Iranians Form Secular Party in Exile By John A. Ross (12/22/05)
Arturo Diaconale, Director of the L’ Opinione Daily Newspaper has given this writer permission to reprint the following abridged interview. Original interview was first printed in L’ Opinione on November 30, 2005.
It should be noted that the Iranian people are fed up with the Mullahs and they have begun to take matters into their own hands… John Ross.
L'Opinione By Stefania Lapenna
November 30, 2005
The echo of Ahmadi-Nejad's anti-Semitic statements still resound in the international arena. And, of course, they must.
The "new" in this entire scenario, however, is the Mullahs' new target: Italy. Indeed, 15 thousand people demonstrating in front of the Islamic Republic's embassy in Rome, for the right of Israel to exist and for the freedom of the Iranian people, sufficed to provoke the Mullahs' angry reaction, by mobilizing their usual professionals in front of the Italian Embassy, carrying banners with the face of the late Edoardo Agnelli.
For a clarification of how the Islamic Republic of Iran is using the late FIAT heir's untimely death, see: http://www.adnki.com/index_2Level.php?cat=Business&loid=8.0.229030148&par=0
Even that effort, to get as many Islamic fanatics as possible to demonstrate resulted in a fiasco; for only about 80, or less, people participated.
What about the rest of the Iranian population? To know more, we asked Aryo Pirouznia, coordinator of the "Student Movement Coordination Committee for Democracy in Iran" (SMCCDI) and chairman of the newly founded "Iranian National Secular Party" (INSP).
Stefania Lapenna: Aryo, welcome again. First of all, briefly tell us about the new movement, the Iranian National Secular Party.
Aryo Pirouznia: First, I thank you for this opportunity and the possibility to be able to bring some clarification to the Iranian situation and what might be some of the future's perspectives.
Secondly, INSP is new, founded in exile and guided on what SMCCDI introduced in Iran's political debate; and, all it's rich experiences. The primary pillars of INSP are Secular-Democracy and "Iranian" thought, which SMCCDI has promoted for several years; which is now rallying millions of Iranians, especially students, Iranian youth and women. Everyday there are more Iranians who are rallying around such positive, progressive and humanistic foundations which is the best antidote to radical Islamic ideology and its backward logic, intolerance, and gender discrimination, fascism, and promotion of hate and terror against the West.
INSP is a new entity that should be able, as a political party, to help in the implementation of the well-known desire by most Iranians for a secular-Democracy and be permitted and recognized as a nation promoting peace and tolerance.
Stefania Lapenna: Is it, INSP, tied to any political ideology or orientation, or is it independent?
Aryo Pirouznia: The INSP is based on Iranians popular aspirations and it is totally independent from any ideological or foreign influence.
The INSP movement was founded to help Iran's journey in our, alas, very late but so needed enlightenment period to contribute in building an Iran for all Iranians, no matter their beliefs, race, or gender who want to live in a free country; and, to renew with the civilized world our desire to contribute to mankind's peace and prosperity. Some other main goals of the INSP Movement, which were introduced by SMCCDI, are the separation of state and religion, separation of powers, equality in law, right to own property, meritocracy, true representative government and a free market.
Stefania Lapenna: What is your approach toward Islam?
Aryo Pirouznia: All should know that the Iranians of today are one of the most secularist and democracy thirsty people of the planet. They are renewing with "Iranism" principles not Islamism. They're valuing more historic figures like Cyrus the Great than Mahomet the Islamic prophet. Digital technology and the spread of satellite TVs and radio networks that broadcast to the millions of Iranians in Iran, contribute to most of the changes.
Stefania Lapenna: What's your opinion about the recent demonstration held in Rome in front of the Islamic Republic's embassy, to protest Ahmadi-Nejad's "wipe Israel off the map" statements.
Aryo Pirouznia: That was an unprecedented and positive move. It took everybody including the Islamic republic's leadership by total surprise. Many, including the clerics and their Islamic technocrats that have been portrayed as 'reformers,' who thought that Italy (which has the best commercial relations with Iran) would never react; and, will always remain silent, despite the Islamic regime's misdeeds.
