Shahrokh Ahkami
— Persian Heritage #105, Summer 2022 —
One of the issues that troubles my colleagues at Persian Heritage is the timeliness of the editorial, its submission for print and the shipment of the magazine. It has always been that I choose to wait until the last moment to write the editorial hoping that there will be good news from Iran, and I can include it. Unfortunately, their patience has run out and I can no longer delay this process and hold off the publishing of the magazine. With that said not only do I not have any good news from the country, but I am concerned about the daily stories I hear, which make me worry about the Iranian citizens even more.
The international community (leaders) bring on more sanctions to crumble the regime in Iran. They constantly use the rhetoric of war and conflict to destroy a regime that is dangerous to the rest of the world. The propaganda machine in the media is hard at work and has instilled fear in the international community to believe that if there is an attack it is justified and the pieces of Iranian soil, without question will be eliminated. With the destruction of this great evil more smiles will be seen on the public at large. One of the mediums that promotes such rhetoric is a new action movie, Top Gun, in which Tom Cruise, the new John Wayne of America plays, the protagonist. This movie sold over a $124 million dollars over the opening weekend. The story of the film takes you to the forces of evil that need to be destroyed in an imaginary country (the viewer may assume it is Iran.) Of course, the hero of the film gets all the praise for the destruction of such evil. This movie reminded me of the movie “Not Without My Daughter” which was in the theaters during the Iraq and Kuwait War, (referred to as the Gulf War.) The story is about a mother who escapes from so called “evil” Iran, with her young daughter, when in reality she kidnapped her daughter. At the time of the film, I wrote that America is fighting two sides of the conflict one with Saddam and the other with the forces of evil in Iran. With these two approaches the destruction of a country and its people were to be justified in so many ways.
Another film was Ben Affleck’s movie about the hostage crisis in Iran and the attempt to free the hostages in Iran, during an attack by special forces. He received an Academy Award for his performance, presented from the White House by the then First Lady. This film once again reminded the public that they cannot and should not have a good perception of Iran.
It is unfortunate that the great world powers are constantly using rhetoric of war and destruction to prepare the public for an imminent attack on the innocent people of Iran; one that will destroy the country. At the same time there is another destructive power within the country whose goal is the destruction of the people; one that is leaving the poor and innocent Iranian people hungry.
The disaster of the falling of the building in Abadan, Iran resulted in the death of 42 people. This is an example of how the forces within are on the path of destruction. Still, many workers remain under the rubble. The stench of their decomposing dead bodies has kept many search teams away from the building. The interior minister of the country has ordered that the search be stopped. The public is angered by the conspiracy of government officials with the contractors and builders who were responsible for the structure. The main individual who had a personal stake in the building is a relative of Pasdar General Shamkhani, the Secretary of the Supreme Security Council of Iran. There are many more affiliates of the government, who also had a personal stake in the building.
The media has documented that the Governor of Khuzestan and his wife have fled the province. Originally, he claimed that the problem with the construction started five to eight years ago. It was at the time when the original building inspector (Engineer) reported that the plans and construction were not safe. He did not approve it. Subsequently, however, after bribes and influence were used, the plans were approved and construction began, ignoring the engineers documented early warnings.
Three to four mayors and other public figures filled their pockets with these bribes and some of them are in jail. Floors were added to the building that were not submitted as part of the original plan of construction. People were invited to purchase and rent office space while prior to inspection. People rented with great hopes to build their businesses now are either dead or have lost everything. Believe me the old “road bandits” in Iran had more morals than the newcomers, who have no integrity or value for life.
Don’t they have any shame? When they look across the Persian Gulf don’t, they see the kind of buildings that are being built in neighboring countries for their people. Don’t they travel and see how vested these governments are for the wellbeing of the public? Have they no shame? Are they just looking to party and have a good time and have no value for their country and countrymen? Have they no shame when they fill their pockets with the blood money of their people and make substantial amounts of cash deposits into foreign banks to secure their future and the future of their grandchildren? This all on the blood money of their people!!!
The lifestyles of some of the children and grandchildren of these government officials is unbelievable. There are many who fled Iran with billions of dollars and are now in Canada and elsewhere. One of them is Khavari (former head of the Iranian National Bank) who fled with almost 3 billion dollars. One of his sons, Ardy Khavari’s photo was on the cover of a prominent Canadian magazine and called a tycoon.
These are just a few examples of the type of corruption that has taken place through the years and drained Iran of its assets. These bandits are all connected, like a cartel. We can refer to two major disasters that have happened in the city of Abadan, one the burning of the Rex Cinema, where hundreds of people were burnt to death. This was blamed on the previous regime, while it was done by the revolutionary group. And presently there is the disaster of the falling of the Metropol building. Both resulted in public anger! Demonstrations were held! The authorities have tried to calm the masses but have not been successful.
The people are still streaming to the streets demonstrating against this corrupt government and asking for investigations. Simultaneously, with these demonstrations we see demonstrations in other parts of the country because of the government’s lack of funding for retirees. Due to the outrageous inflation retirees can no longer make ends meet and are demonstrating against the authorities. The officials are increasingly nervous about the outrage of the public but blame outside influences, thus not taking responsibility.
There is no doubt that the heavy sanctions placed by the United States on Iran has impacted the inflation causing a lack of access to the most basics needs of the average Iranian. It has resulted in poverty and hunger for a large part of the population. The more people suffer the weaker their voices become to protest the outrageous acts by the authorities. For example, when a couple leaves for work in the morning they are worried about making ends meet.
This leaves them no energy or time for demonstrating or overthrowing a government that has suppressed them for so long. Keeping people hungry is an element of control. Even if the government puts a stop to all the corruption and the sanctions remain in place, billions of dollars a year could be poured into the economy to help the people with their livelihood and help put food on their table.
It is a disgrace that this government has not provided their people a means to buy bread to feed their families, the most basic food. This brings back memories of WW I when the British prevented the import of grain into Iran. As a result, over 10 million Iranians died from famine and starvation. Now this present government and its officials have turned on its people and again is starving them. The people are fed up and have no fear. They are protesting on the streets and the prisons are filled with protestors. It will get to a point where authorities can no longer put the blame on others; they will have to take responsibility.
Another danger is the continued threats to attack Iran, by the international community. Again, these threats will result in the breakup of Iran as a county and the loss of millions of lives. The Iranian government has no friends left in the Western continent. By making more enemies the attacks become more imminent. I hope that this idea of dividing Iran does not happen. I hope that an attack on Iran does not to happen. I hope that people will stop believing that an attack on Iran will mean freeing Iran and its’ people from this regime! I have news for you have a look at Iran’s neighboring countries, like Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan etc! Freedom? What will this supposed freedom look like for Iran? The biggest enemy of this government is themselves. They have allowed people like President Raiisi to become the center of power in the country and it has outraged the people. This government must learn to separate religion from state. They must hand over the reign of power to the freedom lovers and to those who love Iran and want it to prosper. Should they do this they will teach Islam in a manner it deserves. Young people will have a new perception of their religion rather than being forced to observe as currently dictated.
There is so much more to say about all the suffering of Iran and its people over the past 26 years. Each and every time I write my editorial I wish to write about a prospering Iran. Each and every time I write my editorial, I hope to write about wonderful news coming from that country. Each and every time I write my editorial, I pray for my wishes to come true and not wishes unfulfilled that I take to my grave. Each and every time I write my editorial, I wish that these wishes come true and my words of happiness for Iran are a reality that I can share with my friends and dear readers. Wishing better days are ahead for Iran, the Iranian people, and the world.