends to show often. They are seen in Friday prayers and in pro-government demonstrations as they chant "death to America". Iranian officials want the world to believe these people are representative of the Iranian population. Needless to say, that is far from the truth.

An overwhelming majority of the county is in complete opposition of an Islamic government led by Mullahs. But their voices are rarely heard in the international world because they are afraid to speak up. In a country where free press and freedom of speech are foreign; where torture, imprisonment, flogging, disappearances and public-executions are consequences of expression of political opinion; where human right are meaningless, and the right to self-determination is unknown, the people have lost their voice.

When I compare the Islamic Republic of Iran in the beginning years and again in its recent "reformed" state, I can only make one conclusion: Not only no "reform" has taken place, but Iran is on a steady road to complete destruction. Considering Iran is the 4th largest exporter of Oil in the world, the high unemployment rate among the under-thirty population is unexplainable.

But the reality is that young people can't find jobs, can't attain higher education, and cannot build independent lives for themselves. As a result, most suffer from severe depression and hopelessness. It's not surprising that drug addiction is at its ultimate high among young men and women. And that in an Islamic country where women are forced to cover their hair and bodies, young prostitutes (voluntarily and involuntarily) work every park and street corner.

Yet, the mullahs claim to have cleaned up the country with their forced ideology and dictatorship. All this is common knowledge among the Iranian community both inside and outside the country. But the media seems oblivious to it. I have yet to read an accurate report on the harsh realities in Iran.

For the first time in twenty-six years, the international media is interested in Iranian politics. This is the time for reporters and photographers to break through the barriers of the Islamic Republic of Iran and expose the hidden truth.

Media coverage has always been a crucial tool in political change around the world. But it can only be effective if done thoroughly. Therefore, if broadcasters and newspapers are going to present only what appears to be true without searching for the reality behind appearances, we are all better off with no international exposure.

My sentiments exactly.