IRAN in Twenty-Twenty
Year 2020 has not started very well for the Iranian People. Just a few days into the New Year, United States assassinated top General of the Quds forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards of the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI), in Iraq. The external arm of the Islamic Republic military force, Quds forces has been involved in regional countries supporting non-state actors in many countries, including Lebanese Hezbollah, Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, Yemeni Houthis, and Shia militias in Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan. Despised by many in Iran as well as the region, never the less General Soleimani’s assassination questions the legality of such an action.
In retaliation IRI sent a few missiles towards US bases in Iraq. This tit for tat sent a shock wave in the region for a possible major confrontation between Iran and the USA. But fortunately rational minds prevailed and what could have been an all-out war ended at that.
Unfortunately the victim of this event were the thousands of prisoners who remain in prison with uncertain future and more than 1500 people who died a few months back when Iranians peacefully protested a decision to raise fuel prices. Already faced with economic hardship, this action caused an outrage amongst the Iranian people and what began as a protest to increase in prices the slogans turned against the system and directly its leader, Ayatollah Khamenei. The 40 plus year economic record of the Islamic rulers manifests nothing but their insatiable appetite to exploit the natural resources of the country and deprive the people of Iran from the minimum standard of living.
In the midst of the increase in tensions between Iran and the USA, a Ukrainian passenger plane was shot down over Iranian airspace. Originally denied its role in crash of the plane, the Islamic Republic of Iran under pressure by international community especially by Canadian government where a major number of the passengers with dual nationals of that country came from accepted it’s involvement by only blaming it on “human mistake.” Still the regime has resisted to turn the black box to Ukrainian government claiming lack of expertise by that country.
Then came the flood of 2020. Nine days into the New Year heavy rain and mismanagement by the government caused a major flooding in Southern Iran. The floods have destroyed thousands of houses, displaced hundreds of people, and caused at least three fatalities
Next came what is considered the end of Iran nuclear deal better known as the Joint comprehensive plan of Action (JCPOA). Following the US decision to leave the deal, the European countries continued to commit to the deal. But recently certain measures taken by Iran appears to force the European countries to rethink its decision and pursue possibly imposing its own sanctions against Iran.
With the advent of social media the role of the opposition outside Iran has become immerse. Unfortunately there are those in the opposition that would encourage war on Iran or unconditional sanctions against Iran without thinking of their effect on the people and the future of Iran.
We oppose both schools of thought. History has proven that democratic change cannot be forced upon any nations. Unfortunately this is a long and arduous route but we believe for a true change this is inevitable. You cannot insert or force democratic values upon a nation but it must be distilled upon them.
Iran by no means is any different! For forty years and beyond, the children of our nation have been brainwashed by fundamental thoughts and slogans. They have been thought that “Death to the USA” or “Death to Israel” are good and must be chanted every day and every night! They have been thought that you should burn other countries flags or walk over them! But we have seen over and over again that the Iranian people refrain from doing so!
Meanwhile the Islamic Republic of Iran has not sit silent. Through its external lobby in the United States of America, via “National Iranian American Council” (NIAC) and in Canada the “Iranian-Canadian Congress” (ICC), they have been active in presenting a peaceful portrait of the Islamic Republic and a dangerous war mongering portrait of its adversaries.
What does the Union for Secular Republic and Human Rights in Iran believes in and stand for? We believe there is no separation of moderates and hardliners within the governance of the Islamic Republic of Iran. We seek a change through non-violent means for an Iran believing in separation of Religion from state (Secularism) that respects the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. WE OPPOSE WAR WITH IRAN!
The immediate effect of sanctions are the people. While opposing an all-out sanctions we don’t oppose sanctions against the oppressive elements of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Democratic change cannot be forced externally. While we encourage continued stay in the nuclear deal we also think the international community and those countries dealing with Iran must not sacrifice the lives of the Iranian people for economic gains.
Certainly we understand every government should consider the best interest for their own nation but we hope at the end human dignity overshadows all economic advantage!
