In Iran, Islam is not the issue any more

Category: Middle East, World Affairs Topics: Iran, Tehran Views: 4888
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Mass demonstration in Tehran on 2 December 1978 (Pic by XcepticZP / Wiki commons)

It is clear that Iran is going through its worst internal crisis since the 1979 Islamic revolution. Less obvious but more significant is this: Islam is no longer the dividing line between the proponents and opponents of the theocratic regime in Tehran. 

The trend has been in the making for a decade. But it has manifested itself clearly during the crisis roiling the country since the contested results of the June 12 presidential election. If the trend holds, it would constitute the biggest political, religious and social change in the history of the Islamic republic.

The new battle line divides those in the regime who continue cracking heads to hang onto power and those who, in varying degrees, want the rule of law, human rights, greater personal freedoms and an end to Iran's international isolation.

The latter include Islamists and non-Islamists alike, and those in the regime and not. They are led, for the most part, by women and the young in Iran and in the diaspora.

This was evident in Saturday's rallies in Toronto and more than 50 cities around the world calling for reforms in Iran, said Sima Zerehi, 31, editor of the English part of the Toronto Farsi weekly Shahrvand.

Twenty cyclists, led by University of Toronto graduate student Ali Bangi, 34, pedalled to Ottawa to deliver an Amnesty International petition to the Iranian embassy. A group of hunger strikers was led by Fouad Oveisy, 24.

Rallies of the Iranian diaspora used to be dominated by the rabid, aging opponents of the Islamic regime: the monarchists, the Marxists and the terrorist-designated Mojahideen-e-Khalq. No longer. 

Paralleling their decline has been the erosion of fervour among the backers of the regime and the increasing divisions in their ranks. 

"People are moving away from religious and other fanaticisms towards liberalism, democracy," says Reza Baraheni, a noted Iranian author who came to Canada in 1998. He was among 30 Canadians who went to New York last week for rallies in front of the United Nations. 

The nearly two-thirds of Iran's 75 million population that's under 30 has little or no memory of the revolution. That's truer of the young of Iranian descent in the West.

"They do not have the old ideological baggage," says Ramin Jahanbegloo, professor of political science at U of T. "The old divisions are dissipating. The post-ideological generation wants political, cultural and social change.

"They believe in non-violence, human rights, civil society and civil disobedience" - hunger strikes, silent sit-ins, spiritual retreats in mosques, and boycotting banks and bazaars. "They are Gandhian." 

The fault line is no longer Islam? 

"Yes. This is no more between Islam and non-Islam. This is not a clash between secular and religious forces. The issue in Iran and the diaspora is over state violence and those who reject it."

That's what is also dividing Iran's clerical establishment. Many are criticizing the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, for siding with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and cracking down on dissent. They are demanding a new election or at least a referendum under independent auspices to see if the public thinks the June 12 vote was fair.

Khamenei is not likely to agree, thereby eroding his credibility further. This is dangerous for the velayat-e-faghih, whose authority is religious and moral. In theory, he can be replaced by the Assembly of Experts, headed by Hashemi Rafsanjani, the former president who has broken with him so openly.

So Khamenei may crack down some more, using the Revolutionary Guards, the ostensible guardians of the Islamic republic. They already stand accused of staging a coup - usurping the election, principally to protect their power and business empire accumulated mostly under Ahmadinejad. 

A confrontation looms between an authoritarian regime that's becoming more so and those who have had enough of it.

Haroon Siddiqui is editorial page editor emeritus at Toronto Star. He can be reached at [email protected].


