- 26 May 2010
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- 3 Comments
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- Events in Iran, Human Rights in Iran, Iran Election 2009, Iranian Youth
The Bastions of the Paramilitary
26 May 2010 Posted By Setareh Tabatabaie
Hossein Sajedi, Tehran’s police chief, said yesterday that despite the fact that “some media” (read: Mousavi and Karroubi) have called for rallies on June 12, Iranian security forces will confront any “illegal” demonstrations. “Police will confront any illegal gatherings … police are vigilant and in charge of public order and security,” he said.
My question to Mr. Sajedi is: what is the definition of an illegal demonstration? Is it one that involves students staging a sit-in at their university? Is that illegal? Are singing and holding up peace signs also a threat to national security?
On Saturday and Sunday, students at Tehran’s Islamic Azad University staged a sit-in as protest against the fraudulent June 2009 presidential elections and calling for the release of their classmates who had been imprisoned in the months after the election.
Apparently, this was deemed illegal, as security forces broke up the protests. According to Daneshjoo News, at least four students who were critically injured by Basij forces, rather than receiving medical attention, have been arrested.
I fear for a government which violates its own constitution in arresting those partaking in peaceful protests. Of even bigger concern though, is the way the government has transformed the country’s bastions of knowledge into bastions of the paramilitary. As a result of the sit-in and the attacking security forces, afternoon classes were canceled, reminiscent of the way classes were often canceled for the same reason shortly after the 1979 revolution. In addition, security forces threatened students with harsh sentences from the university’s disciplinary committee, a clear violation of university rules.
When the university officials become involved in oppressing their own students, the very nature of the university as a free and safe atmosphere is threatened. Not only is the canceling of classes obviously detrimental to the students’ learning, but this oppression will undoubtedly negatively affect many students’ forms of thinking at an age when they are most receptive to new ideas. While this may be the aim of the regime, this generation is the very future of the country. And to attack one’s future generation and their chance of flourishing is not only stupid, it is also self-destructive.
3 Responses to “The Bastions of the Paramilitary”
In certain respects, this situation at some of Tehran’s universities is reminiscent of the situation that took place at San Francisco State University during the late 1960s and early 70s. At that time, during America’s own anti-establishment movement, the SFSU President S. I. Hayakawa confronted and cracked down on student protesters. Hayakawa became a popular figure for his pro-establishment efforts, and as a result was propelled to the US Senate in 1976.
It’s a curious thing, Setareh. During America’s anti-establishment driven campus disorders, President Hayakawa argued successfully that “the right to free speech is balanced against the rights of others to pursue their lives and studies without disruption”. Thus he branded the conduct of his protesting members of the student body as disobedient and illegal, and the police were often called in to forcibly restore order.
Of course, the protesting students at San Francisco State University stated the same objections that you are offering: “What is an illegal demonstration? Police brutality. Harsh disciplinary action by the University, etc. etc.” But keep in mind, Hayakawa’s actions were seen by many in the establishment as legitimate, and he became a popular pro-establishment elected official.
Puts things in perspective, doesn’t it? (I personally recall these events here in America as if they took place yesterday.)
BTW, I’ve asked this before: Does NIAC have an official position in regards to the legitimacy of the 2009 presidential election? I ask, because this post declares the election was “fraudulent”. Setareh, I suggest you study this and this and this. Perhaps “controversial” would be a better description?
Pirouz, thank you for telling me about the protests at SFSU, which I had not heard about before. Nonetheless, my opinion remains the same, as I do not believe one bad example should serve as a precedent for others.
As to the 2009 presidential elections, NIAC’s official position is that the elections were very controversial, as you said. My personal view is that they were fraudulent, and I do not believe my vote was counted, as I heard the results a mere hour after I cast my vote. And while I appreciate the links you have suggested I read, I maintain my position. I am sure you have read the many more articles documenting the great irregularities in the election.
Finally, I do not believe that a poll is a reliable method of understanding the Iranian public opinion, especially one in regards to politics, when people fear of repercussions from the government. Phones and internet are both monitored by the Iranian government, making polls in the country quite unreliable.
Setareh,
I agree your belief that one bad example should not serve as a precedent for others, and appreciate your knack for not getting involved in discussions irrelevant to the current oppression taking place in Iran.
While I realize you most probably do not need this advice, I would advise everyone to seek out their own information regarding the SFSU protests, rather than take Pirouz’s word for it. I am confident you will find the protests hardly comparable, when one considers the accounts of arrests, torture, forced confessions, rape and killings performed by the Iranian government.
While I’m in the business of giving advice :-), I would advise non-Iranians to completely disregard Pirouz’s accounts of what life is like in Iran. His ideas regarding life in Iran are completely imaginary (e.g. regarding education, healthcare, etc.). Just talk to any Iranian, preferably one who has recently come from Iran.