Amazon Honor System





Opinion * Support iranian.com * FAQ * Write for Iranian.com
* Editorial policy


Tic tic tic
The timer is ticking for the Islamic Republic

July 5, 2002
The Iranian

The third anniversary of the Iranian student uprising is around the corner. On July 9th. 1999, in the dead of night, the regime's forces stormed the student dormitories, beating, looting, maiming and in at least one officially admitted case (the late Ezzat Ebraahim-nejzd), murdering the students -- setting off the four days of nationwide student "disturbances".

After three years of empty promises by the highest authorities, the "divinely appointed" and the quasi democratically elected, it has become crystal clear that not a one participant in the attack is going to face any consequences for his criminal action.

It has also become clear, by virtue of the facts, that the victims are to pay the price for being just that, the victims. As of this writing, innumerable students are languishing in prisons, suffering the long sentences handed down by the Kangaroo, Revolutionary Courts.

The Western governments, choosing to be preoccupied with IRI's dialogue of civilization PR campaign, ignored the uprising, relegating it to the nuisance status. It turns out that, like most historical events, the importance of the uprising becomes more profound by the passage of time. Admittance to the publicly funded Tehran University, has always been a coveted, hard to achieve endeavor.

Limited openings are based on a long list of political/religious criteria and a battery of vetting processes designed to insure ideological loyalty of the applicant. By bucking the official line, the fine-mesh screened students, who are from all stratum of Iranian society, showed their true desires and aspirations, which are diametrically opposed to the ruinous IRI's policies.

Three years ago, many of the regime's sacrosanct red lines were crossed, baring the lie that only a minute minority of "Westoxicated" heretics are against its rule. The flood gates were opened to the pent up resentments and utter disgust at its corrupt, brutal, religious-apartheid rule. Henceforth, the regime has had to rely solely on the ever more brutal displays of its apparatus of suppression.

Public floggings and dangling bodies atop of cranes of last year, around the same time as the second anniversary, have given place to a new method. As of the last Wednesday, all retail stores, without an exception, have been ordered to close at midnight, making suppression of the potential demonstrations easier at night.

During the day time, black combat fatigue clad, Uzi submachine packing, menacing looking brutes, are cruising the streets in sets of fours in brand new black four wheel drives. Since their deployment of last week, ostensibly to combat "vice" and "sound pollution", numerous passers-by have been treated to a mulling on the spot.

The unpardonable crime, amongst others; wearing a too- short a compulsory tunic or having a finger nail polished, or worst offense of them all, boys and girls holding hands or boys having a "depraved hair cut". Ever since July 9th. of tree years ago, the regime has had to come out of the transparent closet and show its fascist face unobstructed.

The far-fetched, IRI style, plausible deniability of not having control over the "civilian cloth" shock troops, has given place to Mussolini style black shirts. Even the "moderate" Interior Minister of the "reformist" cabinet has endorsed the new force, prescribing the harshest methods to combat "depravity".

The President himself, were his name removed from the text of his recent speeches, is making it a hard task to distinguish between his utterances and those of his non-reform inclined brethren. The fuse was lit on July 9th. 1999, the length of the cord is inconsequential, the potency of the expected cataclysmic explosion and its reverberating shock waves throughout the entire region and by extension the world, is what should be of prime concern.

There is still little precious time left for a people-led, peaceful transition to a democratic system. European Union's self delusional appeasement policy and the American tinkering with a milder and kinder Islamic Republic based on Dr. Abdul Karim Soroush's blue print and implemented by his acolytes currently working for the IRI, is spitting into the wind. The timer is ticking, tic tic tic.

Comment for The Iranian letters section
Comment to the writer
Shahriar Zangeneh


ALSO
By Shahriar Zangeneh

Zangeneh's features index

RELATED

Kooye Daneshgah
Photo essay: Student uprising, 1999

The spark
... that ignited nation-wide student protests

Photos
- Student protests (1)
- Student protests (2)
- Demonstration against the student protests

Now what?
Three possibilities following the student protests
By Mark J. Gasiorowski

1979 not 1999
Protest movement has no recognized leader
By Fereydoun Hoveyda

Widening gap
Reflections on the student uprising
By Rasool Nafisi

Iran at the cross-roads
Image, identity, tolerance and freedom
By Yahya R. Kamalipour

Opinion pieces in iranian.com

SECTIONS

* Recent

* Covers

* Writers

* All sections

Amazon Honor System

Book of the day iranbookshop.com



Khaateraate Jamalzadeh

Copyright © Iranian.com All Rights Reserved. Legal Terms for more information contact: times@iranian.com
Web design by Bcubed
Internet server Global Publishing Group