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Democracy and Islam

Reader comment on item: Iran in Crisis

Submitted by Walter (Austria), Jul 23, 2002 at 07:27

I first would like to thank you for your balanced observations on Iran and Iranian society.

Please allow me to add some remarks: When talking to Iranians in and out of Iran they heavily critizise their government, the hypocrisy, the criminal gangs etc. But critics against the government and especially against the rule of the clergy (correctly: only a part of the clergy) goes back to the early 1980s statements of Ayatollah Montazeri, a close ally and once deputy of Khomeini, who is confined to his house in Qom for more than a decade. Quite a lot of Iranian leftist-Islamic activists close to Khomeini now support democratization of their own society, and as it seems to me are quite honest in their committments. Mid-range functionaries of the regime critizice the support of the Palestinian cause (although they don't really like Israel), arguing that Iran should solve problems at home rather than create or support conflicts abroad...

Another observation is the surprisingly free book market and critical press in Iran itself, both quality and quantity of own production and of translations excel any Arab country. This development seems to me inevitable, even if the regime should be willing to use force against their own people. (But who is the "regime" - Khamenei, Khatami, some other interest groups?)

Although I don't think that some core areas of Iranian foreign policy like the support for Lebanese Hizbu'llah will be given up immediately, Iranian politics under Khatami clearly stepped in a more positive direction. They may continue - insha'allah


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Reader comments (30) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
President Ahmadinejad [34 words]Sanam GhoddoussiAug 29, 2005 18:5625183
Mind your race [72 words]AhuraNov 24, 2004 09:4518576
Secularism v. Theocracy [149 words]Sanam GhoddoussiMar 9, 2004 15:5314139
Chris you say that as if Iranians are Arabs! [42 words]Some GuyAug 7, 2003 11:3910471
How many Zaraostrians are there in Iran anyway? [16 words]Some GuyAug 7, 2003 11:3310470
Fascism, Communism and Militant Islam [226 words]Gabriel GrossoJan 3, 2003 09:035448
In response to A. Kaffir's comment [83 words]Nima VokshoriNov 10, 2002 19:353765
Return to the Zoroastrian Roots [105 words]A. KaffirAug 4, 2002 15:441629
A Ray of Hope [122 words]Arlene SwartzmanJul 30, 2002 15:361507
Correct analysis by Dr. Pipes [23 words]Mike HarariJul 28, 2002 03:211459
A comfortable spot somewhere between [68 words]Melvin A. FechterJul 25, 2002 19:431436
A glimmer of hope? [62 words]Rick SteenoJul 24, 2002 23:221428
Dr. Pipes is correct on Iran [122 words]The chafing discontent of millionsJul 24, 2002 19:511426
Plenty of false dawns before [223 words]PatrickJul 24, 2002 11:561419
Ascent/Descent [157 words]David VosbikianJul 24, 2002 09:231415
Democrats vs fundamentalists vs militants in Iran? [260 words]Adam BurczykJul 23, 2002 21:021409
Deluded [200 words]EklektosJul 23, 2002 20:211408
We still have a long journey ahead [102 words]HabibJul 23, 2002 18:541406
What the Free World can do to fight Militant Islam [82 words]N. KhanJul 23, 2002 17:491404
Refreshing look at Iran's evolution [83 words]Debbie Wallis LandauJul 23, 2002 16:331402
What about the other Islamic tyrannies? [226 words]LB DeyoJul 23, 2002 13:191399
Where's Bani-Sadr when they need him? [63 words]Gilbert SchwartzJul 23, 2002 13:181398
Prejudice vs. Truth [160 words]Radwan Abu-IssaJul 23, 2002 13:001396
As Iran Goes, So Goes Militant Islam [322 words]ChrisJul 23, 2002 12:481395
Iran's aid to the Palestinians [157 words]Lila B. ReismanJul 23, 2002 11:471394
IRAN Has Nowhere To Hide [80 words]Glenn KlotzJul 23, 2002 11:381393
Is It 1989 All Over Again? [116 words]PeterJul 23, 2002 11:071392
Aha! [120 words]P KrenkelJul 23, 2002 09:261391
Dare to Hope? [92 words]Margery FeinsteinJul 23, 2002 08:431390
Democracy and Islam [253 words]WalterJul 23, 2002 07:271389

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