July 23, 2004

The Honorable Rick Santorum

United States Senate

511 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

Fax: (202) 228-0604

Dear Senator Santorum:

We appreciate and applaud the recent introduction of the "Iran Freedom and Support Act of 2004".

On behalf of the struggling population of Iran, especially the students and millions of youth, we are grateful for your political integrity, vision and courage.  Indeed your action, co-sponsored by the Honorable John Cornyn whom has always defended our two people's common cause, is another clear sign that after a quarter of a century of a barbaric, tyrannical and terrorist rule and suffering by the people of Iran, we are being heard and have gained valuable supporters among the US leadership and lawmakers.

Sir, in addition to the Americans of Iranian ancestry, we have been inundated by calls and correspondence from the population within Iran. Risking their lives, and accepting the rage of the regime, they mange to contact us to make sure we extend their gratitude. The most heart wrenching are the messages from the mothers whose sons and daughters have been killed or are languishing in prisons in the hands of these allegedly "elected" Islamist technocrats and their "integrist" Mentors.

As you correctly stated in your press meeting, the two factions in Iran are: on the one side the people of the land and on the opposing side the theocratic regime with its entire corrupt gang of the Mullahs and their cohorts. The biggest insult and humiliation to the Iranian people is that they are continuously being identified with this theocracy.

Sir, we are all inspired and encouraged and, above all, feel vindicated by your action and comments. We feel, at long last, powerful forces are affirming what we have been asserting for many years. Sir, we have known this "evil" regime, up close and personal, and we have been in its grip for over two decades! We are its immediate victims!

At least one Iranian is being executed each week under false charges and as of today, hundreds of Iran's best and brightest are being tortured in secret prisons by this brutal "reformist" government and the terrorist theocracy. Several of them have resumed a hunger strike in order to protest against their inhumane conditions and abuses, they and their families and colleagues are subjected to. But as expected, the only official answers to their legitimate requests have been the postponement of a UN rights watch visit of Iran and its prisons and the regime's judiciary's word stating: "If all you of you die, I wouldn't care."

Sir, any rapprochement with the present regime, under the pretext of "dialogue," with the so-called "elected," "moderate," and "reformists" would be rejected by the freedom-loving Iranians and would gravely undermine the status of the United States as the champion of the democratic principles and the ideals that she stands for; the very foundation of America.

Indeed, any relations or associations with the present regime that would, in any way, extend its life and its hold on power could bear crucial consequences for relations with the future generations of Iran.

Iranians want a radical and democratic Regime Change and they would not settle for less!

Those old European nations and mercantilist lobby groups, such as, the self called "National Iranian-American Council", or the "Council on Foreign Relations" that call for "engagement" and "dialogue" with this regime and continue promulgating its tall tale of a freely elected government are the very countries and groups that are "enabling" the "evil" to survive and sustain in detriment of Iranian and American lives.

Sir, we are the 70% of the population of Iran that is under the age of 30 and the 50% that is under 20. We are the future. Our determination is strong and our resolve is steeled as well. The Iran of tomorrow is ours!

We believe, our cause is just; for it is the cause of freedom. Our mission is clear and sacred, for it is to regain our blessed land and to elect an accountable secular democracy for working with the family of nations for the mankind's freedom and prosperity.

We hold the United States as the shining beacon of hope for freedom and as the guardian and advocate of democratic ideals. Those are the very principles we aspire to and revere.  All we ask is the moral support of the United States. All we expect is that the United States will remain true to its principles of liberty and justice and its ideals of democracy

Sir, you have our deepest gratitude for giving voice to the "silenced" screams of a beleaguered yet resolute nation.  Your staff witnessed, today, part of our people's expression of regards and gratitude toward your good hearted and respected person by receiving tens of calls, emails and faxes.

Resolute to show our support of your action, we keep ourselves at your disposition for any comment or need of any information or suggestion.

Respectfully,

On behalf of SMCCDI,

Aryo B. Pirouznia (for the Committee)

SMCCDI

5015 Addison Circle #244 Addison, TX 75001 (USA)

Phone: (972) 504-6864; E.Mail: smccdi@daneshjoo.org; Fax (972) 491-9866 www.daneshjoo.org; www.iranstudents.org