Iran: Characteristics of an Alternative to the Islamic Republic in Iran

Bahman Aghai Diba, PhD International Law

The Islamic revolution in Iran proved once again that mixture of politics and Islam in a world that is divided into nation-states and the governments designed to follow the national interests does not work. For a long time in Iran (hundreds of years), religious people had claimed that all problems in society came from non-observance of Islamic rules and if religious Islamic leaders become political masters in society, everything would be in order and justice would prevail all over the state. More than two decades of Islamic government in Iran has shown clearly that the idea is not working.

There is no doubt that the people of Iran are less religious and more under-developed now, compared to thirty years ago. The Iranian experience had a great deal of impact on many Muslim countries. The tide of Islamic revolutions in all these countries has died. The Islamic revolution should have happened in countries like Egypt and Algeria much sooner than Iran because their people were more prone to accepting Islamic tenets. Now, the experience of the Iranian revolution has discouraged them from moving in the same line. At the moment, no great Islamic revolution is in the making.

On the other hand, many people in all Islamic societies are trying to separate religion from politics. What is happening in Iran at the present juncture is a clear struggle by the people of Iran to separate religion from politics. There is no other way. Anyone, including all Muslims and any government, especially the U.S. which wish a better life for the people of Islamic countries and similar states, and also seek international peace and development should help the cause of separating religion from politics. At the same time, one of the most important points that have helped the present regime of Iran, with all its incompetence and unskillful management, to remain in power is the discussion about the alternative. As soon as the discussion begins about the shortages and problems of the present regime, the question comes to mind as to what is the alternative to the present regime of Iran? Who are the forces that are or claim to be the opposition? Which of them is proper for popular support? I do not have a clear response to that question. But here are the characteristics of the future government of Iran. The future regime of Iran (whatever it is called) must have the following characteristics:

(1) Secularism. This means that the people are sick and tired of religious extremism. Religion is a personal thing and it should not be run by the government. Imposing ideas is against the freedom of expression and a violation of the people’s basic rights. Religion should be separated from the state. A special organization should be established to look for and discard religious notions that find their way into state affairs.

(2) The revival of the Iranian identity- the present religious government of Iran has been trying to disconnect Iranians from their glorious past. Although Iranians have received Islam through Arabs, this is not something the Iranians appreciate or welcome. Many Iranians still feel the humiliation of an imposed religion. Some Iranians believe that Islam was planted by the Iranians in the Arabia, which was part of the lands ruled by Sasanid and other Iranian dynasties. Also a number of Iranians believe that what we hear about great Islamic civilization is in fact the Iranian rich heritage captured and redistributed by Arabs who lived in nomadic tribes of Arabia at the advent of Islam. Therefore, Iran needs some kind of “De-Arabization”. Contrary to what may Westerners think, Iran is not an Arab country and it is not a deeply Islamic country. The people of Iran are not serious Muslims and they do not intend to be so. Unfortunately, the present Government of Iran that does not represent the people of Iran has taken positions that are against the Iranian ideas and interests. The Government of Iran, which has taken the power through a creeping coup and it is called “the Second invasion of Iran by the Arabs”, has been killing itself during the last 30 years to make the people more Islamic but all of those efforts are in vain. The people of Iran at the moment are less Islamic than the time of the previous regime. The regime has taken many steps visibly and invisibly to impose, attract, lure, deviate, or push the people toward Islam and it has failed.

(3) Respecting human rights as mentioned in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The new government of Iran should observe the Universal Declaration of Human rights and should respect the obligations accepted by the state of Iran regarding the United Nations Covenant on the Civil and Political Rights and also the UN Covenant on the Economic Rights.

(4) Equality of women in all aspects with men as a principle. Islamic rules, as interpreted by many Islamic experts are against the equality of men and women. There are many points that differ in Islam and the UN Convention on Eradication of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. It goes without saying that women as equals have all of the rights that men enjoy. The nomadic norms of the ancient Arabs cannot be the basis of law in a modern nation-state. The Islamic rules about women should be discarded totally as they are against the human rights and human dignity.

(5) The government must be elected. The people of Iran like almost all peoples in the world are seeking a democracy for their country. They have been struggling for this purpose during the last hundred years. Iranian people reached the conclusion of the need for democracy far earlier than many other nations. Unfortunately, the efforts of Iranian people for getting to democracy have been undermined by various internal and external elements. The 1979 Revolution in Iran was one of the latest efforts of this nation to get democracy but again it has been deviated by a minority of religiously narrow-minded persons.

(6) Changing the Iranian calendar to an Iranian form. It is meaningless for Iranians to choose something in the Arab history as the basis of Iranian history. The Iranians had a great civilization before the developments in the Arab regions and something like the date of the first universal declaration of human rights issued by Cyrus the Great must be the basis for the Iranian calendar. This is a necessary goal for the new regime.

(7) Free economy based on the market and governmental supervision. Centralized economy is a bad idea. Iran has suffered a lot due to the economic policies of the religious zealots who have tried to impose the Marxist economy under Islamic disguise. The new regime of Iran must stay away from centralized economy.

(8) No interest in the issues of Arabs and the Palestine. Iranians do not care what the issue of Palestine is. The Arabs for their part have had many negative approaches toward Iran. Apart from the fact that the Arabs called the Iranian Muslims Ajam (aliens) or Majous (Zoroastrians), the Arabs held Iranians responsible for the biggest division in Islam. Sometimes Iranians are called Rafezi (meaning those who are far from the religion of Islam or they have left the religion). Even today, some groups, like the followers of various factions in Iraq constantly call the Shiites of Iran as Rafezi. Many of the Arabs do not consider Iranians as Muslims. Syria, headed by the Hafiz Assad, after being paid in free Iranian oil, was the only Arab country that supported Iran in international forums and some Arab gatherings; but even Syria preferred the Arabic sentiments towards Iran. She never supported Iran on the issue of three Iranian islands of Greater and Lesser Tunbs and Abu Mousa in the Persian Gulf. The General position of Arabs is that Iran, just like Israel, is occupier of Arab lands. The Arab problems should be left to the Arabs. The future Iranian government must think of new points of interest. The relations with Israel should be one of these new points of interest.

(9) Good relations with the West especially the USA. Iran and the USA have many common interests. Iran can get its proper position in the region and the world through cooperation with the USA. Just imagine what will happen in the case of Iranian rights in the Caspian Sea and the Persian Gulf if the USA is on the Iranian side.

(10) National reconciliation. Many of the people who work with the present regime of Iran are forced to do so for survival. The new regime or the alternative to the Islamic regime must have enough capacity for a national reconciliation in order to avoid bloodshed and use all forces for the development of the country. Also, a merit system must be established. The Islamic Republic of Iran has introduced the system of blind obedience and has imposed it in all levels. Illiteracy and ignorance are top qualities for the managers of the Islamic government in Iran. This must give way to a merit system.

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