Shahrokh Ahkami —
Persian Heritage, #112, Summer 2024 —
After more than a year of uncertainty and anxiety following the discontinuation of the print edition of “Persian Heritage” and the decision to publish its digital version, I have reluctantly concluded, due to financial pressure and continuous use of retirement savings, that it is time to bring this ambiguity to an end. We will now be placing our first digital issue on our site for our readers. Since announcing the closure of the print edition some dear friends and readers of the magazine have expressed empathy and solidarity,and that they will continue to support the digital edition. Individuals with their heartfelt commitment and readiness to assist in publishing the magazine, have uplifted the spirits of the staff at “Persian Heritage.” Some readers of the magazine have inquired about the publication costs of each issue and, upon learning of its heavy financial burdens, have chosen to remain silent. Over the past 28 years, “Persian Heritage” has been sustained by commercial advertisements, subscriptions and one time generous contributions of three respected families. Their kindness and support will never be forgotten.
This hot summer has witnessed global changes and developments across the globe. In America, the fever of the upcoming elections is escalating day by day. The Democratic candidate, current President of the United States, Joe Biden, with a career spanning over 50 years as a senator, vice president, and now president has been a prominent figure in our country’s political scene. However, over the past few years speculation about his mental acuity has been questioned. This was once again noticed at his debate with former President Trump in his June debate. Seeing Biden’s altered appearance, his undeniable stares and gestures, and his incomprehensible words have increased fear and concern among his allies and fellow party members. It diminishes his influence among supporters every day. Many are demanding his retirement and replacement with a younger, stronger candidate.
The Republican candidate, Mr. Donald Trump, the former President of the United States even though with his business background and success in building and construction, because of personal controversies and legal condemnations, and confrontational approach has caused much anxiety among foreign leaders and his party. Many voters’ fear of Biden’s reluctance to step aside from the elections and provide an opportunity for a more suitable candidate to confront Mr. Trump is growing day by day.
The US elections are of the utmost importance for world politics. They have an impact and greatly influence the policies of a number of countries; those in NATO and other formal alliance, allies in Asia, advisories in North Korea and China and Latin America. The outcome of this year’s presidential election is crucial for the United States influence as a global power. Choosing a capable and balance leader is essential for global equilibrium.
Other elections in several countries located within the continent of Europe such as England and France, resulted in far-right victories in the European Parliament elections. The success of left-leaning forces in France and England have been noteworthy; the emergency presidential elections in Iran over the past two months have captured the attention of Iranians domestically and internationally.
The sanctions on the elections, both domestically and internationally, and the non-participation of over 70% of eligible candidates in the parliamentary elections in (February), reduced voter turnout to its lowest level in the forty-plus years of the Islamic Republic. This outcome made it clear to Iran’s ruling body that continuing social and economic pressures on the people, various forms of oppression against the majority of the population, increasing inequalities, looting and embezzlement of public wealth and resources by officials and their affiliates at the highest levels of government, corruption, and bankrupting the state treasury while covering budget deficits by selling foreign currency and gold, escalating unaffordable prices of food and clothing, will not lead to anything but a clear rejection by the people of the government and the impossibility of its continuation by force.
Following the government’s defeat in the parliamentary elections and the arrival of unqualified and opportunistic individuals in the parliament, the sudden fall of Ibrahim Raisi, the President, and Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, the Foreign Minister, and their companions, imposed hasty presidential elections on the country in a short period of time, initiating flashy campaigns for a new president.
According to the usual practice and to the surprise of the people, the Guardian Council confirmed only six out of 80 candidates who had registered to sit in the presidential chair. Consequently, several other candidates who had been at the forefront for years, including Sadegh Larijani, with a long history as the head of the parliament for years, were disqualified from the election field. Among the six confirmed, only one conservative cleric was present, who was known to be the leading candidate. Alongside Ibrahim Raisi, the killed President in the helicopter accident, due to his involvement in the ruthless executions of the 1980’s in Islamic Republic prisons and the eradication of many elite youths who could be invaluable capital for the country, he has a fearsome face among most of the Iranian people.
The Government and the leaders of Iran were deeply concerned about the widespread election boycott and sanctions in the parliamentary elections two months earlier. As a result, they made efforts to mobilize the people to the polling stations through extensive advertising and utilization of all available resources. In religious cities such as Qom and other theological schools, classes were canceled during the election days, and seminary students were sent to electoral districts to campaign and attract voters.
Despite all efforts, the first round of elections concluded with very low turnout in the electoral districts, and two candidates advanced to the runoff. There was a significant discrepancy between voter turnout reported by the people and the Ministry of Interior. In the second round, despite all efforts and the insistence of the Supreme Leader and other high-ranking officials of the regime to encourage people to participate in the elections, according to the Ministry of Interior, more than 30,053,157 million votes were cast, and Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian was declared president with over 16,384,043 million votes (53% of total votes). His rival candidate, Saeed Jalili, also managed to garner over 13,538,179 million votes (44.4% of total votes). They announced more than 600,000 void ballots, equivalent to 2% of the votes. Void ballots in the first round exceeded 1.5 million. With nearly, 452,321,321 million eligible candidates, according to official statistics, the second-round participation rate was approximately 49.8%.
