NAM and the alleviation of pressures

The leadership of the Non Aligned Movement (NAM) has been formally transferred to Iran this week. In Tehran as one would expect, the theme of  most debates and discussions  circle around the  16th summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) which is now taking place   from August 26 to 31, 2012..  While friends and foes of the Islamic Republic all agree that this is an exceptional opportunity in difficult times of sanctions, pressures and incessant threats from Israel and the US, critics hope that Iranian diplomacy would be efficient enough to make the best of this important gathering of growing voices against western influence. 

NAM was founded in Belgrade in 1961,  based on a stark reality  of that age , recognized particularly by the Yugoslavia's President Josip Broz Tito, Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser, Ghanian President Kwame Nkrumah and Indonesian President Sukarno.  Non alignment has hence been valued as a position of independence and integrity for nations rising from the clutches of colonialism and imperialism.  -    Even though the group was formed in the cold war era atmosphere, it has fared well in proving its effectiveness in changing political orientations. After the downfall of Communism,  a new enemy had to emerge to justify the military expenses and ventures of  US and the West , 9-11 provided the pretext for a new era of the" Crusades" as George Bush II had once mentioned. The NAM stood firm in negation of the unilateral and militaristic approaches of the  terrible Bush era.

 Now, that Iran is being targeted in an unjustified manner, Syria is broiling over civil war and the transformations in the Arab world have weakened pro-west allies, the NAM certainly have an important ax to grind and a influential card to play.

In international negotiations on the environment, dealing with environmental conventions such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the G77 or group of developing nations ( which began as 77 but now amounts to more than 120 countries) has very similar orientations as the NAM and enjoys a unique leverage among groupings in the UN. In 2001, when Iran became the rotating President of the G77, we played an important role in protecting the multilateral nature of UN decision making by supporting the Climate Change Convention and the Kyoto Protocol amid the unilateral and antagonistic approach of the Bush administration. The G77 and NAM are parallel groups which bear important leverage in multilateral international mechanisms.

Even amidst widespread  national concern over pressures against reformists and internal opposition groups and increasing inflation,  Iran has much to gain in this event . The hope is that the convening of the 16th NAM in Tehran would improve Iran's relations with the international community and alleviate economic pressures on the global side. In the internal political atmosphere, there is a general expectation that this event would also alleviate pressures against internal opposition groups and reformists and lead to a more stable situation at the national level.    

Eid Fetr

The Eide Fetr is a celebration of efforts that people have made to conquer over their temptations, desires and excesses. Fetr is an Arabic term which means to cleave or break (the fast of one month). It is a celebration of humanity winning over darkness and oppression. Eid Fetr is important for a world that yearns for ethics and moral values in its leaders and government.

Eid Fetr is a great celebration for those who seek peace and love in place of war and hatred.  Fetr follows the efforts of societies who have withstood hardships of hunger and thirst to sympathize with the needy and the poor and to understand their sufferings. Fetr is a thanksgiving feast, thanking God for the opportunity to worship and to remember the blessings bestowed upon us.

Quds, A Standing Symbol of Injustice

Iranians are celebrating the  Day of Quds today. What began in Iran as a proposal by Imam Khomeini to support the Palestinian cause is now an international campaign marked by worldwide rallies.

  Even though opposition groups in Iran do not agree with certain aspects of foreign policy, but  they have been united in condemning the crimes and oppression that Israel has inflicted upon the Palestinian nation. The problem is that since Iranian State media have taken a strong propaganda position on this matter and have not gone along with people in many issues, they feel that this issue is sometimes used as  a scapegoat in face of internal mismanagement and wrongdoings. Unlike others, I do not believe that we should remain indifferent now on an ongoing international crisis which is now linked to the future of the region and even our world.

In my international speeches,  in many international fora in the past, I have said that the unresolved issue of Palestine, the historical facts and the conditions of Palestinian people today, all point to the inability or the unwillingness of the international community, the UN Security Council and its apparatus to resolve the matter. Quds is a standing symbol of global mismanagement, a reminiscence of the double standards that govern today's world, a sign of continuing injustices that plague humanity . The plight of millions of displaced people , who are now living for more than 2 generations in refugee status in camps with very dire conditions is now easily dismissed in negotiations, the plight of millions living in siege in Gaza or the inhuman conditions of Apartheid in the West Bank are overlooked and forgotten.The Arabian Spring or Awakening has changed many equations on the ground but the unilateral support of the US for Israel has always tilted the balance in favor of the Zionists.

