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 Dr. Kazem Kardavani of Iran’s Writers Association, by asking him why has the Iranian regime started to harass their members again?
Dr. Kazem Kardavani:
The regime’s hatred is not confined to our members alone. It is also directed at Iran’s secular intellectuals, which goes to back to many years ago.
The truth is that despite the denial of the reformist politicians and activists, the Islamic republic regime has been built on the reactionary thoughts and ideas of Sheikh Fazlulah Nouri who was against the Constitution Revolution that wanted to modernize Iran.
Further more, this regime is basically against any association of people coming together in a social or political group.
The Writers Association is neither a political body nor an armed opposition group but from the point of view of the regime it presents a “danger” because it is a civil institute and can organize people around its objectives, which are freedom of thought and association.
As such the regime will do its best to dismantle it and persecute its members because the association’s works are in contrast with the regime’s repressive policies not only against us, but also against any Iranian freedom lover or civil rights activist.
Our members’ activities did not cease during the Shah’s time and will no do so now because we believe in our cause and struggle for it.