Meanwhile, unsubstantiated rumors about the Leader of the Islamic Republic’s confirmation of Dr. Pezeshkian’s candidacy and claims by doctors that the election was designed by the leader have spread. According to these rumors, some believe that by this measure, the leader overlooked Saeed Jalili, a staunch conservative, and extremist.
Mr. Pzeshkian is a cardiac surgeon today but was a radical and hard-line student of yesterday, before the closure of the rest of the country’s, and the head of a university who takes pride in the closure of Tabriz University as the first university as a result of, for example, the Cultural Revolution. The “Cultural Revolution” led to the first brain drain from the country, and even the suicide of some expelled professors and students who were deprived of continuing their education.
Dr. Pezeshkian is one of the most educated candidates in the elections and is currently president of Iran, but the most important problem of the regime is the widespread disbelief and distrust of the people in the government
“It has been more than four decades that 51% of Iran’s population, namely brave and resilient women and girls, who constitute the largest portion of university students and researchers, are deprived of equal rights in many respects compared to men. Especially in personal freedoms such as the choice of attire, they face severe persecution from government agents. Women also encounter significant discrimination in achieving deserved scientific and specialized positions. Nevertheless, they have never relented in their struggle and efforts to assert their rights over the past few decades, never hesitating to make sacrifices and commitments.
The energy of Iran’s courageous women, instead of being utilized in productive, economic, and social endeavors commensurate with their qualifications and capabilities, should not be wasted on whether they should cover a few strands of hair or not. These are women who have been Nobel Prize winners twice, two women astronauts, women who have repeatedly proven their worth in scientific, sports, and artistic arenas on a global scale. Women, as half of the country’s population, are immense assets for the growth and flourishing of Iran. Resolving women’s issues is one of the new president’s challenges, as he has made many promises during his election debates.
If the new government’s approach to controlling this vast and efficient population segment continues to rely on force by a handful of mercenaries and bullies to impose hijab upon them, it can be expected that not only will President Pzeshkian’s modest popularity due to the deceptive reasons of election speeches be jeopardized, but crises similar to those of autumn 2022 could endanger the country with a precarious situation.
The country’s closed doors, external pressures, and endless, corrosive animosities are also crucial issues that must eventually come to an end. How can Iran, with all its human capital, natural resources, and brilliant talents, be independent and improve its relations with the world without dependence on either East or West, and heal old wounds?
Former communist Russia, communist China, India, and Vietnam, who fought long wars with colonial France and America, have finally reopened their doors, established economic, financial, and political relations with their former enemies, and benefited from them to improve their economic situation and continue their economic and scientific competitions in the world. Unfortunately, many Iranian leaders, after gaining power, have not done much for the country other than squandering immense national assets and filling their own, family, and friends’ pockets. Iran’s oil income during Ahmadinejad’s time was $800 billion. It is unclear where this figure, which has been unprecedented since the discovery of oil in Iran, has gone, and there has been no one to hold his government accountable. Ahmadinejad did the greatest service to the government of Israel and the United States by concealing the Holocaust and other theatrical movements, and provided a dangerous propaganda tool for America and Israel by demonstrating Iran and Iranians as dangerous.
In any case, I hope that, just as people undergo intellectual and social changes in various stages of life, Mr. Pzeshkian is not the same revolutionary-extremist young man of yesterday, and with time, his graying hair and professional and political experiences, he becomes a more moderate and worthy man for governing and managing Iran today. I hope the pessimists and pessimistic observers are wrong about the appropriate positive changes in Iran, and Mr. Pzeshkian can stand firmly in any dress or position against the economic mafia that controls the financial and economic highways of Iran with determination and resolve. He can put aside the beliefs of a sector that belonged to the past 1,400 years and try to build a modern and honorable Iran by avoiding those who think they can preserve the system with the orders of Nahj al-Balagha and the Qur’an. Many of those who want the current regime to continue claim that all these educated and elite youths who shine in developed countries after leaving Iran have gone to school and university in this Islamic government.
The answer to these optimists is that it is not this current regime that has developed these talents; it is the result of the night and day efforts and perseverance of young girls and boys who, despite all the pressures, deprivations, failures, financial difficulties, with the help of technological and scientific advancements in the strange and amazing world of the internet, complete their higher education. However, with the utmost regret, as soon as a door is opened, due to lack of hope for their future and lack of suitable employment opportunities with their education, they choose to flee and emigrate from Iran. If the statistics are correct, about six million Iranians have migrated to various countries around the world, especially the United States, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada, achieving the greatest scientific and economic successes in these countries. These days, the hallways of Silicon Valley are full of Iranian inventors and distinguished experts in internet and artificial intelligence. A significant portion of this human capital could and can serve the development and prosperity of our beloved country, Iran.
I AM HOPING FOR THAT DAY!