 I do not agree with some of the radical positions that certain politicians have taken , such as the denial of the holocaust . I do however agree with the question that why should the Muslim Palestinians who resided in Palestine for generations, why should they suffer for the crimes committed by the Germans in Europe?
The expansionist and racist stipulates of the Elders of Zion and the outrageous crimes committed in the name and by Zionist regimes are well known to the international community. More important today is the influence and dominion that Zionism has in American political and economic apparatus. I have spoken with many Americans who are now very fearful of the pivotal role that the Zionist lobby plays in American politics and the dreadful role that they play in manipulating American foreign and national security polity to serve the interests of the State of Israel first and above all. They are now using the upcoming elections in the US as a leverage to exert pressure on Obama and  get the US involved in a new war against Iran.
 The American public need to  realize that the prosperity and good life that they enjoy , is in part due to the sufferings that their government has inflicted upon many nations in the world . They need to understand that if they believe in the democratic nature of their political system then they are accomplices in the actions of their politicians and will be held accountable for the policies of their government .

Anti Iran Measures and Rhetoric on the Rise

The Obama administration and Congress moved  Tuesday to tighten the economic sanctions on Iran, betting that additional pressure  will force Iranian officials to accept a compromise to curb their nuclear activities. The American Secretary of Defense joined Israeli officials in their propaganda campaign on branding Iran as a global security threat and stressing that they will not tolerate an Iran armed with nuclear weapons. Americans know well based on their intelligence sources and analysts and based on the National Strategic Report published in 2010 that Iran is not pursuing a nuclear weapon. They also have acknowledged the fact that the Iranian regime is firmly set to protect Iranian interests and to protect the independence and dignity of Iran.  Now that the cold war is over , the Al-Qaida terror war is dwindling , American war mongers need a new pretext to start a new war . War mongers need to create an atmosphere of war every 6-7 years in a particular region in the world to sell American arms and to invigorate the American economy with fresh blood.  The recent sales of billions of dollars of arms to Persian Gulf states including Qatar and Kuwait under the guise of enabling them to protect the waterways is part of this strategy.Last week, Mitt Romney, the Republican presidential candidate, used very harsh rhetoric and explicit threats against Iran to upscale the anti Iran atmosphere in the region. It seems that in the absence of any outright opposition from their people, these Arab governments have sold out their national interests to that of Israel and the US.   While Israel and the US are both an actual threat to the region and have attacked countries in this areas, they have joined forces with allies  to focus not on the actual threats but on Iran. The US and Russia do have thousands of nuclear warheads, Israel, North Korea, India, Pakistan and some other countries do have nuclear bombs. Iran does not have a nuclear weapon , during the past 750 years of history Iran has not attacked or occupied any other nation in contrast to the shocking score card of the US and Israel during the past half century.  

However, coincidentally Iran has access to the worlds 3rd largest supply of oil and second largest supply of natural gas. Iran benefits from a strategic geopolitical position in the region and has vast influence in Iraq, Afghanistan,Turkey, UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Azerbaijan, Armenia,Yemen,Tajikistan, Syria, Lebanon and even Pakistan. Iran has served its neighbors and has brought a sense of self sufficiency and dignity for peoples of the region. The current Iranian government has many shortcomings and  is facing much criticism for its radical and unlawful behavior, however when the issue of unjust pressures and foreign threats surface, the Iranian society and the political fabric of Iran becomes unified in their resolve to resist and prevent any aggression on Iranian soil. Even political prisoners now in confinement have announced their opposition to any militaristic approach against Iran. 

Has not the time arrived that peace activists across the globe unite once again to condemn the preparatory measure that Israel and the US are taking to confront the fantasy of a nuclear Iran and create a new war in this already war stricken region? Is it not about time that people in the US and Europe stand up in face of their governments to recognize the rights of a nation to stand against foreign pressures and instigation ?

  

  

The Inner Housekeeping in Ramazan

The commencement of Ramazan, the Holy month of fasting for Muslims, brings along with it important changes in lifestyle and behavior. In addition to prohibition of eating, drinking and sexual activity during the day light, fasting also implies refraining from unethical social behavior such as lying , backbiting and oath breaking. Muslims practice a sublime set of moral behavior and attitudes during this month, which should set standards  for the whole year around.  Fasting is a personal affair, their are social activities associated with fasting; but in abiding to the rules each individual begins a personal endeavor to change daily habits, and to revisit inner impulses and behaviors.

