Dariush Foruhar and his wife Parvaneh Eskandari-Foruhar were stabbed to death at their home in a most gruesome fashion on the evening of November 21. They were both principal leaders of the Iran Nation Party. They are yet another two opposition leaders who have been cut to pieces in this savage way since the Islamic regime came to power. They join a long long line of political opponents from various groups and parties who met similar tragic ends: the Shah’s last premier Bakhtiar, Kurdish leaders Ghasemlu and Sharafkandi, former health minister Sami … are but a new names in this bloody list.
For those who know the Islam regime in Iran and the way it views political opponents and the way its security apparatus operates, these crimes may be a cause for sadness, but not of surprise. In its 20 years of existence this regime has held no punishment but death for its opponents. The choice has always been between the firing squad and the assassination gang. If at one time or other the machinery terror and execution has slowed down, this was never because of a change of heart regarding the way they looked at political opponents, nor a change of tactic regarding their physical elimination. Any slackening was usually to reduce internal or international reaction, in a word to play for time and to mislead opponents.
What is special about the assassination of Dariush Foruhar and his wife is that this is the first such act since president Khatami was voted to the presidency in May last year with a mandate for the “rule of law”, “civil society” and “legitimate freedoms” with an overwhelming vote. Such a crime at this juncture proves at least two points.
Firstly to what extent are Khatami’s views deceptive, his promises empty and his methods ineffective. The headless bodies of the Foruhars showed who holds real power in the Islamic Republic: Khatami and his cabinet, or the religious ruler of the country and the allied gangs of bazaar robbers, black-shirted thugs, the security apparatus, and the Revolutionary Guards?
Secondly: that the holders of power in the Islamic government of Iran can speak with one voice only - that of the bayonet. The only way they can rule is through terror. Their only agenda is to break pens and cut out tongues [1]. To invite people in such circumstances to calm, patience and accept the “rule of law” is to unlock the beast and throw the key away.
Does the president of the Islamic Republic of Iran apparently lack the political sense of its most ordinary citizen? Could it be that he does not recognise where the source of this, and similar, crimes lies and how to confront it? Could it be that he knows but does not have the courage to confront it. Or could he even be a friend of the robber and part of the team and merely feigns ignorance and evades telling the truth to the people (as he did when his ministers of Interior and Culture were beaten up earlier this month). These are his own affair, and of his understanding of Islamic “civilisation”, people’s rights, freedom and human dignity and other concepts that keep cropping up in his speeches in and out of the country. For those who look at Iranian affairs from an independent standpoint, however, the issue has other connotations.
They have to ask themselves: can anyone be optimistic for Khatami’s promises to open the political space and establish the rule of law, when the ruling regime of the country uses such utter savagery to confront the most basic rights of its people that was only found in the darkest times of barbarism.
Is it not the most crass insult to civilisation when this president invites writers and thinkers to open a dialogue between “civilisations”? Could any thinker or writer permit such insults to “civilisation” and “thought” by allowing their country to host a person who has taken up the presidency of a political system where political opponents have their heads cut from ear to ear and those who whisper criticism of the ruling despotism have their tongues cut out? Should public and international space be given to the Khatamis of Iran who claim to defend human dignity and rights, even while they prevaricate in confronting such hideous political crimes, or who might even reproach the very victims for extremism or “provocative acts”? The paradox is that such an invitation has been extended, not by a country of the likes of the Islamic Republic, but by one such as France with pretensions to “civilisation” and mindful of democratic rights.
We believe that a Europe, with its continuous claims to defend human rights, freedom and democracy, should say no to such a visit. As a first step we ask of intellectuals, and progressive and freedom-loving currents in France and other European countries to strongly protest at the invitation extended by France on Khatami. This is a minimum act that can register protest at these barbarous murders. Those saddened and angered by the savage murder of Dariush Foruhar and Parvaneh Eshkandari-Fouhar can ask for nothing less.
1. Speech by Revolutionary Guard commander Rahim Safavi inGhom this summer.