The U.N. Security Council seems intent on moving the international viewpoint towards a confrontational stand against Islamic republic of Iran. The facts that the Islamic government has lost an opportunity to contact UN and US directly, on nuclear issues, gives the Iranian opposition groups an incredible opportunity to take advantage of this new situation. It seems that US policy for “ changing behavioral policy “ in Iran is moved toward changing Islamic regime. Islamic regime’s foreign policy to be regional hegemonic power has failed after Afghanistan and Iraq’s war. Iran’s national strategy to be leader of the Muslims around the world has also failed since their neighbors and the leadership of the Arab states challenges them. Islamic regime in Iran is struggling with pressure from the International community on one side, and internal ethnic divisions, on the other side. Internal strife is causing the destabilization of Iran. Some US politicians believe that the United States does not need to, nor should it intervene in Iranian politics, since its own domestic problems will eventually topple the regime. I considered that any political opposition to the Islamic regime without the involvement of Kurds, Turkmans, Baluches, Azeri’s, and Arabs would fail. The reality is that Kurds, exceptionally and potentially, are well prepared for liberal democracy in Iran and in the Middle East. Kurdish political parties and Kurds in Diaspora have been instrumental in leading positive changes in Iraq and this leadership role manifested itself again in formation of a united opposition front for Syria in 2007.
As a member of the Kurdish community in Diaspora, actions must be taken to ensure that the situation in Iran is taken advantage of in favor of the Kurds and other minorities before the loss of this opportunity and thus on November 2005 a group of Kurdish-Americans decided to organize a committee to work on Kurdish issues in Iran and to build a relationship among Iranian opposition groups toward democracy. The following points clarified a need for organizing and helping the Iranian political parties to come together and to start coordinating their efforts. We considered that:
1. Iran is not a homogeneous ethnic society and formidable Iranian opposition parties are aligned with separate ethnic groups.
2. Persians are a minority who has been the dominating power since the end of WWI and all other minority groups have revolted at some point during the 20th century and continue to do so in this century.
3.Kurdish struggle for human rights and self-determination is the longest and most mature democratic national movement in Iran, the only one to have developed a constitution for a democratic society (The Republic of Kurdistan, Mahabad 1947).
4. We considered that any political opposition to the Islamic regime without the involvement of Turkmans, Baluoch, Azeri, Kurd and Arab groups would fail.
5. Almost all Persian nationalist parties have vowed to side with the Islamic regime to “fight” minority groups and democracy. Based on the above ideas and considerations, Kurdish Americans from Iran organized a Committee for Democracy on December 2005.
” Kurdish American Committee for democracy in Iran” had a sense of obligation to take an active role in organizing the Iranian opposition groups by:
– First creating a unified Kurdish front and later by bringing the other minority opposition groups together.
Looking at the social fabric and history of Iran and planning for a democratic society.
– Give resources and expert help on political party and organization building to the political parties that participate in this effort.
– Encourage and consult with the participating entities on political party structure and democratic practices within the parties themselves.
– Bring Iranian party leaders (not limited to Kurdish) together in Washington DC or Europe for working meetings.
– Make available the result of study on opposition front methodology and facilitate the creation of the front.
– Help develop media campaigns aimed at publicizing the democratic values of the United Iranian Opposition Front and its program.
– Facilitate help for newly formed democratic institutions operating in Iran (there has been an up-surge in the year 2006-2007) Mobilizing the Kurdish Americans of Iranian decent to participate in the struggle for freedom and democracy in Iran. -Promoting the Kurdish Americans of Iranian decent to Participation In American Civic Life and Iranian American issues.
– Formation of the United Iranian Opposition Front by Iranians and securing of its leadership role as well as public relations campaigns exposing the Iranian regime.
* Azad Moradian ,Chair of Kurdish American Committee for Democracy in Iran
