"A Word with the Nation, A Warning to the Regime"

Iran va Jahan:

The following is an an unofficial and abridged translation Of a statement dated November 2005 signed by 674 personalities including former Members of the Iranian Majles (parliament); well know academics, political and cultural personalities as well as student activists.

In the Name of God

The eight year struggle for the promotion of political reforms initiated internally at the behest of the regime has finally come to a halt having been directed towards fundamentalism by way of an organized election, leaving the aged Iranian nation in the grip of a serious socio-political crisis with its ensuing worries for Iranian society and upheavals for the Iranian economy.

Following the publication of two statements that have come to be known as the "565 and 615 Signatures" following initial announcements concerning the composition of the current Iranian Cabinet, it is our 'national and patriotic' duty to inform the great Iranian nations of certain matters. READ MORE

Dear Compatriots,

The current situation in our country validates the positions taken previously in the above-mentioned statements. In particular, the assumptions made in the "615 Signatures" have now clearly have proven themselves to be true.

The 'behind the scene producers of this play', having carefully orchestrated a complex and multi-layered scenario for the production and promotion of their production, were well aware of its final ending having for many years planted the seeds of disillusionment and hopelessness upon the Iranian nation.

In order to portray a superficial picture of real competition in the election process, they resorted to making use of certain elements from within the ruling establishment who had in the past been critical of government policy. Moreover, having ignored various protestations to investigate irregularities in the election process, they speedily resorted to confirming the frightful results of the first round (which could have drastically changed the entire outcome of the election) and effectively reduced the position of the presidency to what is no more than the status of the 'Chief of Staff of the Powers at Play'. They in effect completed the puzzle consisting of an obedient parliament and presidency. This scenario has been played out despite the fact that in 1979 the people of Iran had become fed up as a result of injustice, inequality and despotism which were exercised by a beholden and corrupt ruling establishment (known more generally as the '1000 families'). The Iranian people took part in the revolution to promote democracy and to replace despotism with popular sovereignty while replacing nepotism and corruption with social justice, civil society and the rule of law. Regretfully, after the passage of more than a quarter century, the people's struggle for democracy and their aspirations for safeguarding Iran's national interest and sovereignty, as well as all the other demands and slogans of the revolution, have failed to materialize. Moreover, given the fact that irrespective of all existing legal structures, the centers of power have taken it upon themselves to act beyond the law by validating personal rule and despotism, it does not seem likely that such demands will ever be addressed as the ongoing situation continues to deteriorate on a daily basis.

Our Fellow Countrymen

The present legal structures are such that in addition to defying the rights of the nation in selecting the representatives of the people, even freedom of choice in the presidential elections have been taken away from the people. Given these barriers, a large number of our compatriots and in particular women and followers of other religious beliefs (i.e. non-Moslems) are altogether denied the right of becoming a candidate. Also, all others, no matter how qualified they may be, are subjected to the same fate by being eliminated by the 'Guardians Council' through its many layered vetting process. It thus follows that only one fate – namely elimination from the electoral process – awaits anyone who should aspire to dissent from the official line.

The ruling establishment having succeeded in unifying the three branches of government is now bent on pursuing a policy of confrontation abroad while imposing a tight and security conscious atmosphere at home which is complimented by a constant threat of violence and intimidation to any notion of defiance. In order to sustain itself and ensure its dominance, this policy has resulted in a barrage of daily crisis and has in turn required acts of brutal suppression as witnessed recently in the province of Khuzistan as well as in some Kurdish regions of our country.

While defying the rights of all citizens, the ruling establishment has taken it upon itself to ignore all basic freedoms, international obligations, the Universal declaration of Human Rights and all its Covenants (civil, political, economic, social and cultural), and by ignoring the basic rights and freedoms it had itself agreed to incorporate in the current national constitution, it continues to sustain and nourish an unsavory and 'police state' atmosphere that cannot be in the national interest. These policies are pursued oblivious of the fact that in the age of information, communication, national awakening and people's awareness if their inalienable rights, the time for all these policies and tactics has come to an end.

Dear Compatriots

Today the government controlled media which operates on the basis of resources that are made available to it by our nation, is engaged in a boring and one sided propaganda campaign to praise and justify the current government and its policies, in the futile hope that they may succeed in 'brainwashing' the Iranian nation. The majority of newspapers, media and web sites who are critical of government policy have either been shut down or severely censored by the regime (filtering in the case of the web sites). This is at a time when all newspapers sympathetic to the government are left completely free. There are also those amongst the media who while fearing death have resorted to committing suicide, as in the case of those newspapers who fearful of government intervention, themselves resort to a policy of self censorship in the hope of sustaining their operations.

Meanwhile the foundations of religious belief amongst the people have been seriously undermined and in some cases severely damaged as a consequence of the actions of those who have abused religion in order to lie and perpetuate injustice. The unchecked rise in drug addiction, the devaluation of personal and family values, murders, suicides, political assassinations (such as the 'Chain Murders'), illegal and uncalled for interference in the rights and privacy of citizens, as well as the growing disillusionment and unhappiness amongst the country's younger generation and many other such complaints are all part and parcel of the actions of the ruling clique in the socio-cultural arena.

