AFFLICTED WITH PAIN

AFFLICTED WITH PAIN

Human beings are members of a whole,
In creation of one essence and soul.
If one member is afflicted with pain,
Other members uneasy will remain.
If you have no sympathy for human pain,
The name of human you can not retain.

This poem by 13th century Persian poet Sa’adi, graces the entrance to the Hall of Nations of the United Nations in New York. On 23rd of September, the so called president of Iran on his fifth visit to the general assembly passed the same entrance to address the leaders of the world. However, his audience as well as hundreds of protesters outside the UN and millions of Iranian in Iran who know this poem believe that he has no sympathy for human pain. On his arrival at the UN, he faced the pictures of young political dissident who were killed during the post-election crisis either inside the prisons or in the heat of the demonstrations. Their bodies were sold to their families by the authorities while they were forbidden from observing the usual religious rituals. Many of young detainees were subjected to horrific experiences inside the detention centres and the politicians who took up the cudgels for them were accused of treason and acting against the national security. Since the 12th of June, midnight arrests, solitary cells, forced confession, torture, rape and killing have only been part of the appalling behaviour of the Iranian regime towards its opponents. Last Wednesday after almost 100 days of governing a society conditioned by violence and repression the head of this regime in his 35-minute speech, covered many issues. His speech included some rather bizarre and very ironic points:

a) He stressed that today the ideas and public opinion should be only determining factors.
b) He repeatedly condemned the despicable form of intimidation and deceit in the name of freedom and democratic practice.
c) He emphasized that the unfair system of thought has reached the end of its road and it is unable to move.
d) He mentioned that it is no longer possible to humiliate a nation and impose double standard.
e) However, at the end he insisted that he won a “large majority” in June election which was “glorious and fully democratic”.

This pattern of denial and deception from a head of state can only continue to baffle anyone who observes the current political situation of Iran. He should, however, know that it is no longer feasible to use this strategy to twist the reality of the present circumstances of the country. The influx of information from inside Iran literally made it possible for the rest of world to comprehend the whole truth. At this crucial period of our age, it is indeed the responsibility of not only the international community at the UN but all human beings to express their sympathy for the pain which had been inflicted by this regime. A free Iran is the great country to be longed for and a great aim to be fought for.

Shahin M