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Why Iran Hasn't Been Liberated Yet

Ghazal Omid - 8/7/2006

Hundreds of thousands of political prisoners and thousands of losses of life; why then has Iran not been liberated? Why the new blood of a recent political prisoner killed in Evin did not water the tree of freedom in Iran! In recent days, Akbar Mohamadi, 37, a former university student died in Evin prison, due to bodily injuries, after a nine day hunger strike. He has become a controversial subject among expatriate Iranian opposition. Iranians and non-Iranians alike mourn his death but, while his departure should have been the beacon of light all Iranians are waiting for, his heroic death was instead turned into a mockery of his brave act by the chauvinistic opposition who knew little about him when he was alive and has exploited his naivety for their own purposes.

The burning question of why Iran is not yet free, can perhaps answered here: Iranian’s future it is what we make of it. Until people understand that becoming an regime opponent is not just about having differences of opinion with the regime but requires working together toward a common goal of regime change, Iran will continue its regression to a medieval pariah, with nuclear capability, in the eyes of much of the civilized world. Quite frankly, maybe some Iranians both inside and outside Iran are not ready for change because they don’t portray themselves in the political game as willing to seize the opportunity to make the right move. If the so-called opposition were willing to put their own agenda and personal pride on the back burner and practice some of the slogans they shout at their meetings, we wouldn’t still be writing about the future of Iran nearly three decades after the Mullahs came to power.

The world knows that the Iranian mullahs had about as much chance surviving in the game of politics as would someone living on the face of Mars, except for the fact that they exploited the conflicting egos and pride of their opposition to create an internal war which is still paying off for them. What the opposition has done in the past 27 years has certainly worked to the advantage of the regime and no one is more to blame for the regimes continued stay in power than those who fight with the legitimate opposition.

Before his death, Akbar made a last phone call to his close friend, Mr. Amir Abass Fakhravar, to let him know that he was going to begin his hunger strike. He told him that the new revolution needs blood and he was going to give his life for the sake of all the political prisoners who have died that no one has heard of. He thought he would give fresh blood to the tree of freedom and start a journey that will end by dethroning the Islamic regime, hopefully in the coming months.

Among his wishes were: that no one should wear black at his funeral and to make sure everyone will be on the street at the given day and time to send a strong message to the regime.

Alas, this may have been wishful thinking because he has become the subject of much unanticipated controversy. Unfortunately, not many of the controversial issues and political advertisement has had a positive affect in the uprising of Iranians against this regime.

The opposition of the Islamic Republic seems to be divided on marginal issues; from whose name should be on the letter sent to his grieving family to who should speak at his ceremonies held outside Iran. They are divided on the smallest differences and exploit each others weak points; so much so that close friends of Akbar Mohamadi and former jail mates, including Mr. Amir Abbas Fakhravar, a former medical and law student and prominent regime opponent, who has spent 5 years of his young life, including eight months in solitary and torture, in Evin prison alongside Akbar Mohamadi. Mr. Fakhravar has become the subject of extreme scrutiny by many of the opposition wannabes.

While the regime change is everyone’s dream, because of the never ending, childish animosity and jealousy at every level among expatriate Iranians, from Republicans to Monarchists, the list of people who really are working toward a common goal of a better Iran is shrinking day by day. The bickering and bad mouthing of one another and use of foul language in official letters and releases has turned the crusade against the Islamic Republic regime into a diva catfight, which, in the end, no one will win.

I have always believed that in the fight against our enemies, we shouldn’t become like them. Right now, unfortunately for the Iranian nation, with the exception of Reza Pahlavi, who has been a figure head for the Monarchist, Mr. Fakhravar, a political activist and secretary general of the in dependent student movement, who has the support of students and young women both inside and outside Iran and the US government, there has been very little positive movement toward the prosperity of Iran from any other so-called opposition.

If Iran is to be free, one thing has to happen and that is for the opposition to start acting like an adults. All factions must stop writing releases criticizing one another; spreading blaming and hate toward independent activists who are using their energy to unseat the Iranian regime.

A beginning of a better fight against the regime would be to stop forging signatures beneath unauthorized releases and join in a common goal to oust the mullahs.