It is hard not to notice the constant quarrels amongst different political individuals on IC. Indeed, this is a true reflection of the divisions and animosities of different parties and political factions of the Iranian diaspora. Groups such as Royalists, Islamists, Communists and Melliun consider themselves the natural heir of Iran’s political future because of their “political sacrifice in the past”. They use emotional stories of their political prisoners to create a charged and emotional atmosphere, instead of discussing the merits of their political ideologies. Each believes to have a monopoly of the “right political ideas”. They refuse to form a collation and vow to never cooperate in a future democratic Iran. They believe they have the right to exclude each other from a future free and democratic Iran. They all forget that each is actually a minority. The independents have always been and are the majority in Iran. Because of a lack of political freedoms in Iran, the Independents have never been heard and never had a voice.
I contend that without a voice for the Independents, it is impossible to have a democratic and free political system. The independents are those who keep the political parties and their fridge lunatics and antidemocratic factions in check. The independents create the political atmosphere of tolerance and inclusion. Without a voice for the independents, each political party and groups will pursue its inherent exclusionary policy that we are witnessing today. The independents provide a democratic system the checks and balances that become an obstacle to the inherent un-democratic tendencies of all political parties. All Iranian political parties and movement have an undemocratic past.
Our history of the last century is a perfect explanation of the reasons behind the widespread political discord and hostility in Iranian political landscape. Historically, we had 4 political movements in Iran, the Islamists, the Monarchists, the Communists and the Mellis. All of the current political parties and groups have one way or another originated from these original “big 4”. In the absence of a voice for the independence majority, the first three have clearly been undemocratic and the fourth has have undemocratic elements and movements within it.
1) THE ISLAMISTS ….. well, need I say more?
2) THE MONARCHISTS. Those monarchists who advocated a ruling monarch supported the tyrannical and undemocratic regime of the Pahlvi era and created the perfect environment for the Mullas to take over. Here, I am not arguing the social freedoms and infrastructure progress of the Pahlavis.
3) THE COMMUNISTS. Their history is that of the Tudeh party. Their treasonous past is one of support from the USSR and its policies in Iran including cessation of Azarbaijan, , opposing Mossadegh and supporting the Islamic Revolution and Khomeini. Yes, I know you communists on IC “are different” but we also have the history of many other countries who tried the one party system, abolishing private enterprise who created a different form of tyranny and dictatorship. The undemocratic nature of the Iranian communist parties is evident to all.
All the above 3 have been EXCLUSIONARY in all their political past. They have tried to seize power by excluding the rest.
4) MELLIUN. At the time of Mossadegh, he truly was an INCLUSIONARY force. However, the lack of a voice for the independents and many other factors brought his demise. However, let’s not forget that the Jebhe Melli of his time also included religious elements which later formed Nehzate Azadi. These elements were critical in bringing Khomeini to power. For 15 years Bazargan, Yazdi Ghotbzadeh et al. acted as the political wing of the mullas. In addition, JB itself and Mr Sanjabi and Forouhar supported Khomeini at the time of revolution. The JB of today believes they have some inherent right to Iran’s political future because they own Mossadegh’s legacy. In fact, according to Bakhtiar (in his interview with Harvard Iran History) Mossadegh never considered himself a member of any political party including JB. He used to get furious when they referred to him as a member of JM!! Is it possible that he wanted to be an INDEPENDENT???
I believe, despite all their undemocratic pasts, all parties should be included in a democratic system. A strong voice of the independents, equipped with the power of their votes, will strip all parties of their undemocratic tendencies and will keep their lunatics at the very far fringes of the right or left. The monarchists who want dictatorship, the Islamist who want to mix religion with politics, the Communists who want to ban entrepreneurship and create a one party Utopia, and the “JM”s with their elitist attitudes, will all be included in a DEMOCRATIC and INCLUSIONARY system but will never have the absolute power to rule and exclude each other.
Who are the Independents? They are the ordinary Iranians who want a free and civil society. They want free votes. They want social freedoms and better life for their children. They want freedom of speech. They want no political prisoners and freedom of the press. They want accountability of their politicians. They may like a monarch but will never support a ruling one. They may consider themselves “leftist” and fight for the rights of the workers, but do not want to give up a multiparty democratic system. They are Muslims who want to practice ether religion at home not at schools and government buildings. They are Mellis who no longer worship Mossadegh and admit to his shortcomings and also agree that all others have the right to be politically active.
I also submit to you that without an independent force there will be no coalition of the Iranian opposition. The independents will be able to bring these fighting factions together. The realization that none of these groups will ever have a monopoly on power, and that their numbers are minuscule compared to the independents majority will force them to submit to the will of the rest of us.
So I say, INDEPENDENTS, lets rise and be heard. This is the way to freedom and democracy in our country.
