And each time a new sentence is handed out, each time new arrests are made, each day that news of the growing economic hardships are made known, we feel very sad that we have failed you all; that we have again failed. Yet we must survive this failure and all the pain, because it seems that we simply cannot win.
by Green Activists for a Democratic Iran
We have been trying to better Iran for generations and yet over and over again the obstacles seem too many and our numbers too few. When millions took part in the 1979 revolution, we thought things could go forward. Little did we know that an agreement had been made between the Islamic forces and some foreign powers and that democracy had never been an option.
Even though the only thing some of us have in common with the country’s Islamists is the fact that we were all born in Iran, we try to not allow them total takeover of the country. We try to stay involved, work with Iran where we can and travel to the country despite the risks. We try to go on loving the people, be enthralled by the beautiful landscape and enjoy the great cuisine. Every now and then one of us gets caught and pays a high price.
Yes, some who have come over to the west and applied for asylum have not told the truth and a number of known activists who came have become a lobby of one side or other. It is with a saddened heart that we follow up on the latter group, for whom we set up elaborate defence campaigns, only to witness that once safe they become a lobby of the Islamic Republic or numerous adversaries who clearly speak of wishing to destroy not the Islamic Republic but Iran!
And through this all, those of us who choose to remain independent in this intricate game, ache and try to survive.
When millions took to the streets following the 2009 presidential election, we thought that here was another chance – not for pretence at “reform” but for transition. And we worked hard to bring about such a peaceful transition, by supporting the process of the JCPOA as well as win-win cooperation with a number of countries. And yet again, just as we were beginning to be hopeful, we saw this hope sabotaged again and again.
And now Iran is yet again at a stalemate, with open talk of war and increasing sanctions. Through these years many have become very rich in the Islamic Republic and a number of lobbyists and journalists have come to live well and be well known. But we are at a more dangerous point in the country’s history than seldom before and look which way we may, cannot see a way out which will be in the interest of the majority of the Iranian people.
And each time a new sentence is handed out, each time new arrests are made, each day that news of the growing economic hardships are made known, we feel very sad that we have failed you all; that we have again failed. Yet we must survive this failure and all the pain, because it seems that we simply cannot win.
But as we write these lines we recall that recently – together with Syrian human rights defenders – we agreed that not only July 18th but in fact each day is Mandela day. We recall how for very long it could have seemed impossible for Mandela and those he worked with, to bring South Africa out of apartheid in a peaceful manner; if they had stopped hoping and remaining optimistic.