THE hanging chads of Florida, the image of a man halting advancing tanks in Tiananmen Square, the stifling of Buddhist monks in Burma — Tehran presents a version which has it all. Protesting crowds, media restrictions, riot police, teargas, video clips on Youtube, arrests, court challenges — are a permanent mark on the Persian political landscape.
Just when it looked as it might fade away, ex-president Rafsanjani delivered a sermon on Friday July 17, placing the issues in front. He is too wily and experienced a politician to simply be pouring fuel on fire, but his sermon was nothing short of it. He used words like 'republic' and 'people' and emphasised the importance of placing them in the forefront. His statements were clear and he used forthright phrases such as “not necessary to pressure the media” and “not necessary to have a number of people in prison”.
Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani is not an ordinary voice in Iran. For those who are not intimately familiar with the Iranian power set-up, Rafsanjani holds the chairmanship of the Khobregan. Majles-i-Khobregan, or Assembly of Experts, is a body based in Qom, the religious base in Iran. The Khobregan is charged with appointing and removing the ultimate authority in Iran, the Supreme Leader, a post currently held by Ayatollah Khamenei. The meetings of the Khobregan are held in private; there is no published record for public consumption. It acts as an overseer of preventing abuse or breach of constitution by the highest offices.
Rafsanjani has made a bold move against the establishment by publicly acknowledging that all may not be well. He has recognised that the protests and the subsequent crackdowns are a contest between those asking for change and those determined to protect the status quo. Today, the electronic media is bringing people together like never before. People are far more connected and aware than they were in the past, and they want to be involved in matters which directly affect their lives.
The current Iranian crisis contains many factors that can influence political issues. Iran is the geopolitical jewel in the Middle Eastern crown with its influence in Iraq and its ability to bring stability to the Middle East. Its nuclear programme leaves not just the West, but many in the region uneasy. For its part, the West could not want anything more than to see Iran bring about a change on its own.
There are issues for Muslim states to consider too. As Iran works its way through the crisis, it is essentially going to hold a referendum on the viability of the separation between 'church and state'. The West has already decided on this issue for its institutions, but the Muslim world has not. Religion and government are inextricably intertwined in Iran. This might provide an opportunity to study different aspects of the argument. The Iranians will need to re-evaluate their situation and decide what to render unto Caesar and what unto God.
There are also questions of personal liberties. States which enforce morality by mandating strict dress codes and monitoring couples' meetings in public places have perhaps overplayed their hand. In today's electronic world where text messages and e-mails are connecting the younger generation, outdated government measures serve little more than alienating the youth.
Within any nation, one will find several opinions on divisive issues. Any system which is to thrive must allow for an avenue for its citizens to safely and peacefully raise concerns and then move to genuinely accommodate them. The more transparent such a system is, the wider its acceptance. Finally, it must allow for corrections, and adjustments for changing times and aspirations. Iran stands at a crossroads today. It remains to be seen whether future events will alter the political landscape, handing more power and freedom to the people.