This was without understanding the change of parameters in geopolitics and, especially, the revulsion the Italian people exhibited who still remember their dark period of fascism and intolerance.
Stefania Lapenna: Have the Iranians inside Iran learned about this rally? And, if so, what have been their reactions?
Aryo Pirouznia: My countrymen learned about this unprecedented rally mainly via a special live program of the abroad based Satellite TV network named NITV. We contacted the management of this network and gave them the necessary elements while coordinating the Internet download of the live program broadcasted by RAI 2.
NITV was able to offer a very informative program from an Iranian opposition position to the Islamic regime's point of view and analysis, while re-transmitting live footage shown by RAI and analysis made by Italian commentators, journalists, activists and politicians who were translated simultaneously by an NITV translator.
The result was an overwhelming welcoming by millions of Iranians, especially those understanding that the majority of slogans were in favor of freedom for Iranians and in condemnation of the Islamic regime for its human rights abuses and illegitimacy.
Stefania Lapenna: The regime has protested against the rally and even summoned the Italian Ambassador in Tehran. How do you think the Italian government should behave in these cases?
Aryo Pirouznia: I think that the Italian Government should maintain its new policy of firmness and, while praising this unprecedented stand, I would like also to thank the Italian Ambassador in Tehran for his courage. The Islamic regime should understand that Italy is no more the silent witness of the clerics crimes, some committed on Italian soil, on it's pursuit of hate.
The unpopular and illegal Iranian regime must understand that Italy is a democracy that respects it's peoples will and right of expression, and should not try to impose it's dictatorial methods on the Italian people.
Stefania Lapenna: Do you think the U.N. will finally impose sanctions against the Islamic Republic for its nuclear program and human rights record?
Aryo Pirouznia: I can only hope and watch at this time. The UN, due to its structures, has not been a real help to Iranians, so far. There are UN members that are close collaborators of the Islamic regime and others that fear that sanctions against the Islamic regime can create precedents for their own inculpation later for the same reasons.
The present problem with the UN is very deep and it goes to the heart of its’ composition and administration.
Just to remind you that Iran was, in 1948, a signatory of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and many other conventions. These days, everybody knows that thousands have been executed, tortured, imprisoned, stoned or lashed in Iran under various false excuses, labels and, hence, the Islamic republic is still usurping the Iranian Nation's Chair at the UN, and is continuing its’ barbarian rule in total impunity.
Stefania Lapenna: What's your take about the U.N.'s Iranian policy?
Aryo Pirouznia: Shouldn't a real United Nations, not a United Regimes' Structure, expel the Islamic regime's envoy from such a respected organization? Shouldn't the United Nations set aside, or vacate Iranian Nation's chair until the nomination of a real Iranian People's Ambassador can be made, after the downfall of the current regime? Shouldn't those countries, which abstain from voting against the Islamic regime, or worse those that vote contrary to condemnation of the regime need to think what they are doing to Iranians. Why not back Iranians in their aspiration of a total change and to bet on them for any long lasting business opportunity??
I let your readers be the judge. Let the conscience of mankind be the judge of my countrymen and their plea for help. To help itself, the world should help Iranians reach their goal of secular freedom and true democracy. To speed up the implosion of the Islamic Republic of Iran regime clear messages of support for Iranians are needed.
I thank you and L' Opinione's management for this opportunity.
I thank Italy's deep conscience.
Aryo Pirousnia
*Ed: Views are those of individual authors and not necessarily those of American Daily.
Like so many other Cold-War veterans, John Ross was stationed in central Europe, spent time in Southeast Asia in a civilian capacity, worked in the defense industry and eventually got a real job in the private sector. While working in the defense industry, John Ross supported efforts to develop a modern Iran, only to lose all of his Imperial Iranian naval officer friends to murdering Mullahs, or their radical Islamic surrogates. Concerned about the internal regime rot that has overcome the very fabric of Iran and most Islamic societies, he, John Ross, believes that tearing down walls that perpetuate ignorance may help in reducing jihadist motivated violence.
