NetNews Usenet Archive 1992 #31/NN_1992_31.iso/spool/soc/culture/iranian/11177

Text File | 1992-12-29 | 3.2 KB | 69 lines

Newsgroups: soc.culture.iranian
Path: sparky!uunet!usc!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!sample.eng.ohio-state.edu!hood!harrsen
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: CBS News and Mojahedin
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Originator: [e-mail]
Sender: [e-mail]
Organization: The Ohio State University
References: <[e-mail]> <[e-mail]> <[e-mail]>
Date: Tue, 29 Dec 1992 23:47:08 GMT
Lines: 56

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Majid Zolfaghari  TX/DKG) writes:

>All right, a democratic Iran is good for Iran. But do not forget that
>the issue of being democrat is not only a feeling. This character must
>be appear in the relation with others people and other idea's and
>especially critical idea's. If one is really democrat, then other
>people should realize that.
>As an example I think that Mojahedin have good discipline. No
>one (not friend and not enemy) has said something against it. But
>it is not so easy to say that Mojahedin are a democratic power, no
>one except Mojahedin will accept it.
>    "Moshk aanast ke xod bebuiad
>            na ke attaar beguiad"

 What are the characteristics of a democratic power?

>I am afraid that an organization which uses verbal violence against
>critical people already before it has got the power, will use
>nonverbal violence after getting the power.
>    "Sali ke xosh ast az bahaarash peidast."

Certainly, the opposite is not true. After all, Khomanie was
very nice to everyone before the revolution (remember HaMeh
Ba Ham). While no one can 100% guarantee what would become of
Mojahedin when the current regime falls, couple of key
points may be examined. Shah kept to power due to its
foreign (US) ties and its military might. Khomanie and its
regime kept to power due to backward religious belief of
many and the huge popularity that Khomanie enjoyed at the
beginning of the revolution. Mojahedin on the other hand
neither have the military might of the Shah or religious
attraction of Khomanie. They are supported and  made of
highly educated individuals whose only goal are to bring
democracy to Iran. The slightest move toward dictatorship
will result in its destruction.

Also, look at their behavior in the past two decades. While
they have captured many Pasdars during the war, not even one
of these Pasdars (some of them were directly involved in the
torture of many Mojahedin) were executed and almost all
were released to go to where ever they wanted to. Many of
these X-Pasdars chose to stay with NLA. These X-enemies of
Mojahedin joined NLA because of the way Mojahedin treated
each other and their "enemy".

Finally, the world has changed. End of cold war has brought
new realities. You see even in third world countries like
Jordan, they are talking about election, parliament, etc. I
have no doubt that whoever comes after this regime, must at
least satisfy basic democracy in Iran; things like freedom
to dress, drink, listen, associate, read, write, elect and
be elected to some parliament.

>Majid Zolfaghari

Asghar