Ramazan is  the time for self or inner house keeping. The inner affairs of our hearts and minds , our intentions which create our actions and build our personality are revisited and addressed in this Holy Month. The difficulties of fasting and the pressures of thirst and hunger are meant to create a firm and steadfast personality who could resist the temptations and attractive worldly desires which may take a human being to a degraded state of existence and undermine human dignity . Weak people usually give in and sell their dignity for very little. Ramazan is meant to restore strong will and faith in humans who have lost their direction and goal.

During those moments of hunger and thirst the fasting individual considers the sufferings and pains of others and comes to a sublime level of selflessness. Ramazan takes humans to a higher level of contemplation and altruism, a sensation that is compromised in today's material world.

Reflections on the Awakening Conference in Tehran

Women have had a central role in the Islamic  awakening or Arab Spring, what ever we name it. They have taken to the streets along with men protesting against dictatorship and tyranny and demanding freedom and a dignified life. Women in Tunisia,Egypt,Libya, Palestine, Yemen, Syria and Bahrain all played an instrumental role in the success of their nations. As mothers, wives, sisters and daughters women, took central or support roles in promoting the movements and sacrificing their lives or that of their beloved . In many instances women resisted tremendous pressures and broke the chains of fear and suffering with resilience and hope for the future. Some Iranians believed that the Islamic Revolution and Republic served as an inspiration for their movement. Others questioned whether a Revolution of 32 years age and now facing numerous challenges could still serve as a model for Muslim nations.
The Islamic Revolution of Iran is still unique in many respects, the sweeping victory in 1978 amid the staunch opposition of the number one superpower the USA, surviving a devastating war and crippling sanctions are all indications of strength. Over the years, this Revolution like any other has face numerous growing challenges as well. 
1200 women involved in the Islamic awakening movements were invited to Iran by the government. They met and discussed issues related to the Awakening in the luxurious Milad Tower Conference Center  and later visited touristic attractions in some historic sites. State media gave much emphasis to the importance of this gathering which provided participants with the opportunity to become familiar with Iran and the achievements of the Revolution and which set grounds for a future network of these women .
The Islamic Revolution has taken great strides in providing a self confidence and identity for Muslims , and has given them pride in their Islamic faith and practice. While the great gains of these 32 years are numerous, an objective picture would include the lessons and losses as well. These Muslim women and all those who believe in the legacy of the Islamic Revolution, need to learn the losses and lessons as well as the gains and achievements. It is only then that we can deliver an objective picture and useful exchange of experiences for these nations. Press TV indicated in its report on this conference that these women from 83 countries had a chance in Tehran to freely discuss their ordeal and sufferings and aspirations without the fear of retribution. This is a good start , but hopefully it will also be considered for Iranian citizens as well, so that they could also speak out and voice their concerns and criticisms without any fear of retribution or pressure in their own homeland.

Afghan Refugees Find Precious Support From Iranian NGO

Dressed in beautiful traditional costumes, several Afghan elementary students stood on stage singing a song about their love for Afghanistan.  On the eve of the World Refugee Day, I was invited to speak at the opening ceremony of HAMI. HAMI is an NGO devoted the protection of refugee women and children. Since 1998, Fatemeh Ashrafi has led a non governmental effort to support refugees in Iran. According to the UNHCR official site reports Iran still hosts more than one million registered Afghan refugees. It ranks as the first country in terms of refugee number as well as duration of refugee stay. More precise statistics however, point to a number of 5-6 million Afghan refugees in Iran, most of whom do not have legal status and stay or work permit. Iranians have patiently hosted Afghan citizens for more than three decades when their country faced most difficult times of war, terror and insecurity. Their stay in Iran has been fruitful for both guest and host, although the burden has been mostly set upon Iranians and their government. Due to low economic status and low education, Afghan presence in Iran has been  marred by significant records of unlawful activity resulting in some degree of negative perception among the Iranian society. This has led to certain unreasonable reactions in which for example a  local authority in a northern province banned Afghan nationals from taking part in a certain public ceremony . This led to a strong reaction among some social activists .
HAMI has provided free education for Afghan children, through the establishment of two schools in Tehran and other cities and has supported their families now for several years. Stressing on the importance of providing education for refugees, Ms Ashrafi stated that when parliament elections were held in Afghanistan she felt proud to see that many candidates had announced in their campaign that they  were educated in Iranian universities.
The commitment of the civil society  to humanitarian assistance for refugees residing in Iran is indicative of strong social trends that have persisted in spite of official distaste and aversion, during the recent years specifically . In this particular case HAMI seems to receive some support from government officials.
At regional levels, while government support for neighboring states Afghanistan and Iraq has been significant and substantial the civil society has also been effective in strengthening ties between nations. I remember well that during the official visit of President Khatami to  Afghanistan, after the installation of President Karzai,   President Karzai made the point in a bilateral meeting that Iran had provided the greatest support for post war Afghanistan to that date.