In the economic sphere, growth of corrupt monopolies, rising unemployment and inflation, the continuing brain drain, money laundering, rampant corruption - particularly on the part of those close to the centers of power, are all exacerbated by a flawed legal system that acts preferentially and without consistency in the case of those who have wasted or usurped the nation's national wealth. And finally in the international sphere, a damaging, confrontational and most alienating public and customary diplomacy which is oblivious of Iran's national interest and devoid of any thoughtful planning is yet another reminder of a defunct government that simply lacks the competence to address the many issues that are before it.

Our Fellow Countrymen

Are some of the recent statements, speeches or edicts issued by the newly installed Islamic government simply not a reflection of the reality that those in power are oblivious to and devoid of any belief in the rights of our citizens? Can one truly believe that mere slogans are capable of solving the many problems confronting us? Can this new cabinet consisting of people with a 'military/intelligence' background that proposes to penetrate our people's inner thoughts and views ever be capable of pursuing policies of tolerance and reconciliation? Can the course of combating economic decline and corruption ever be seriously pursued by those who for many long years have been in charge of the economic pulse of the nation through a variety of private foundations ('Bonyad's) and other economic centers that have defiantly been unanswerable to the nation? which has brought nothing but harm and degradation to our people, Can those who have benefited from the use of unauthorized and illegal ports and airports to conduct illicit tradingplay a constructive role in promoting justice and ending disenfranchisement? NEVER.

Dear Compatriots

Iran's nuclear file and its policy of proliferation have today assumed a role similar to that of the 'Sword of Damocles' hanging over the head of the Iranian people. Misplaced ambitions, ineptitude and secrecy on the part of those in charge have resulted in a situation where the rights of the Iranian people have now been seriously compromised. Consequently, as a result of irresponsible action on the part of the government, the call for a temporary halt to uranium enrichment made following the passage of a resolution on 2 September 2003, has now been exacerbated to a level that current expectations call for nothing short of a permanent halt. The irresponsible and immature behavior of those in power who have resorted to sloganeering in place of thoughtful policies have now brought about a situation whereby the sharpness of the 'Sword' has been enhanced to a level that clearly places the life and territorial integrity of our nation in serious jeopardy. For our part, we will never kowtow to any threat or intimidations made by the big powers or submit to their double standards. However, we cannot at the same time accept that the Iranian people should be held responsible for policies in which they have had no input whatsoever. It is clear that this policy of crisis has been deliberately promoted by the incumbent forces in power, not to safeguard the rights of the Iranian people, but for domestic consumption purposes in an effort to detract and sideline those who are struggling to promote the cause of democracy and basic freedoms. More important than the nuclear or any other matter, is the establishment of a democratic system of government that is mindful of the basic rights and freedoms of the Iranian people. This is the main goal of all Iranians. With the establishment of a government based on the true will of the Iranian people, both the concerns of world leaders as well as the scientific and other economic priorities of our nation will cease from being a source of anxiety to the international community.

Dear Compatriots

It is essential to remind those in power that they are the servants of our nation and no one in whatever position is not permitted to consider himself the absolute and perpetual ruler of our nation by exerting total control over all branches of the government and interfering in all matters large and small, without having to answer to anyone. Moreover, he cannot also resort to assuming the role of the opposition, by deciding from time to time to criticize others. In order to end this state of deepening crisis and to guide the nation away from the inevitable dead-end that it is currently being pursued, we the undersigned, while committed to a course of non-violence, demand the incorporation of true and meaningful reforms in the system of governance that is in harmony with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and its Covenants. Such a system should ensure basic freedoms, justice and the rule of law, as well as the participation of all concerned Iranians who are outside the scope of the current ruling establishment. It is our wish that in the interim period, all freedom loving Iranians should embark in an all out national effort prior to a stage where as a consequence of the destructive and reactionary policies of the incumbent regime, the territorial integrity, and the national independence and security of our nation is placed in further danger. This is particularly so since Iran's nuclear and human rights policies, have led to the creation of an unprecedented international consensus against our nation.

Signatories include: Bahaedin Adab, Fatemeh Haghighatjou and Seyed Ali Mousavi Khoini - former Members of the Majles; Abdol Ali Adib Broroomand, Head of the Central Committee of the National Front; Abbas Amir Entezam (Spokesman of the First Post-Revolution government), Ali Afshari (associated with the Student movement and political prisoner), Hermidas Davoud Bavand (former diplomat and University Professor); Simin Behbahani (poet and Writer); Abdollah Momeni and Ali Delbari (student activists); Faribourz Raeesdana, Nasser Zarafshan, Nasser Farbod (first post revolution chairman of the Joint Chiefs) and many others.....

The list of the signatories includes former Members of the Iranian Majles (parliament); well know academics, political and cultural personalities as well as student activists.

Translated by Dr. Mehrdad Khonsari