Kadivar Discusses Green Movement

Good interview with reformist cleric Mohsen Kadivar in particular his answer to what the green movement is about:

So what are the main features of the movement?

First of all, this movement is peaceful and against violence. Second, it is democratic and wants the respect of human rights. It is anti despotic. It is against dictatorship. Third, it is independent and not planned by any foreign government. It is born from inside the houses of the Iranian people. It was the children of this people who took to the streets because they had been humiliated and their votes ignored, and because they were told that they did not understood and that others knew better. So it is a purely Iranian and national movement and Iranian interests are its highest aspirations.

Fourth, this movement is not after a revolution. It wants to attain its goals legally and through the use of the existing constitution. People say that the constitution is referred to only when the rulers want to impose their will on the people. Only the provisions of the absolute leader and those of the Guardians Council of the constitution are enforced. It is as if there are no other provisions in the constitution regarding the rights of people. The third chapter of the constitution is completely ignored. The most basic rights of the Iranian nation are outlined in this chapter. And these include questioning someone’s beliefs or views, banning torture, prohibiting reading people’s mail, convening press and political courts without the presence of a jury, trying individuals without their right to be represented by a defense attorney, peaceful demonstration, forcing people to make false confessions, depriving people of their freedom on the excuse of keeping the independence of the state, banning despotism, respecting the code of civil procedure, freedom of press, banning censorship, etc.

Fifth, the leaders of the movement and its supporters have chosen green as its color, which bears a meaning for us. Mousavi has repeatedly said that the nature of this movement is Islamic and has asked that all slogans begin with Allaho Akbar, and that Islamic institutions should be used as much as possible. And in all honesty this is what people have done. The organization credo of the movement is “Allaho Akbar, Death to Dictatorship.” Nobody can negate the powerful slogan of Allaho Akbar. Death to the dictator too is a natural outburst, like the older Death to the Shah call during the 1978-9 revolution.

Sixth, this movement is absolutely against using religion as a tool. It is repulsive of religious despotism. It detests cunning Islam. It is against the negation of people’s rights and vote. It is against the view which believes people are inferior and lack understanding. It advocates and supports rational and merciful and intellectual Islam.

Seventh, it is an ethical movement. It is against lies, cheating, and treason. Nothing is higher than the truth and ethical values and believes that one must rise against a lying regime which has even trampled on ethics and morals.