Yesterday I went to a protest march here in Waterloo with several Iranian students. The frustration and disappointment of these people at the recent developments in their country, and the feelings and sentiments that they have are very intense, as one would expect. It's most unsettling to think that these young men and women, liberal in thought, friendly and courteous in behaviour and quite modern in outlook would still be subjected to live the lives of prisoners in their own land whenever they visit home. I was shocked to know that raids in university campuses to rough up, often torture students with alternative political opinion is a common phenomenon in Iranian cities.
From what is being reported in the media, many of us might be under the impression (at least I was) that Moussavi, the candidate who lost the elections as a result of alleged malpractices is a liberal leader. The fact, though, is that he is only slightly less conservative than his opponent. He himself was a Prime Minister of this Government 20 years ago, and he is still faithful to the system and its Supreme Leader. His election would have not brought about a sea change; it would only have been a small step towards liberty. A tiny, yet a much-awaited and a much sought-after step.
In yesterday's rally, my Iranian friends spoke of their collective dream of a free, democratic Iran; where people's fundamental rights would be honoured, and they quoted Gandhi, saying that the non-violent resistance of their compatriots would eventually bring freedom; but how far that day would be is anyone's guess. It's appalling to think that the country that once saw the first ever proclamation of human rights in the world would today see a murder of those same rights.
