
It
is a no-brainer that President Mubarak was going to eventually meet the
demands of the Egyptian demonstrators by stepping down from his never-ending
presidency. Most Egyptians appear to have revolted with sincere intentions,
but it would be naïve not to suspect that various forces such as political
Islamists jumped on the bandwagon and exploited Egypt’s domestic turmoil,
fueled as well by the massive support and encouragement from Western
mainstream media, especially CNN.
The movement was given another significant lifeline with unprecedented
support from the Obama Administration that demanded the Egyptian government
honor its people’s cry for freedom. President Obama has encouraged the
people everywhere to use the events in Egypt as an example for gaining
freedom.
It was a rather peculiar stance for this Administration to take since in
2009 it did not extend the same support to millions of Iranians pouring into
the streets risking their lives demanding the overthrow of the Islamist
regime in Tehran.
That was an event that, unlike Egypt’s, turned bloody before the eyes of
horrified global community. Perhaps President Obama will stay true to his
words, and morally support the ongoing Iranian efforts in this endeavor.
Maybe CNN can devote the same zealous broadcasting on behalf of Iran’s fight
for freedom that it has shown for Egypt’s.
In that regard, it is imperative to note that the recent events across the
Arab world should not misguide Iranians towards an erroneous and undesirable
political direction – derailing their aspiration for a complete regime
change with a simple change of guards. In 1979, Iranians were fooled by
Carterism, or support for theocratic regimes. Let’s not repeat history to
everyone’s continued detriment.
During a Feb. 11, 2011, interview with KRSI Radio, a former Iranian diplomat
and president of Azadegan Foundation, Dr. Assad Homayoun, stated that
although a desire for a better life, rule of justice, and human civil rights
have been the fuel for moving the masses; unfortunately, history has shown
that their dreams could end with terrifying results. Reign of terror may
follow if it becomes a full blown revolutionary movement as a group of
elites with expertise in the field and an ideological agenda take over the
power of the masses. In this regard, Homayoun believes that at this time the
fate of Egypt’s future remains uncertain.
Unlike their Arab counterparts, the Iranian uprisings since June 2009 are
not concerned with “human resources” issues, but rather the country’s entire
management structure. Unlike Egypt, Iranians sit on an abundance of natural
resources badly needed for the global economy. So a new, healthy Iran and
its ability to self-govern is a whole different ballgame than Egypt – not to
marginalize Egypt in an already strained and radical region.
Many analogies have been drawn between revolts of Egypt in 2011 and of Iran
in 1979 all of which are based on the wrong premise rendering them baseless.
There is nothing similar between the two scenarios.
Egypt in 2011 is poor and its masses live in substandard conditions. Iran in
1979 was exemplary in demonstrating how a third world country could rise and
compete with the industrialized world if it fostered education, skills and
modernization among its people. The main issue lacking at the time in Iran
was proper political participation for which efforts were underway as
Iranians were becoming more educated in political science and world affairs.
What happened in 1979 reflects how people in Iran were manipulated by
domestic ideologues and foreign fear of the then-Soviet expansionism into
revolting rather than reforming their most prosperous era in modern history.
Although it is hoped that Tunisia, Egypt, Lebanon, and other Middle Eastern
nations begin to take charge of their destiny and improve their societies,
Iranians should remain focused and not deviate from their main goal.
Iranians know they cannot be truly free until political Islam has been
removed from their constitution and form of government.
Unlike the Egyptians, Iranians will not settle for the removal of a
character such as Ahmadinejad only to be replaced with a lesser Islamist
such as so-called opposition leaders — Mousavi or Karoubi. The agenda of the
continued Iranian opposition is not a “human resources” issue involving the
replacement of one of the regime’s agents with another, but a secular,
national re-conquest!
Although to some extent Egypt incorporated Sharia laws to some aspects of
its currently-suspended Constitution, the Iranian people are completely
rejecting their Sharia-based Constitution.
The Internet age will bring unfathomed changes. It will guide and energize
the masses while recording the events so that historical facts cannot be so
easily discarded and rewritten to fit an agenda. Iranians were the first
people to use technology to show their revolt, and others will follow suit
as the Arab world has demonstrated for all the world to see its desire for a
better life. The people of the world are rising, not for outdated and
inhumane political- or religious-based ideologies, but for the rights of
every man and woman to live free, dream and pursue happiness. In that
regard, the Iranian people share the aspirations of the Egyptian people, if
not necessarily the same solution.
Sheda Vasseghi is on the Board of Azadegan Foundation and a member of
Persepolis3d.com. She is a regular contributor to WorldTribune.com and
FreePressers.com on Iran’s Affairs.
Sheda Vasseghi is a member of the
Board of Azadegan Foundation and persepolis3d.com. She is a regular contributor
on Iran’s affairs.
This Article published in the
Free Press this is a courtesy copy to the
original article.