In my speech last week I asked for more recognition and support for our precious civil society efforts from international organisations like the UNHCR and UNICEF as well as from the Iranian government.

The Appointment

The Prophet of Islam was appointed today on Mabaas the 27th of Rajab to promote the message of the Revelation.  According to the Holy Quran, Mohammad (SA) is a good example for all( Sura Ahzab 21). He has said : " I have been appointed to complete the best morals". He loves humanity and his life is full of sacrifices for the betterment of mankind.   Yet he is also human and a messenger for all times (Sura Asra 92-93). As Muslims we can name ourselves followers only when we take him as an example in our lifestyle, in our ways and in our words. This requires that we take the Prophet   as a role model, and that we understand his Mission and the teachings of the Quran. The question that arises today is that how can the personality traits of the Prophet and his ways and deeds be applicable to our lifestyles in the 21st century. Islamic scholars and Ulema have divergent views on this matter.
The more conservative and traditional Ulema stipulate that believers should follow and obey the teachings and lifestyle of the Prophet, as it was 14 centuries ago. The progressive scholars believe that Muslims should find the similarities between the lifestyle and manners of the Prophet and seek to implement them. The more modern intellectuals believe that while adhering to the principles and strategies Muslims may improvise to meet the requirements of modern times.
The sublime ethical and spiritual personality of the Prophet along with his sympathy for the oppressed and downtrodden and his support for those suffering from spiritual and material afflictions as well as his love for all humanity all set him in the apex of human history.

He serves as a beacon of hope for the wandering ship of humanity, guiding this wrecked ship to the shores of salvation and bliss.

Farideh Mashini and the Fate of Women's Studies

Iranian universities have  provided post graduate degrees in the field of Women's Studies since 1998. The MA degree program was established by the efforts of both academicians and civil society. The non-governmental Institute for Women's Studies and Research , of which I have been a founding and trustees member, had an instrumental role in proposing the degree and preparing its curriculum in 1996. I was part of that effort and we had proposed at least three branches for the degree program, including women's rights in Islam, family studies, social roles of women.  After approval in 1998, many students studied in this field during the past decade . Recently, during a major review and restructuring of  Human Sciences in Iran, which has been conducted with a certain ideological and political mentality, the Women's Studies degree has been changed to Women's Rights in Islam, thereby limiting the focus of the studies and courses provided. Since the initial attempt had been to delete the degree program in total , this seems to be a compromise to keep the program, but in a controlled manner that would subside the worries of certain conservative groups about the so called Feminist ideology that might permeate and poison such courses. The reality is that an academic approach should enable familiarity with all lines of thought in a particular field,  for only after such an approach would it be possible to make scholarly and unbiased comparisons and appraisals of each school of thought. This is the approach that Islamic leaders and scholars have historically  promoted based on the teachings of the religion.

We have lost a renown woman activist and Quranic researcher, and one of the early graduates in the    Women's Studies program.  Farideh Mashini (1960) died of cancer on Wednesday, after a long struggle against the disease. Farideh is well known among women activists for her dedication to the cause and for her support for the families of political prisoners particularly after the disputed elections of 2009. Mrs. Mashini was briefly arrested in 2009 and interrogated later as well.  Farideh had since several decades, convened sessions for the exegisis of the Holy Quran , particularly on women's rights and status. She was known for her progressive views and insight on these matters. She was a member of the board of the Institute for Women's Studies and has contributed to Farzaneh Journal of Women's Studies  Farideh has also written many research articles and contributed to many national and international conferences. She was one the Muslim Students Following the Line of Imam in 1979 .
We all pray that her soul rest in peace and eternal happiness.

