Iran: Enough of Fratricide (by Shirin Ebadi)

By Shirin Ebadi - No doubt Iran is going through hard and decisive times because of which any comment, statement, decision or measure by anyone inside or outside the government, is important and must be made with a responsibility.

The events that we witnessed on Ashoura day (when Shiites commemorate the death of their leading Imam) in Iran are more shocking and appalling than merely writing about them. The blood of the youth of this nation once again poured on the streets and roads of this land turning them red. One of them continued to call for freedom as the wheels of a truck rolled over him, while another one dreamed of the same as he was pushed over a bridge, while a third was shot in cold blood.

My Sister and Brother Countrymen

We all know that the protest of the Iranian nation until today has been a peaceful one, civil and legal. What has enlarged the scope of the popular protests and turned people even more resolute in their calls, are the unilateral, unjust and unfair measures of those in power. The question is whether one has to resort to arms and bullets to respond to a peaceful, patient and completely civil protest, and then threaten the protesters using official forums. And whether such measures have borne any fruit in the past to deserve the drum beats of some of the authorities.

The continuation of this policy has come to the point where things should not have reached. This is nothing other than Iranian fratricide. And if this is not the result of the violence and anti-people views of some of the people in power, then it is certainly the result of a small group of ignorant, unqualified, incompetent and irrational authorities.

My Dear Fellow Countrymen

Each one of us has a heavy responsibility on our shoulders. I invite each one of us, regardless of the station in his life - to pledge to act against violence and for peace. We are a peaceful nation and have till now pursued our complaints, criticism, opposition and grudges through civil means totally negating any form of violence, thus avoiding a fall into the trap of those who advocate violence.

We must believe that our demands are rightful and that the Iranian nation does not need violence to achieve its rightful goals and that the only people who resort to violence are those who know that they are wrong and their demands un-rightful.

My Young but Wise Compatriots

To accomplish this we must resist temptations. Resist reacting to tanks, bullets and shells. We must not pick up rocks. The path to justice, freedom, democracy and human rights requires flowers not blood.

It is because of this that the Center for the Defenders of Human Rights (Kanoon Modafean Hoghoogh Bashar) declares the following in response to the civil and rightful demands of the Iranian nation:

We the defenders of human rights are against any form of violence in Iranian society and demand a national and all-out opposition against violence and demand its complete elimination.

To the Representative and Authorities of the Islamic Republic of Iran
The role that official authorities play in
There is no doubt about the role and position that official authorities play in the shaping of the Iran of tomorrow. What is expected of you as the rulers is the implementation of the basic rights of the Iranian nation and respect for justice. Today, not only the Iranian nation but many around the world are focused on what you do and say to make a judgment.

The correction of wrong policies of the past and present and the acceptance of the calls of the Iranian nation are among the legal responsibilities that you have, the first of which is the end to violence against the nation. Should the policies of violence against the Iranian nation continue you will be facing your own countrymen and the world public opinion.

Finally, to the Guards and Basijis

Under these circumstances it is difficult to talk with you. What we have been witnessing over the past weeks is the reason for this difficulty. The Iranian nation well remembers what many of the Guard and Basij brethren did for the defense of this nation against the aggression and invasion of this land by its enemies. But now we are incredibly witnessing that a small group of these people’s forces has turned is fire and bullets at the nation and its own countrymen and that by firing each bullet, it turns a group of its own countrymen into mourning.

As defenders of human rights, we call on our popular Guard and Basiji brethren not to destroy your own innocent and defenseless brothers and sisters, whom you have sworn to defend, and thus avoid your mothers from putting on the mourning gowns or making them sit at yet another grave.