ROAD MAP FOR A NEW DAWN ?

ROAD MAP FOR A NEW DAWN ?



In 640 when the Arabs invaded Iran and conquered the Persian Empire they announced their triumph as their greatest victory (Fath al Fotoh). They were confronted by a resilient nation unlike any they had fought before. Although the Arab victory brought to an ignominious end to Sāsānids, ruling density at the time, it was not the end of the Persian Empire. Rather, it marked a new beginning. Within two centuries Iranian civilization was revived with a cultural richness developing new ideology and taking in art, architecture and crafts. This great level of sophistication was rooted in its pre-Islamic Iranian heritage but was stirred into fresh life by the Arab Muslim conquest.

I emphatically disagree with those who state that the Iranian people always know what they do not want but hardly know what they want. History proves them wrong. Even our ancestors always defended their sovereignty and freedom. The Iranian people have always struggled for their right to be free but particularly during the last 200 years. The vast majority of them might not be able to define precisely this sacred longing, however they can sense it; for them it is like the scent of jasmines in the spring or watching doves flying free in the blue sky.

Why has this deep desire of the Iranian people still not been fulfilled? The answer is simple. Those who have been in charge of our affairs, so called politician, have always put their own best interest before the best interest of our nation. The deals have been done behind closed doors; the majority of ordinary people have been treated as second class citizens who did not understand the well-being of the country. The politicians believed the nation needed an emperor, a guardian or a wise supreme leader.

The recent events in Iran and particularly in the capital no matter how sad and upsetting they are, have created a vestige of hope for the Iranian people inside and outside of Iran. However, it can not be overstressed that this time the problem must not be dealt with by replacing one president with another or even one supreme leader with another. The concept of having reform inside the regime was tested during Khatami’s presidency. It took eight long years for people to understand that the power structure of the system would never allow any real change. They would certainly not allow simple rights like freedom of speech and freedom of expression. Is there any evidence which makes the situation different this time?

I firmly believe that our beloved nation will eventually prevail and receive the precious gift of God who offers justice and mercy to every single human being. This is our absolute duty as Iranians to honour those people who are being humiliated, attacked and killed on the streets of our country. We must fight as we have never fought before and I know that we will not go quietly into the night.

Shahin M