We Have Focused on the Oppressor Instead of Oppression

Rooz Online:

Mohammad Basteh-Negar is a member of what is knows as the national-religious movement. He supported public participation in Iran's recent presidential elections and, along with a group of activists, is in process of forming the "Human Rights and Democracy” front: a long term event that cannot be accomplished mechanically, as he put it.

The following is excerpt of his interview with Rooz: READ MORE

Rooz ®: Do you believe that Iranian society has the preconditions for the establishment of democracy?

Mohammad Basteh-Negar (MB): The challenge in establishing democracy in Iran has a history of 150 years. The Constitutional Revolution aimed at limiting the rule of dictators, and bound them to a series of laws. We see such freedom seeking ideas in the thoughts of cleric Naini and secular Mirza Malcolm Khan in Iran.

R: Iranians have paid a high price for their historical will to achieve their goals in establishing democracy and civil society, how come they have not been successful?

MB: One of the challenges of our society is that instead of reforming the structures of society, Iranians have always focused on eliminating the oppressors. Movements have toppled dictators in the course of the history but since the structure of society had remained intact, other oppressors merely replaced the previous ones. The roots of oppression remain in Iran even if dictators are removed from power.

R: Do you believe that a new movement should be launched that focuses on society and culture?

MB: Yes. I am not saying that the whole movement should work only on social and cultural issues, disregarding all others. To establish a democratic front we should work on political, social, economic and cultural issues. We are trying to cover these aspects in the "Democracy Front". This movement is somehow different from others and different individuals with different viewpoints are currently working on this front.

R: What are the main differences between the Constitutional Movement and Democracy Front?

MB: There are different challenges in society and we only look at them from one perspective. We should take note of the structures of society. Instead of focusing on high level political issues of society, we should aim at establishing more grass root and non-governmental, civil institutions. There are some difficulties for such establishments and we are striving to remove them.

R: Do you believe that the dialogues around democracy and the establishment of a civil society have changed in the past 150 years ago?

MB: We have come along way and I am hopeful that we would be able to resolve the issues regarding the Democracy Front.

R: This Front has three main elements: Republican, Iranian and Islamic. Is the secular class of society welcome to join this front?

MB: We can not ignore the rights of other parties and individuals. I believe that we should let this movement take its natural course. We can not act mechanically.