A Window to the Fatherland/August 1

We begin tonight’s edition of A Window to the Fatherland with Dr. Alireza Nourizadeh reading one of his poems from the book of his collected works.

Dr. Alireza Nourizadeh:

We continue the program with talking to our special guest of every Thursday, Dr. Mohsen Sazegara, for his views about news of Iran and the Middle East.

We have been discussing many issues these last few weeks but it appears that many viewers have welcomed our debate of last week about the peaceful transition of power in Iran from the current regime and there is ground for uniting the exiled opposition forces with those inside the country. I wonder what you think about this?

Mohsen Sazegara:

There is this rule in civil rights movements that says they all eventually end with removing the dictatorial regimes that they are fighting against.

However, some of these regimes initially resort to cracking down on these movements and then think that the game is over and they can continue with their despotic rule. But the people’s demands do not go away and they will return at a later time, with more ferocity.

This situation has happened in Iran after the Green Movement. While the regime has jailed its leaders and killed tens of protestors and imprisoned hundreds more, the demands of the Iranian people for freedom and their civil rights have not disappeared.

These demands are now reflected in the open letter by the 14 civil rights activists, which clearly says that the current regime must leave the scene and free elections should be held in Iran to determine a new system of governance for the nation that will protect the civil and human rights of our people of all classes and groups.

Dr. Alireza Nourizadeh:

I have also spoken with several friends inside Iran who agree that the open letter by the 14 civil rights activists is a great leap forward and a good start for organizing this freedom movement.

It has also generated a sense of hope and many people who until a few months ago only relied on Trump’s policy now feel that he too might enter a deal with the regime and therefore they should look at their own power for bringing change to Iran.