  Category: Middle East, World Affairs
  Topics: Iran, Tehran
Views: 4888

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Older Comments:
JAMAL FROM MALAYSIA said:
It is sad just when I thought people in Iran are going to some changes but unfortunately you still see leaders in Iran similar to Malaysia's Mahathir who outlived his usefulness.
2009-08-28

JAMES FROM USA said:
Thanks H A. I didnt know we still have some muslims who share my opinion like yourself. Muslims we have today are cowards. Some of them hide under the banner of Lailaha illa Allah but internally, they work for zionist. No matter what hypocrite and kaffir do, the Light of Allah will sustain.
2009-08-21

YOHAN FROM BHUTAN said:
the people of the Book will not cease from waging you until you follow their form of religion laments james.
The so-called Muslims accuse the believers, the true Muslims as "people of the book, Zionist etc.", as if it is a great sin to be so, and wage terrorism and ideological warfare against the believers. But how long should it linger? It's time to cease, James. Turn to the true Islam that existed in purity before the emergence of the perverts that destroyed the believers and drove them from their hearth and homes.

Regarding the gays, they are not to be laid at the doors of the people of the book. They are the product of their own lust and not byproduct of doctrine of the book, the believers' guide and protection... The land must be cleaned of the presence of gays and lesbians before they pollute the serene garden of delight the Lord created for our joy and pleasure ... James and Ahmad, prepare to defend your version of Islam against the people of the book. But entire of our ISLAM is in the book that continues to guide true Muslims...
2009-08-20

H.A. FROM YATHRIB said:
Islam needs individuals like James & Ahmad. Anyone who protested Iran's election is a Kafir, no buts or ifs.

Iran = ONLY TRUE ISLAMIC COUNTRY and the one who is fighting against the Kafirs and for the alleviation of Muslim sufferings.
2009-08-19

JAMES FROM USA said:
Good comment Mr Ahmad. islamicity itself got problems. Why should we as muslims hold on to democracy as way of life and abandon sharia? isnt Quran says that ALlah chose islam superior over all other religions? what is wrong with muslims today who are hurrying to pick up apostacy. Why should I beleive in the so called reformist while he couldnt prove "rigged election"? Please hands off Iran. I see Iran as islamic nation and the only brave one to confront kuffar. We dont need democracy because it's full of hypocracy and disbelieve. They claim they believe in democracy to uphold human right while israel is violating human right everyday against the palestinians and they do nothing about it. Democracy is double standard and we dont need it. Regardless of what section of islam iran is, I still consider most to be muslims. Because some Iranians muslims and non muslims dont like the regime doesnt mean they right. I see bloody/violent protests as a way to distablize Iran and get the west hand on it soil. ISLAMICITY, you better be careful in what you report. As a matter of fact, I dont believe or trust any muslim organisations this days. Most are subservient to zionist regime or the west. For instance, back in November 2008, when attacks on Mumbai occured, there is this muslim organisation in Woshington DC that I cant remember it tittle emailled me. Subject line reads " Attack on Mumbai has finally ended". The body of the letter critized muslims a lot-refering them as terrorists. I replied to the message as " But war on islam still on, you wont report that?" Yet this group claimed it's islamic. Several weeks later, Israel attaked Gaza but this group never sent me an email to condem the barbaric act of violence. Am sorry I dont beleive i democracy. It's opposite of Shariah. However, Islam is democratic in it nature, so we dont need anyone telling us how to live our lives. " the people of the Book will not seize from waging you until you follow thier form of religion"
2009-08-19

EUGENE S. JONES (ABDUSSALLAM) FROM UNITED STATES said:
True Islam should be manifestied by proper behavior. If all the allegations and news reports are correct, it would be assummed that this political order is unjust and doesnot represent Islam.
2009-08-18

YOHAN FROM BHUTAN said:
This is a good sign of peace and development in the great, ancient nation of Persia. Liberation of its people from the slavery of the hired ideology of lone prophet that demanded all!!
God save Iran. God save the Iranians.

Pray that the people of Persia are not departed from the security of true ISLAM that existed before the dawn of the 6th century AD.
2009-08-18

AHMAD FROM USA said:
WHY,do I continually read about Muslims seeking "democracy"? WHY, do they appear to reject Islam? My ancestors were kidnapped from Africa and forced to abandon their religion and work as slaves in america where they were considered less than human, this is my experience with democracy. Today,I read how so-called "modern Muslims" are striving for democracy, a failed, man-made ideology.Why is this, and what is wrong with reclaiming a true Islamic identity that guarantees human rights?
2009-08-18