Today, more than hundred Iranian intellectuals, political activists, human rights defenders, and university professors have issued a statement in support of Syrian and other Arabic people democratic demand, also condemning the Iranian support for the Syrian suppression of people’s protests.
“Their struggle”, the group writes, “demonstrates the indomitable reality that the twenty first century is the era of the demise of despotic states in any shape and form”, adding however that the democratization of this region is a gradual process and will take time to materialize.
Still, the statement does not close its eyes for “the direful façade of the authoritarian regimes which would not abstain from any heinous crime in order to stay in power is alarming.”
A large part of the statement goes on to condemn the Iranian support for oppressing people’s peaceful demands: “There is some evidence that suggest the theocratic regime of Iran is lending a hand to the government of Syria in crushing the peaceful movement in that country with bloody and apathetic measures. (…) We, the undersigned vehemently censure Iran's meddling in Syria and its collaboration with the autocratic regime of Bashar-Alssad in activities that violate the human rights of Syrian citizens. We stand in solidarity with the Syrian people in their demand for democracy and freedom. Iran's regime falsely claims that the Syrian movement is provoked by foreign states while even Israel, Syria's official enemy, is not asking for a regime change in Syria.”
The statements also mentions “Iran's extensive communications with the oppressive regime of Syria and the invasion of Bahrain by Saudi Arabia directed at crushing the peaceful democratic movement in Bahrain”, which “are two different adverse ways of foreign initiatives that has undermined the basic and fundamental rights of the citizens for transient gains of the governments in place.”
The only acceptable path to shape the future, according to the statement, is that these countries pursue the people's will without foreign intervention.
In the end, the statement addresses the international community: “All the pertinent international laws should be applied to stop the state violence against the peaceful demonstrators. In this endeavor disenfranchising those states that resort to bloodshed to crush peaceful demonstrators seems to be the appropriate course of action.”
Finally, the signatories stress the similarities between Iran and Syria: “Both Iranians and Syrians are affected by despotic regimes having close and extensive strategic relationship with each other. Successful democratic changes in both countries can lead to a lasting and constructive alliance between them. We believe that the bitter experience of Islamic Republic of Iran that took over the country after the revolution of 1979, and the path followed by developed countries in the world in the past several decades has entailed the need to emphasize on democracy and rejection of ideological state of government. A democratic system of government has a greater potential to foster progress, equal opportunities, respect for human dignity, and cultivating peace and freedom.”
Iran's Foreign Ministry has expressed its support for the "reform programs of the Syrian leadership" and that country's response to recent uprisings.
The ministry announced that Syria's people and government have played "a prominent role in restoring the dignity of the Arab people and defending the rights of the people of Palestine and Lebanon, which has given Syria an exceptional place in the united effort against the Zionist regime."
The Foreign Ministry attributed the protests in a number of Syrian cities to "U.S. and Zionist conspiracies aimed at striking a blow against the sovereignty and unity of the people" of this country.
The ministry statement praises the "efforts of the leadership and people of Syria in putting reforms in place that serve the national interest" and adds that "tolerance, both in expressing the demands and responding to them, will ensure Syria's success."
The Syrian president has ordered numerous reforms in the country in response to popular protests. Among them is the end of an official state of emergency that has lasted close to 50 years.
The protesters are demanding freedom of assembly and demonstration, but the government says foreign conspirators are behind the protests. Therefore, the Syrian military has been deployed to counter the demonstrations.
Iran's Foreign Ministry says Iranian and Syrian governments share similar policies with regard to Israel and the U.S., accusing the United States of hypocrisy in its reaction to recent protest movements in the region.
Referring especially to developments in Bahrain, the statement accuses the U.S. of maintaining silence in the face of "the heinous murder and torture of the innocent children, women and people of Bahrain" and, in effect, leading the operations to oppress the Bahraini people.
The U.S., on the other hand, has accused Iran of participating in the crackdown on protesters in Syria. U.S. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton has said Iran is trying to exploit Middle Eastern protests.
Iran and Syria have denied the American accusations, and spokesmen for Iran's Foreign Ministry previously referred to U.S. statements as "a continuation of the psychological and media wars" that the U.S. has carried out in order to "divert public attention from its hegemonic and interfering policies" in the region.
The Syrian opposition has announced it will take to the streets on May 6 to press for its demands.
source: Radio Zamaneh
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