[ Newsletter 1 ] [ Newsletter 2 ] [ Newsletter 3 ] [ Newsletter 4 ] [ Newsletter 5 ] [ Newsletter 6 ]
First Word
Iran's contemporary history tells the story of its active and evolving society during
the last one hundred years. The quest and fight for freedom has lead to many uprisings and
revolutions. The question must then be why have they all failed and caused more
oppression. Why is it that amid the excitement of victory only opportunist and self
centered forces have appeared and taken control leaving us to rise yet again looking for
another opportunity and that fair and caring leader?
Let us go into the next phase with our eyes opened. We must constantly remind ourselves
that we should not look for a saviour hero and leader to enforce freedom and democracy for
us. It is up to us to prepare the basis in which democracy and freedom can naturally grow
and progress. Democratic thinking must be practised. With out a shadow of doubt, this
cannot be done with hurried excitement.
It is fortunate that in our quest for freedom the society's winning hand this time round
holds young, and old, men, and women alike in it. They have come together awakened by
their power in unity and are demanding their rights. This kind of awareness and excitement
in realisation in the possibility of self-determination is not repeated often in a
country's history. We have to assume this responsibility with great care and use this
momentous and crucial opportunity to our best advantage. Let us use it to build our future
together and united in our support for each other.
Let us not forget that our presence cannot be ignored. Victory will only be
achieved when we are present and love and support each other, and before this love changes
to hatred.
Contact
Us
Recent Political Changes in Iran
Open Letter
Ref: 20 / M / 90
Date: 22 June 1998
To Mr. Khatami, the popularly elected president of the Iranian nation
Mr. President, without doubt your election was the result of a stifled and repressed
nation under immense pressure crying out for change choosing you to:
Establish a civil society - one of your particular slogans - and create an open political
environment where there is freedom for political parties to form and operate
End the chaos, and disorder and the seditious activities of certain groups in the country
and create a stable and ordered society.
Clearly and openly report the results of your government’s actions and policies to
the nation and inform them of the true nature of events.
Yesterday your Mayor and member of your government and today your chosen Interior Minister
have been dragged through the courts and sacked by a certain group calling themselves the
nation’s representatives. The question is which nation do they represent. Are they
chosen by the same nation who elected you? Without a doubt, this question can be put to
the people themselves.
Do not forget the famous saying that ‘the parliament is where the people
are’. If the parliament is not the nation’s home, it is not a
parliament and has no legitimacy. You must make your position clear before the President
becomes the third deposed person. You must either resign or put the issues to the nation.
Dr Hossein Ladjevardi
President, ACI.
Contact Us
Consequences of twenty years of Revolution 1979
-1999
Call for papers - February 1999 - London University
We are planning a conference to objectively examine the consequences of the Islamic
revolution of 1979. This is not only a political look at our society but an academic look
at all aspects of life for all Iranians wherever they may have spent the last twenty years
and their experiences and conclusions.
So we would like to invite any one who has carried out research or has been involved with
the Iranian community in different projects to submit their abstract before end of
November 1998 to any of ACI's offices.
With the hope that this and similar work can lead to a better understanding of our present
and be a positive step forward for our own and the world community.
Contact Us
ACI's 4th office opens Berlin - Germany -11 April 1998
Dr Mehdi Rosefid an active member of ACI in Germany has accepted the responsibility of
looking after the new Berlin office.
Mehdi Rosefid was born in Shiraz in 1957. After completing his two-year military service
in Iran he went to Germany to continue his graduate studies in Chemistry. He received his
doctorate degree in Chemistry from Berlin University with the highest honor.
He carried on his research at Berlin University for a further eight years lecturing there
at the same time. At present he is working within the industry.
We are proud to have him as the head of the Berlin office and have the greatest confidence
in his ability in furthering ACI's aims and activities.
Arman Roshdi the new head of the London office. - 21 May 1998
As you may be aware the sudden and unexpected death of our beloved colleague Amir
Hooshang Zonoozi had left a great vacuum in ACI’s London set up. We are now pleased
to introduce Mr. Arman Roshdi as the new head of the London office.
Born in Tehran in 1954 he attended the St Louis school in Tehran and went on to complete
his Masters degree at Tehran University. His love for the Bible and Christian Religious
studies lead to a correspondence course for a degree with an American University which he
successfully completed. He translated numerous religious books into Farsi and taught
Christian Religious studies for ten years in Iran prior to his arrival in England in 1994.
Since then Arman Roshdi has been responsible for teaching and managing a college for
religious studies in England in Farsi for which he translates and plans degree level
courses. He is also completing a research project about the history of Christianity in
Iran.
As a speaker at one of our conferences - Government & Religion - he became a close
friend and helped us on numerous occasions with our administrative work and we are happy
to have him working even more closely with us. We are confident that his presence will
enhance ACI's future activities in England.
