Um interessante testemunho sobre o Irão dos últimos anos e a oposição ao regime.in: IRAN-VA-JAHANApril 27, 2004 Iran va Jahan Shahla Samii1979 was the year many of us left Iran due to turmoil, uncertainty and the catastrophic events unfolding under Khomein's iron will and vengeful plans for the country and its people, cleverly shrouded under the name of Islam and social equality. Until then I had lived with my family in Tehran, where I had married my late husband in 1966. He was foremost a physician, but also a humanitarian and patriot who worked tirelessly to improve medical care, modernizing and building hospitals and advancing healthcare. He also believed that education was the country's greatest natural resource and endeavored to extend the benefits realized through education by founding and establishing institutions of higher education. He aimed and succeeded, amongst others of that era under the late Shah of Iran's educational platform, to woe back students and professionals who had been studying and working abroad, to return and use their talents and assets to build a better future for all Iranians. Since my husband's passing in the year 2000, and in his memory, I have endeavored to pursue his patriotic passion to once again bring the benefits of education in a free, democratic and pluralistic society to my compatriots. I attempt to do this by highlighting the injustices suffered by the Iranian people under the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI), informing the Western media and public of the duplicity and treachery of IRI apologists, and hopefully serving as a voice for the youth in Iran who are stifled and suffocating, yet hopeful in yearning for a better tomorrow with the moral support of their compatriots and contemporaries in exile. The majority of the Iranians, under the ruthless rule of the IRI, have for some time now turned their back on their regime. Without doubt, a minority has been on the payroll of the IRI, staunchly supporting the regime and often in the forefront of fighting any dissent within Iran. The victims of the supporters of the IRI are the students and the disillusioned 70% under the age of 30; the striking workers and teachers who are left without adequate pay and have to work several jobs to survive; the private sector of small businesses who have no linkage to the regime and its cronies. The IRI has spent millions to keep some groups on board, both inside and outside Iran, and has played its hand right with the EU and other Western governments whilst shouting slogans against the “Evil Empires,” the United States and Israel. Inadvertently and surprisingly they gained another source of allies: the exiled visiting Diaspora whose voices, when abroad, sound the IRI propaganda instead of relating the truth about the actual conditions of a desolate and miserable Iranian people. When Khatami was elected President, his mandate was to moderate the excesses of the revolution, while his hidden agenda was to seduce the world and millions of Iranian exiles. Except for superficial changes, he failed the mandate, yet he succeeded in the more important hidden agenda. He started with his “dialogue among civilizations,” exuding a smiling, kind and civilized demeanor. Then he began his quest to attract Iranians in exile to come home; passports, visas and travel into and out of Iran became easier, mandating the Foreign Ministry to accommodate people of all backgrounds, even exiled former politicians. The challenge was to make the Diaspora ambassadors for the IRI. This proved not difficult because many exiled Iranians who traveled back often became unwilling but accommodating pawns in this charade. Just listen to this group and imagine their joy: when their dollars make everything cheap in Iran; when they revisit with old family and friends; when they remember that their compatriots by nature are kind and hospitable; when they see their country still offers its many natural beauties and its strong cultural heritage in spite of the present regime. On returning to their adopted homes, they relate positive tales of life in Iran, the life of a small and privileged minority. The sole detractor in their words relates to walls of bureaucracy when trying to recoup property or assets they used to own, and only successful through bribes and having to buy-back what has been legitimately theirs. Iranians are proud people by nature, and although their incomes have plummeted in real terms, they mask the hardships they have endured. When family and friends visit, just as when foreigners visit Iran, to maintain their pride and dignity, they entertain their ‘guests’ generously. These travelers have become the mouthpiece for positive propaganda for the IRI. They do not talk about the politics of the regime, such as their funding of terrorists, nor do they mention students and journalists languishing in prison. They do not know, or perhaps do not care, which newspapers are closed down, how many girls prostitute themselves, or where the addicts are sleeping. The health hazards posed by unchecked air pollution and chaotic and dangerous traffic problems of metropolitan Tehran are irrelevant. Most importantly, they forget that the youth in Iran has a bleak future under this regime. Amongst the younger exiled generation, many are wooed by so-called Iranian-American civic societies who take it upon themselves to be their representatives with American educational, cultural and political establishments. They do not refer to the plight of Iranians. Human rights under the IRI are no longer a priority. Dissent and the misery index inside Iran are forgotten. I believe that we, the Diaspora, have a duty to our compatriots. 25 years ago many of those now suffering under this oppressive, ruthless and corrupt regime were not born or were just toddlers. The Diaspora enjoys the yearnings of those in Iran. We have freedom of speech and the rule of law on our side; they do not. We have opportunities to study, enter a diverse job market and with hard work achieve our goals and acquire a decent and comfortable life; most of those under the IRI do not, unless they give up on principles and honesty. We should not become the betrayers of the Iranian people. Our mandate is to highlight the regime’s political manipulations, undemocratic actions, lack of human rights, numerous social injustices, economic stagnation, nepotism and corruption, and we must draw attention to the suppression of the people’s voices to the outside world. Visiting our families, friends and helping our compatriots should not diminish this duty. We in the West, young and old, should not become the unsuspecting trophy of Khatami's reign and help in prolonging the nightmare of our nation. We have to reach out to the Western media, to the U.S. Administration and our political representatives, to human rights groups, to the EU and their leaders, and become the ambassadors of the Iranian people and not the regime. The aspirations of the Iranian people for freedom and democracy are vital in the larger context on the war against terrorism, the future of a stable Middle East and world peace. We should and have to be the voices of the majority of the people in Iran and we have nothing to fear in telling the truth.