Letter from and Response to Dr. Mohammad Parvin
Catayoun Razmjou
IPC Web Mistress
IPC.WebMistress@gmail.com
An intriguing letter from Dr. Mohammad Parvin of MEHR Organization and my response to this letter will be posted below. Dr. Mohammad Parvin is MEHR Organization’s founder and a human rights activist.
Mohammad Parvin Index
http://iranpoliticsclub.net/authors/moh ... /index.htm
Catayoun Razmjou Index
http://iranpoliticsclub.net/authors/cat ... /index.htm
It is good read for the curious and the seekers.
First Dr. Parvin’s letter / article
Second My Response
*
Killing a Terrorist, Does Not Stop Terrorism
From: Dr. Mohammad Parvin
To: IPC Office
Killing a Terrorist, Does Not Stop Terrorism
Dr. Mohammad Parvin
Mehr@mehr.org
January 6, 2020
Killing a Terrorist, Does Not Stop Terrorism
http://mehr.org/one_terrorist.htm
MEHR Org.
http://mehr.org
On June 28, 1981, thirty-three high officials of Islamic Regime in Iran (IRI), including Chief Justice Ayatollah Beheshti who was the second most powerful figure after Khomeini died in the bombing at a party meeting in Tehran.
33 High Iranian Officials Die in Bombing at Party Meeting, Chief Justice Among Them
https://www.nytimes.com/1981/06/29/worl ... ctims.html
These killings were followed by the assignation of President Rajai and Prime Minister Javad Bahonar in a
meeting of the Supreme Defense Council on August 30, 1981.
Mohammad Ali Rajai Iran’s President
https://www.nytimes.com/1981/09/01/obit ... ident.html
The system of terror governing Iran was not affected by the assassination of all these influential figures at all. They have continued the repression of the freedom-loving Iranians, have expanded their influence in the region, and have survived the threats and sanctions by western countries.
Killing Qasem Soleimani, the head of Qods Force and deputy head of Iraq paramilitary forces by Trump’s order on January 3, 2020, will not have any effect on the extent of the regime’s capabilities and terrorist activities. Islamic Regime is not short of terrorists like Soleimani. Esmail Qaani, the Iranian general who replaced him, has already pledged to take revenge. His threat was followed by Iraq’s parliament vote to expel all American troops from Iraq. Moving the U.S. forces out of Iraq was one of Soleimani’s primary goals.
In short, it does not improve the behavior of this bloody regime at all. On the contrary, it will give the Islamic Regime the excuse to repress the Iranian opposition harsher, divide the western countries more in their foreign policy approaches, and make more violent actions wherever and whenever possible and get more credit from the terrorist groups all over the world for confronting the U.S.
The U.S. assassination has also benefited IRI immensely inside Iran. In mid-November 2019, scattered protests over an increase in gasoline prices quickly spread into one of the biggest challenges to Iran’s clerical rulers since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The unrest in several cities reached the capital Tehran soon, with people calling for an end to the Islamic Regime. The exact number of people killed is not yet verified. Based on the information provided to Reuters by two Iranian officials, about 1,500 people were killed during unrest that started on November 15. The number reported by the Human Rights Organizations is smaller.
Iran’s leader ordered crackdown on unrest: 'Do whatever it takes to end it'
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran ... SKBN1YR0QR
As a result of the Soleimani’s assassination, the death of the protesters that could escalate more massive action has not only come to rest but has pulled at least some of them to show their concern about the Trump’s war threat. None of these protesters wouldn’t care for Soleimani’s death if it did not raise the possibility of a deadly war.
And, this is another big gift given to the bloody regime in Iran by Trump. Trump’s gifts to the Islamic Regime are countless. There are several groups, including AIC (American Iranian Council) and NIAC (National Iranian American Council) in the U.S. that have been rooting and lobbying for unconditional recognition of the Islamic Regime.