‘Civil Society - the obstacles and possibilities in realising
it’
Conference report - 11 April 1998
Following the current political changes in Iran Association of Iranian Researchers
dedicated its twenty third gathering to discussions about 'Civil Society' - its fifth
gathering since 1996 on this particular subject. This was held in Berlin on 11 April 1998.
The conference was opened by a welcome speech by Ms Roya Kashefi, public relations manager
for ACI. Dr Ladjevardi in his opening speech talked more about the activities of ACI and
its aims and objectives. He also announced the opening of ACI's fourth international
office in Berlin and introduced Dr Mehdi Rosefid.
Panel one - Chair: Dr Mehdi Rosefid.
Speakers: Darius Homayoun, Parviz Dastmalchi, and Ahmad Tahmasebi
Panel two - Chair: Professor Nasser Kanani.
Speakers: Mehdi Khanbaba-Tehrani, Hooshang Vazirie, Hossein Ladjevardi, and Ali Reza
Nourizadeh
Darius Homayoun - In his paper Darius Homayoun talked about the history
of civil society in Iran. He pointed out the notion of Civil Society is not new to Iran
and its history goes back thousands of years since the talk of civil society is no
different to the need for social justice which has been on the forefront of all
ideologies. He believes constitutionalism to be the same as needing a civil society and
referred the movements in Iran during the past 100 years. He believes the call for
establishment of a civil society instead of constitutionalism is a result of social
pressure and oppression.
Parviz Dastmalchi - His speech began by a comprehensive description of
what a civil society and its establishment in Iran means. He then went on to explain the
present political structure and demonstrated that under the present regime with its
limitations the establishment of civil society is not likely. He emphasized the
centralization of power to the Vali Faghih and principally 4% of the clerics who believe
in 12 Imam Shi'ism. He explained that in a system which derives its legitimacy from God
and not the people and only sees itself answerable to God, human needs and values which
are an essential component of a civil society do not count and are therefore worthless.
Dr Ahmad Tahmasebi - His talk centered on the basis for a civil society
in Iran. He believes that the framework for a civil society is already in place in Iran.
He pointed out the political progress in Iran since the Constitutional Revolution almost a
100 years ago and how the Qajar King, Mozafaredin Shah, had to submit to the freedom
movement and sign the reformed constitution. Dr Tahamsebi recognizes this as a peak in our
contemporary history but asks why all freedom movements have failed for one reason or
other and does not believe revolutions to be the answer to any problem. He believes that a
healthy society can progress with reform and continued growth.
Mehdi Khanbaba-Tehrani - His talk was based on the realistic acceptance
of the present situation in Iran and the recent moves by the people as demonstrated in May
97's presidential elections. He believes the election to be a victory for the people of
Iran after twenty years in choosing change and saying a definite 'NO' to the Velayat
Faghih. He believes the people have found their way and are moving in that direction. This
must popular movement must be supported by everyone including the opposition groups
outside Iran who should coordinate their actions with the people of Iran. He believes that
in the past oppositions leaders outside Iran have made mistakes that should not be
repeated.
Hooshang Vazirie - He started his talk by saying that a civil society
cannot be established like a limited company with share ownership. He believes a civil
society is one based on a healthy economic-political-social infrastructure which then
follows its natural development and progress. He believes that since the constitutional
reform of almost 100 years ago to the end of the Pahlavi regime stress was placed on the
economy and administration of the society instead of founding a real base for political
and ideological growth that. He believes this to have produced negative consequences, the
Revolution of 1979 to be one of them. He concluded that the Islamic Revolution did not
bring democracy to the people of Iran, but has readied the people of Iran for democracy.
Dr Hossein Ladjevardi - Started his speech by pointing out the periods of
excitement and agitation in our contemporary history. He added that we Iranians seem to be
forgetful and do not seem to remember our own actions. We forget that it was us who saw
the image of Reza Shah in the 'moon' when he restored order to Iran. It was us who during
Mohamad Reza Shah's visit to Shiraz lifted up and carried his bus over our heads in sheer
joy. We seem to forget our actions over Mossadeq and our excitement in Ayatollah
Khomeini's return to Iran in 1979 and now some curse the day. He believes that all these
caused by our emotions and not our logic. To be successful we must allow our logic to rule
free from hatred bias and prejudice. He then pointed out the duties of each generation in
building the future of Iran.
Dr Ali Reza Nourizadeh - Recent changes in Iran and the internal power
struggle amongst the ruling groups in Iran was the basis of Dr Nourizadeh's paper. By
explaining the political changes in Iran that are particularly because of the religious
identity of the system he pointed out that the need for establishment of civil society in
Iran has arisen as a result of the oppressive rule by a small minority of clerics. He
stressed the need and the call for a civil society is by everyone including a major part
of religious establishment and not exclusive to the thinkers and scholars.
