The Bells Have Long Began To Toll…..

 To those responsible at the Iranian Ministry of Information,

This is a letter from a student , against whom you, your informants and agents, have done all to build up a phony case. You know me well. Surely you recall the 3^rd of Aban ( October 24^th) of last year, the day I was interrogated as well as ridiculed by your “man” in Rafsanjan. Only on that day did I realize that the Judiciary is a tailless, mangy lion. That day I realized that the basic plan of all the dealings with students, journalists, political activist and the opposition and critics of the system, is drawn up by the  Information organizations.

Each time I am called to appear before the court, I see a new report which has been created by these organizations, lying on the desk of the responsible judge. Reports which have been set up by “the grace of your colleagues”, accusing me of “ agitating public opinion, propagating against the system, questioning the legality of the system, publishing anti-revolutionary thoughts and wounding public sensitivities, defaming the principles of system and the leader, etc...” Whose image do you believe to be clarifying in all this? “Mine or that of the Islamic Republic?”

I know you are not realistic or logical enough to perceive that through these steps which you and your organization take, you only verify the fact that the leadership of Islamic Republic is not capable of reform. As a 25 year old student, I say to you, that I see all openings of hope for a change in favor of human rights and freedom and democracy within this system , as closed. Do you know why I tell you this? Because as a part of a mechanism which  negates human rights and freedoms, you have  endangered my mental security and violated the confines of my personal life. Because you empower the judiciary to confine me. Because you use the weapons of fighting thought and of imprisonment, to encircle one such as me, who has nothing but pen and paper in hand. In one word, because you belittle and negate my right of thought and expression.

I know that you and your co-workers have never read the Universal Declaration of Human Rights . Thus I note article 19 of this declaration for your information: “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.” The Universal Declaration of Human Rights has not been drawn up for our amusement. The Islamic Republic of Iran has also very likely known what it is to be party to this Declaration? But now it is so, that the system whom  you so diligently serve, is considered as one of the major violators of these human rights. Possibly you will argue, that this is said by foreigners or something similar. However, it is enough for you to look at the figures pertaining to the confiscation and closure of newspapers, confrontation  with students, journalists , the opposition and critics, as well as political murders, executions, the rise of prostitution , poverty , misery, etc…. to know what the Islamic Republic has brought forth. You freed the country from the authority of the Pahlavi system, to be the means of protecting the rights of the impoverished and to defend freedom and Justice; but what have you done, instead?

Your organization has played and continues to play a leading role in establishing the current dreadful conditions. I recall the day of my interrogation well. It was less than three months after the murder of Zahra Kazemi, and its damaging consequences on the Islamic Republic. “Zahra Kazemi was murdered, and nothing happened.” , this was said  by your man in the office of intelligence in Rafsanjan , as he was interrogating me. Do you know why? To let me know that you could do anything you wished, without paying the consequences. Very likely this man will today deny his words. But a denial or even your reaction to such words will change nothing. The bitter truth is that all know very well, that  life and  human dignity are of no value to you and those who  think like you. Another bitter truth is that the destructive outcome of the murder of a journalist on the interests and affairs of a people , amount to naught, in your views. This is how you have thought and acted, so that Iran is sliding fast in regression.

Yet these words and criticisms directed at your leadership have been so often repeated, that they are beginning to bore. Who does not know these truths?   Who does not know that by the power of the Islamic Republic the intellectual riches of this country have been plundered? Who does not know that through the dogmatism of  the leadership, hope and life and happiness have left this land? Who does not know that the  mafia of power and money, has stifled the development and growth of this country?

Nevertheless, despite all these facts, you consider the students, critics and  opposition, as the means of weakening national security  and thus you show no hesitation in confronting them. But be aware that it shall  no longer be that  truths will be made to lose color  with a simple stroke. From now on, such strokes will turn into storms. A storm that can rise to take down all. The bells have long began to toll…..

Mohammadreza Nasb Abdollahi

 Member of the General Council of the United Student Front

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Last modified: June 05, 2004