Using “Human Rights” to better serve a dictatorship
http://iranpoliticsclub.net/movement/hu ... /index.htm
These groups that have used their financial resources to influence the U.S. media and politicians have now found a valuable opportunity to escalate their effort. As usual, they are doing it under the banner of “war or peace.”
The misinformed media and ignorant politicians have also fallen into this trap. And last but not least, interest-driven companies represented by politicians have always been for the “war or peace” scenario because either way, it would enhance their trades with IRI.
The uninformed American people who are naturally rallying for the “peace,” are practically supporting what the regime’s lobby advocates. They hear that since “war” is terrible and does not serve their interest, they should root for peace with IRI, meaning closing their eyes to all its human rights abuses against the Iranians.
AS U.S. media is reporting the assassination of Soleimani’s aftermath in Iran, we read and hear that “Iranians” have come to streets to mourn his death. This assertion is false. The majority of the Iranians are against the entire regime and all its members.
However, this does not mean that they want war. They are wise enough to have learned their lessons from the disastrous results of the military invasions in many struggling countries including, Iraq, Egypt, and Libya, to know that military attacks by the foreigners cannot bring democracy to Iran.
So, yes, they are against the war but are not crying for Suleiman’s death. Those who are doing so are only the supporters of Hezbollah, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Basij, and Qods Force, who are not the majority of the Iranians. Thus, the media approach that wrongly describes the reactions of the Iranians is giving boosts to IRI and is another significant gift to the dictators as a result of this assassination.
The U.S. politicians that are currently against this attack and future military actions do not offer any practical options and are essentially helping the survival of this regime by vaguely appealing to peace and negotiations. Based on their record, this means giving full recognition to this regime and removing all the sanctions just by placing some limits on its atomic activities. This approach has been taken by both Republicans and Democrats. The only difference has been that Republicans have been using the threat of military actions and Democrats negotiations to achieve a mutual goal. What has always been forgotten has been Iranians whose struggle for democracy has been demolished by the IRI. Of course, human rights have been in conversation and on the negotiation tables like a decorating vase of flowers but have never had any practical role whatsoever in the negotiation offers or threats.
There is a much more viable option in dealing with the religious dictatorship in Iran that has been referred to as the “Third Option”.
The Clergy Challenge
http://iranpoliticsclub.net/politics/cl ... /index.htm
The third option is empowering Iranian people to overthrow this regime by applying a smart sanction. Smart sanction has been exercised successfully in countries such as South Africa does not require any foreign interference or military intervention.
Executive Director of the Human Rights Watch, Kenneth Roth testified before the U.S. Senate Task Force on Economic Sanctions, on September 8, 1998, that eventually resulted in a smart sanction imposed on South Africa.
The role of U.S. sanctions policies in promoting human rights
http://hartford-hwp.com/archives/27c/442.html
Smart sanction deprives the terrorist regimes of easy access to military equipment, spying tools, etc. It does not apply any significant economic pressure on Iranians, and even if it does, to some degree, it would be acceptable to the freedom-loving Iranians in Iran. A smart sanction will empower their disobedience fight to overthrow the dictatorship and replace it with a democratic system. It is a long process but is the only way that excludes the “war-recognition” option and can bring peace to Iran.
“Hoping that a military attack, coup, or any other interference would bring you to power in Iran is a wishful thinking. If you have any root inside Iran, use it to organize the movement of the masses and let their movement to continue and eventually establish the effective alternative that would end the era of repression in Iran.”
On 2018, I wrote:
How to End the Era of Terror in Iran
{The Islamic Regime in Iran can be only brought down by a united and organized civil disobedience of the Iranian people who believe they deserve more than a bloody religious dictatorship. A widespread wave of protests in Iran is very promising. We should be especially delighted that our brave women who have not given up to years of suppression and repression are demonstrating the effectiveness of these tactics and strategy once again.
