This isn't...
"Freedom is something we, as Americans, often take for granted. We take for granted our right to assemble, to protest, and to affiliate with whomever we wish. For some people around the world these rights exist only as a dream, much in the same way as they existed to our founding fathers before 1776. This is true for the students of Iran. Recently we had the pleasure to speak to Aryo Pirouznia, co-ordinator of the Student Movement Coordination Committee for Democracy in Iran (SMCCDI), an organization committed to the idea of bringing secular democracy to the people of Iran.
Aryo Pirouznia escaped Iran in November of 1982 to France and in December of 1993 came to America. The struggle for freedom in Iran has not been an easy one; "Our structure (in Iran) has been damaged by the repressive regime in Iran" the 40 year old dissident tells me "Many of my friends have been killed. Many of our comrades have given up their lives."
The current Iranian government came to power through the Islamic revolution, which began in February of 1979. Four months later, that same spring, the Islamic republic was born through "popular" referendum, which was achieved through fixed ballot boxes and intimidation by Armed militia men watching every move of voters. Those who cast ballots against the revolution were beaten. An eight-year crackdown on dissidence followed the phony referendum.
"For infractions as small as playing cards people were imprisoned and beaten, because it was forbidden by Islamic law. " Aryo informed me. It was a reality frighteningly reminiscent of Orwell's vision of 1984, where, I was told, "Children spied on their parents."
Recent events in the Middle East have brought a new fervor to the students of Iran. The liberation of millions in Afghanistan and Iraq has initiated a new time of hope in the region. This, however, has given rise to opposition from many people in America and around the first world in the form of protest marches. Pirouznia's opinion of these "peace protests" are uncompromising, "I think, no offense, these people are devoid of logical sense, they are living in old geopolitical perimeters."
"They are not listening to the poor people of these countries. They are grateful for the overthrow of the Taliban in Afghanistan. They are grateful for the overthrow of Saddam in Iraq. These protesters are simply idealistic without logic. They are playing the game of the mullahs and Bin Laden without fully understanding what they are doing. We come from this region. We know what is going on. They are making themselves the echo of the agendas of these men."
When asked for his thoughts George W. Bush, Pirouznia proudly answered, "Millions of my comrades are praying for his reelection. He is a man of principal. He has, with lucidity, qualified the Islamic regimes as evil. Iranians are qualifying Bush as a messiah of freedom." He went to on to compare him to Franklin Roosevelt and Ronald Reagan, in his stance against global villainy. A fitting comparison, seeing as Reagan made a similar qualification of the Soviet regime in his famous and controversial evil empire speech.
The follow up to this question was obvious, I had to ask his opinion of Mr. Bush's opponent in November, John Kerry. "Kerry has close Iranian friends, who are among his contributors." Aryo stated, "An old Iranian saying is 'If you want to know a person, know first his friends.'"
Hassan Nemazee is John Kerry's primary Iranian supporter, and no friend to the SMCCDI. Recently, Mr. Nemazee has brought a frivolous 10 million dollar law suit on the SMCCDI. Nemazee, according to SMCCDI's website, "is a wealthy and controversial Iranian-American businessman who was nominated by President Clinton to be a U.S. Ambassador to Argentina. His nomination was rejected by the U.S. Senate, following the publication of some very troubling news on his financial activities in the famous and credible 'Forbes Magazine'." In a public statement about these lawsuits, SMCCDI has stated the following:
These two frivolous and potentially muffling law suits were filed on March 3rd at the 125th Judicial District Court of Harris County (Houston Texas) by Nemazee's hot shot lawyer, Charles R. Parker, who specializes in "complex business litigations." The SMCCDI's registrant was served on April 16th, and the Student Movement's coordinator, Aryo B. Pirouznia, was served on April 20th.
Tactically, the law suits are believed to be an attempt to publicly rehabilitate Nemazee's reputation. Being the subject of many less than positive discussions, Nemazee needs his image polished to cleanse John Kerry's Presidential campaign that has been tarnished with troubling questions on his international links.
Fear of a Kerry presidency comes from statements the senator from Massachusetts made several months ago. He stated that he planned on "engaging" the Islamic regime. The very terrorist regime that our own State Department lists as the most active "State Sponsor of Terrorism."
Of the Islamic Theocracy that has a hold on Iran Aryo states, "They know that the human aspiration moves toward freedom." Stated the optimistic Aryo, "They believe that this problem must be attacked at its source…America." His idealism is truly an inspiration."
Visit the website: www.daneshjoo.org
