As I ride in a rusty Paykan back from a meeting in central Tehran, I look out at the thick haze of pollution covering the city. It is smothering and infiltrates my lungs with each breath even though I do not want to inhale it. But, in order to live I must breathe. This is our situation. The regime is like the haze of Tehran. It smothers us, but still we resist and fight for breath and a voice.
A colleague of Roksana’s mother was fired today. The call confirmed reports that school principals are being fired for being "too left." The school board claimed that they have an order from Ahmadinejad's government to remove all dissent. With each step towards an authoritarian state we are suffocated even more.
Now with news of more arrests trickling in each day we also hear the rising voices of dissident Ayatollahs, and some long-awaited encouraging words from Mousavi. In declaring a new political charter for the opposition movement -- to be outlined soon -- he speaks of his refusal to recognize Ahmadinejad's administration, calls for greater press freedoms and demands the release of political prisoners. The goal of the new charter will be structural change to the government -- clearly, things must never be bale to return to the way they are now.
Pro-regime supporters aired on national TV claim that no one is impartial anymore. Either one supports the regime or work towards its demise (with the help of meddling foreign powers). It is this way that they think they can high-jack the revolution from its people. Their ultimatum is answered by the slogan "Khomeini is ours but Khamenei is yours!"
In this state of fitna (chaos) everyone is trying to label the other. Physical appearance is crucial. A friend, Ali, who lives in a very conservative area of Tehran, reported that the young Basiji boys living there have changed their looks. They have shaved their beards, donned tight jeans, and gelled hair in order to infiltrate "those who go against the values of the revolution.”
In addition, as always, women's physical appearance is at the center of attention. Another friend, whose family will be traveling to Kish soon, spoke about how even on this beach resort island she must wear a chador. Typically, Iranians who travel to Kish enjoy a more relaxed atmosphere where the dress code is not as strictly. But not now. With many people losing their jobs due to "leftist tendencies" one cannot be too careful in safeguarding one’s reputation -- even on Kish.
Associating with anyone from the West is dangerous. In these times, those abroad play a delicate but vital role. Their assistance in disseminating information from Iran is crucial but any form of intervention, be it military (the bombing of nuclear facilities) or economic (increased sanctions), is only incredibly destructive. Each threat of military aggression or proposed negotiation deadline makes “green” efforts more difficult. And increased economic sanction deteriorates our lives and safety. Some think the two recent airplane crashes may have been affected by our country’s lack of access to parts and planes.
This is our movement. We appreciate and continue to ask for global solidarity but this struggle is for Iranians. I believe that Nobel Peace Price laureate Shireen Ebadi’s statements echo the wider sentiments of the Iranian people. While speaking in Germany, she stated: "I am against economic sanctions and military interventions… Diplomatic ties must not be severed, instead the embassies could be downgraded to consulates. This would not harm the Iranian people, but it would illustrate the government's isolation." Keeping the table open with no conditions and encouraging dialogue with all factions in Iran is vital. However, it must be done extremely carefully so as not to provide any means of leverage for Ahmadinejad.
Our movement can only move forward under the protection of Islam. Lessons in school about the revolution describe the inhuman policies of the Shah that are eerily familiar to those we experience today. The souls lost then are just as much part of the struggle we wage today as the casualties, torture and imprisonment we have suffered since June 12.
With demonstrations around the world in solidarity with Iran on July 25, we too continue our protests. We spread the word of our gatherings from our rooftops. We will continue our struggle. We must breathe.
Laleh Azadi is a pseudonym for a journalist in Tehran.
Copyright © 2009 Laleh Azadi – distributed by Agence Global
Operation Breakfast Redux