For an Islamic Democracy

There are three things that should be used in moderation!

1) Sex,

2) Wine,

3) Rock & Roll!

Ezlamb belongs to Chah Mostrah (i.e., where Mehdi Farrari rsides!)

Happy new year Salman!

Israel is not an extremist Jewish state because of moderate Jews

Brother FG 

If you don't like the idea of Arab moderate muslims why don't you  think about the other quasi-secular democracy in the area that has so far been spared the extremism because of its moderate/secular  Jewish people/politicians: Israel?

For an Islamic democracy

The only (long term) solution is the education...

The only (long term) solution is the education of the people -- not the alphabet type, but real education. A seeing man does not need a cane to lean on, let alone a crooked one. Here is what I think of institutionalized religions:

//iranian.com/main/blog/meybokhor-manbarbesuzan/be-khoda-khod-khodayi-agar-andaki-khod-ayi

GOD's Curse Upon The "Ism's" Inventors!

"Terror and wrath from your lord have already fallen on you. Would you wrangle with me over names ['Isms' (Names, Labels)] which you have named, you and your fathers, for which no warrant from GOD hath been revealed? Then await (the consequence), lo! I (also) am of those awaiting (it)." (Quran, 7:71)

Is not it ironic the same groups of 'Anti-religions/Neocons/Zionists/etc.' who divided the Islam into democratic/moderate/radical & brached/labeled the Muslims as Islamic terrorists/Islamic Fundamentalists/Talibanists/etc. became themselves the 'terrorists occupiers' of Afghanists & Iraq?

And is not it that because Muslims were busy with their in-fightings among themselves the same 'terrorists occupiers' came up with 'Arab Spring' phenomena to further destabilize the whole Muslims world?

And finally were Mumammed, Ali, Hosein, Salman Farsi (s.a. to all) 'moderate muslims' by any chance? 

"Is it not to GOD alone that all 'pure' religion is due? .........(Quran 39:3)"   

The green movement is not moderate Islam

Brother Bacheh

Please check your facts. The green movement has no single or overall identity. It was/is a hodge podge of everything. There is no substantial societal stratum as moderate muslims in Iran. This is why we are in the mess we are in.  As in Egypt even the Islamic Brotherhood is not half as extemist as they were thirty years ago so I don't know what you are talking about brother.

For an Islamic democracy

It may be true for Arabs, not sure in Iran's case

I'd agree that for the Arabs moderate Islam, Erdogan-style, represents a big advance over the only two alternatives previously available--authoritarian secular rulers and (even worse) extreme Islamist rule (a kind of hell on earth).

Iranians have been de-conditioned agains any clerical role in government by the horrors of the past 30 years.  The IRI has demonstrated that, given power, holy men can be as corrupt and brutal as anyone.  For this reason, many Iranians--including many top Ayatollahs who despise their extremist brothers--now favor complete separation of church and state.  Clerics in power or impowered religion of any sort is an idea that horrifies most Iranians now.

Having not enjoyed such dubious pleasures, most  Arabs still retain too much faith in clerics to behave decently, though Iran's sorry example have made them wary of the more extreme ones and only in a second-hand, watered down sort of way.  You have to live through it to understand.

Arabs have also been encouraged to fear "secular democracy" and confuse it with promoting atheism, rather than what it is--separation of church and state.  Few Iranians have such fears.  Most would take it any day over what they have now.

What I do find funny is how certain extreme monarchists here seem to imagine Iranians would go for a absolute monarch solely because he is not a cleric.   He'd otherwise be indistinct from Khamenei in his power and in his promotion of xenophobia to keep it.  Amir puts too much emphasis on the secular part and misses the real desires--democracy with open and fair elections and full human rights that no one can take away, whether monarch or cleric (no one above the law).

Pure religion is the same as Talibanism

  //en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_terrorism

For an Islamic democracy

The green movement was moderate Islam

The green movement was moderate Islam. Have you forgotten about the chants of Ya hussein and Allahu Akbar from the roof tops? The youth of Iran shouted the names of the Arabic god and the Arab Imams. The green movement is practically the definition of moderate Islam. And guess what Salman? It failed. I really don't know why you are acting like a moderate Islam approach has never been tried in Iran.

And talking of Egypt in your article, what about the unexpected success of the ultra conservative Al Nour party?  Hard-line Muslims who believe in the strict implementation of Sharia. Want to talk more about the Arab spring?

How about Syria, a country that has got the west and especially Israel tearing their hair out. Do they support the demonstrators? If the demonstrators succeed there is a high chance of extremist Sunni Muslims taking charge and destabilizing the whole region. But on the other hand they don't know what to do with Assad.

These are just two examples. The Arab spring situation is far away from conclusion. So don't come here frothing  at the mouth shouting about the massive success they are having in Egypt and how we should immediately copy them.

Salam Bar "Jaw-Hell-Oon!"

Here we go again with a newly invented prefix of 'Islam!'

Inquiry with 'GOD:' Ya Rab were you too forgetful/hasty with your messages to miss all these "pre's" & "post's" of your 'pure' religion applied times after times by the 'Jaw-Hell-Oon' ???

May GOD pardon all our ignorance! Amen! 

Salman you forgot the most important 'ism'