Action memorandum 034

May 25, 1997

Iranian elections show thirst for freedom

The upset election victory of a purportedly "moderate" cleric, Hojjat-ol eslam Mohammed Khatemi, as Iran's President on May 23 has generated euphoria among Iran's youth and professional classes.

Although Mr. Khatemi comes out of the clerical establishment, and other candidates were disallowed who would have provided a more stark alternative to the current regime, he won strong support from younger voters, who are clearly fed up with the stifling social environment perpetuated by the clerical regime. That is the overwhelming message of these elections. The Iranian people have voted for greater freedom, and for more rational government. By voting en masse against the regime's hand-picked candidate, Majlis speaker Nateq-Nouri, they have expressed profound disatisfaction with the regime's repressive policies, and a desire for democratic change.

The Foundation for Democracy in Iran has been actively engaged in monitoring the progress of the elections, and is pleased to note that early attempts by the hard-line Nateq-Nouri supporters, known as Ansar-e Hezbollah, were not allowed to degenerate into widespread street violence. This was prevented not thanks to the regime - which openly encouraged Ansar-e Hezbollah demonstrators who repeatedly broke up Khatemi rallies - but thanks to the cool-headedness of Mr. Khatemi and his supporters, who are to be applauded for not falling into the traps laid for them byagents-provocateurs.

Many in the West will be eager to interpret these elections as the end of a process of democratization in Iran, that should be followed by warm gestures of support, including the lifting of U.S. sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

We believe this is premature. These elections are the beginning, not the end, of the long road to democracy in Iran. Much work must now be done to ensure that meaningful, measurable change is enacted. Mr. Khatemi will be judged on his willingness and ability to bring such changes about.

Among the guages of democracy we hope will emerge in the coming months:

  • - authorization of political parties, the right to organize, and unimpeded access to the domestic media, including for those that do not accept clerical rule;
  • - authorization of labor unions and the right of workers to organize freely and engage in contract negotiations;
  • - dismantling of the repressive apparatus in all its aspects;
  • - an end to the assassination of Iranian dissidents living in exile and to the harrassment of the Iranian exile community;
  • - freedom for all Iranians to equal treatment under the law, regardless of religion, sex, political belief, or ethnic background;
  • - an end to press censorship and ownership laws that restrict press freedom, and free access to the international media for all Iranians;
  • - enforcement of the rule of law, including the prosecution of those responsible for campaign violence;
  • - an end to the training and support of foreign terrorist groups.

    • Regardless of whether Mr. Khatemi fulfills the expectations he has aroused, we believe the people of Iran have taken a bold step to reassert their sovereign rights, and are to be applauded for expressing their thirst for freedom and democracy.

    The Foundation for Democracy in Iran is a private, non-profit corporation registered in the State of Maryland. Contact: Kenneth R. Timmerman, Executive Director. Tel: (301) 946-2918. Fax: (301) 942-5341. FDI materials, including the FDI Newswire, are available free-of-charge via the Internet at http://www.iran.org