Association des Chercheurs Iraniens (ACI), an
organisation dedicated to unbiased research and study of issues concerning Iran and its
future, sums up the present situation in Iran as follow:
In a space of twenty two years Iran is once again faced with the
dilemma it found itself in 1978 be it for different reasons. At that time the Shah's
regime was condemned to two choices: persecution and carnage or observing human rights and
freedom. Although his regime was served by disciplined armed forces with one command, for
reasons that do not concern this report, he chose the latter and we have witnessed its
consequences.
Today for many varying reasons and the very nature of despotic and
persecutory regimes, the Islamic Republic finds itself in exactly the same spot. Due to
the debilitating position of the present regime, the chiefs of its army threaten the
nation with executions and coup d'etat and like many other weak and threatened
undemocratic governments, other bodies resort to kidnapping and the assassinations of
scholars and free thinkers. They are unaware that the problems facing Iran will not be
resolved by internal political fighting but answers must be found for an impoverished
society, which has been humiliated, striped of its national identity and is demanding its
rights.
One must not forget that Iran's present problems are not necessarily
political. But as a result of the regime and Khatami's government's failure in finding and
implementing correct cultural and socio-economic cures only the solution will be
political.
The Islamic Republic may have resorted to persecution and rule by fear
but they are unaware that the process of change instigated by the people has come too far
to be stopped now.
The people of Iran as is clearly evident ridicule the Vali Faghih and
his rule the legislative force and its decrees and the military chiefs with their empty
threats and they do not believe in them. They do believe in their own united power and as
in 1979 recognising the soldiers and Pasdaran as one of their own depend on them.
History has shown that creating an atmosphere of terror, closure of
newspapers, arresting journalists and persecution will have a reverse effect to that
intended.
Today, as the Shah in 1978, the Islamic Republic has two ways forward
persecution and carnage or observing human rights and freedom. However, whichever it
chooses it is condemning itself to death. Persecution and terror will not be tolerated and
freedom will eradicate the Islamic Republic and its rulers.