Birthday Celebration in Pristina

I received an email today from a women's NGO in Kosovo . The director of the Nisa Organization was by chance our guest in Tehran, a few months ago. Based in Pristina, Kosovo's capital, they have stated their objective as: "To spread the practice and knowledge of Islam, and to raise the consciousness of our population comparing the similarity of Islam and our Albanian traditions" . These women are from a generation of Muslim Europeans who are seeking to revive their Islamic identity and culture. They have faced the terrible ordeal of racial discrimination at the hands of the Serbs and the difficult years of war and devastation. They are now back to normal life seeking to promote an Islamic lifestyle in Europe.

The Nisa members  have celebrated the birthday of the daughter of the Prophet , Fatima Zahra in Pristina. Fatima is considered as a role model for Muslims worldwide and her life and sayings constitute a road map for all humanity.

Women, Power and Politics in 21st Century Iran

 Based on an invitation from the editors, I have contributed a chapter to a recently published book " Women, Power and Politics In 21st Century Iran. link The book is an account of Iranian women who are activists , academicians or politicians about their experiences and their views on Iranian society.  Contrary to the often biased and misleading stereotypes about Iranian and Muslim women, this volume attempts to depict a realistic picture of their successes and challenges.

 In the introduction Elahe Rostami notes that: As is discussed by Jamileh Kadivar, Elahe Koolaee and Massoumeh Ebtekar, in this book, through much of the history of Islamic Iran, the Islamic concept of Ijtihad has allowed the constant reinterpretation of socio-economic and socio-political matters which can take both a conservative and a democratic form. However Taliban-ism and Saudi style conservatism have never existed in Iran. The Islamic Republic of Iran from its inception has been engaged in a battle between conservative Islam and reformist Islam....... The authors in this book offer a particular analysis of Iranian  women's struggle for change. ..They criticize the the conservative and patriarchal traditions in Islam which have taken away women's rights and continue to subject women to unequal treatment. At the same time they challenge the perception of Muslim women in the West as passive victims of men and religion. As is discussed by Mehri Honarbin Holliday  our aim is not to wholly negate the history of Western thought but to problematise its absolutist convictions in promoting the centrality and universality of Western traditions. Therefore we argue that simplistic views of the place of women in Islam are part of narratives of inferiority and otherness and that to advance this discourse the West has conveniently ignored the achievements of women in Islamic societies. 


I believe this effort which was undertaken by a group of academics concerned about the misleading stereotypes of Iranian women after the Revolution, has been an important step in providing an objective analysis and contributing to the debate about the status of women in Islam and the role of women in social and political processes in Iran.
I hope you would take the time to read this book which is one of the few insider looks at Iran.

Peace and the Advancement of Science : A Congress in Tehran

​The eleventh International Congress of Immunology and Allergy was held in Tehran at the Milad Tower Convention Center. The Iranian Association for Immunology and Allergy (IAIA)hosted this great event in which over 2 thousand students  and faculty members from Iran and more than 20 international scholars took part. Although it was the 11th time that the IAIA had convened this biennial event, this Congress was spectacular for its organization, scientific content, participation and venue. The Milad Tower is one of the unique touristic attractions in Tehran which harbors many cultural and social attractions. 

The opening session included a panel in which I was invited to speak about the Emerging Challenges of Immunology in the world and in Iran. 

I mentioned some of the  theoretical challenges of immunology as an exciting and rapidly advancing science . I spoke about some of the theorems that have drastically changed in the recent years, in areas such as proteomics and genomics . I also mentioned the interdisciplinary nature of the science as one of the leading biomedical fields in research.

After mentioning emerging topics in vaccines, cancer, autoimmunity and AIDs , I pointed to some of the advances and challenges we face in Iran.  I mentioned a Science Metrix report of 2010 that considers scientific growth of Iran based on ISI publications to be 11 times the global growth rate, thus amounting to the highest in the world. Budgetary constraints and the general morale of academia which has declined drastically after the disputed elections in 2009 are major impediments for advancement I noted. In conclusion I also made note of the fact that sanctions should not be directed against nations and should not target the academia. I ended my speech by stressing upon the need for just Peace as a prerequisite for sustainable development and scientific advancement in the world.

I invite you to visit the congress site at:http://icia.ir/