The day that thousands of women remove their cover and come to the street while being supported by thousands of freedom loving men, this religious dictatorship will be gone. Without obedience, nothing would be left to be called “power.” Power is only defined by obedience. If we take that from the dictatorship, it is dead.
However, it takes more to than just sitting and lecturing, encouraging or shouting: “go and do it!” It would happen only if we all outside and inside Iran get involved.
The terrorist activities of the Islamic Regime cannot be stopped by its deceptive promises. It is written into the constitution that fundamentalist Islamic ideology should conquer the world. This regime feeds its supporters by using this ideological animosity and has made itself the champion of the region. The severity of this is apparently not understood by the interest driven West. They wrongly think that having controlled and limited the atomic activities of this regime and give them legitimacy in return would let them preserve their economic interests.
There is no doubt that the nuclear ambitions and activities of the Islamic Regime are a danger to the whole world and must be stopped. However, it is a huge mistake to assume that it can be brought into the world community by either bribe and lucrative incentives or war. The reality of the Islamic Regime, based on its track record, is that it is and always be the daily danger to the lives of millions of Iranians and to the entire world. This threat must be removed and should be removed by Iranians to assure that it is not going to be replaced by another dictatorship that serves the Western interests.
Yes; the Iranian people can do it. They can change this regime on their own and by doing so, bring peace and freedom to Iran and security to the whole world. Given the opportunity, Iranian activists can learn the theory and practice of civil disobedience and nonviolent action, devise a proper strategy, mobilize the masses and oust the oppressive rulers.
The Iranian freedom fighters see themselves against not only a religious dictatorship but the entire world that are ignoring the atrocities of their abuser and their only demand is to control its nuclear activities. Human rights are of course loudly demanded by words and it is on the table of any negotiation like a decorating flower but has no place in demanded actions. To empower the freedom loving Iranians inside Iran, Iranian activists outside Iran should try to remove the obstacle of the legitimacy that the West is giving to this regime. We should be able to show the interest-driven powers that their interests would be better served if they allow the will of the majority of Iranians for a democracy to be fulfilled in Iran.
Issuing meaningless statements by the world community has done nothing. The U.S. And Europeans should enforce a "smart Sanction" that will impose pressure on the regime and not the people, and add the condition of the release of all political prisoners to the atomic condition. This will empower the Iranian people to bring about the real change in Iran without any military intervention. It will give them the powerful message that the entire world is behind them and not their enemy. They can overthrow this regime by civil disobedience. It is not easy but there is no other alternative.
Thousands of freedom fighters who lost their lives during the era of IRI’s terror, thousands of political prisoners, and many mass uprisings are evidence that Iranians will not accept this regime and helping them will benefit the entire world without the need for any military intervention.
This important task is on the shoulder of Iranians outside Iran. We need to involve Iranians, take part in the political process, expose the human rights violation among non-Iranians, and by their help put ourselves in a position that we can dictate rather than beg the right course of action to politicians.
And last but not least, a word of advice for those “oppositions” outside Iran who have become excited by the most backward American president in the history of the entire West:
“Hoping that a military attack, coup, or any other interference would bring you to power in Iran is a wishful thinking. If you have any root inside Iran, use it to organize the movement of the masses and let their movement to continue and eventually establish the effective alternative that would end the era of repression in Iran.”}
How to End the Era of Terror in Iran
http://mehr.org/end_terror.htm
The condition of stopping the human rights violation should be placed as another condition along with the atomic condition for removing the smart sanction. The Islamic regime will most probably won’t accept this condition. However, it will eventually pay for it by being forced to yielding to the civil disobedient fight of the empowered Iranians.
Thus, if Trump knew a little about the nature of the regime ruling in Iran, he would know that killing a terrorist would not stop terrorism. Of course, it can disturb the impeachment process!
Related Articles
Passing by the Islamic Regime or Overthrowing it?
http://mehr.org/overthrow1_english.htm
