Mousavi and Karroubi's Statement on Anniversary of Revolution

Here is their latest statement:

In the name of God, The Compassionate and the Merciful

“By the declining day, (1) Lo! Man is a state of loss, (2) Save those who believe and do good works, and exhort one another to truth and exhort one another to endurance. (3)” (The Holy Quran, Sura: Al-Asr, Verses: 1 to 3)

We are on the eve of the 32th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution of Iran, a revolution that was a glorious reflection of people's determining their own density. Understanding and recognizing this great and significant historic event is very important for each and every one of Iranians: maybe because understating the historical identity of any nation is influential in determining the future path of that nation or maybe because these days [people] ask themselves how correct was the path that was taken [in the past], or maybe because today more than any other time we are witnessing the efforts determined to distort this history.

What we witnessed during those days, was not only a transfer of political power but it was rather the start of a new discourse and the end of an old one: an old discourse that assumed it could survive by shutting down all paths to gradual reform in the government and society; by relying on the foreign governments supported coup d'état and the negligence of those devoted to this land, by imprisoning great numbers of freedom-seekers, by imposing censorship on media; by making the power monger allies of the regime rich from oil revenue, by getting armed to the teeth with all sorts of weapons, by utilizing a loud propaganda machine, by creating the illusion of being influential in the affairs of the region and world, by taking the opposition and critics for granted and only considering themselves and their allies, by imagining their power as a splendor symbol of the divine authority while it was not supported by the people.

However, the new discourse following the depraved coup d'état of August 19, 1953 (known as 28 Mordad coup) began the day after the movement started on 1962. It was the start of an era of reviewing the past events and searching for a rescue path from the dictatorship that was ruling the country with the support of the colonial [foreign powers]. Despite those who had no hope for the change, despite those who interpreted expediency such that it would justify their desire to fulfill their own personal interests and despite those whom the hollow fear tactics of the government intimidated, there were also many who never gave up trying, because they believed that living is not only staying alive. They knew that other nations had to take a long path in order to achieve freedom, justice, independence and prosperity; and trying to achieve a society that is blessed with these, is the very definition of living; so when they found their demands in the views of a strong leader like Imam Khomeini, who was determined in this path, they joined him and prevailed to end oppression and tyranny. Given the past experiences, from the very next day after the Revolution, women and men, young and old, all had concerns in their hearts on how to guard and protect this great achievement from another coup, military attack and most important of all, diversions from the principles of the Islamic Revolution that would break this young establishment.

The lessons that were learned from this event and the years followed, for many times made our people demonstrate their will in order to prevent any diversion in the path that could have taken them to their goals. The widespread participations in defending the homeland against the hostile enemy (Referring to the Iran-Iraq war), impressive efforts to achieve economic prosperity [following the eight-year war], efforts to have extensive reforms in various areas and wise participations in elections are the reflection of our people's honor for the national responsibility that puts our people on the forefront of the intellectual and social developments of the region in the past few decades.

The new discourse had to make itself compatible with new demands and preserve its flow with continuous monitoring against the reemergence of tyranny and magisterial relations. We remember that the main concern of the Assembly of Constitution Experts was to find ways that could prevent the emergence of any form of tyranny, autocracy and dictatorship and the constitution was written when outside of the Assembly of [Constitution] Experts, people were chanting "Equality, Justice, [Imam] Ali's just state" on the streets.

According to "The Saffein Battle" book by Nasr-Ebn-Mazahem, which might be the oldest narrative-historic book about Saffein war, after Imam Ali established his government in Kufa (Iraq), he had a trip to the areas where Persians were living near Kufa and in a town asked people about Persian kings. The person with most seniority in that town responded: In the traditions of Persian kings there were some things for the benefit of the people and some things for the benefit of the king, until Khosro-Parviz (one of the Persian kings) came to power and eliminated anything that was for the benefit of the people and kept all that were for the benefit of the king and this lead to demise of his kingdom.

This narrative precisely describes the psychological and political atmosphere of the country in the first decade after the revolution, regardless of the flaws and obstinacies that affects any revolution: the goal of the people who participated in the revolution was to eliminate these kinds of traditions by following Imam Ali's just governing.

Isn’t it painful that after more than thirty years since the revolution, people’s concern is once again dealing with the reemergence of the same magisterial relations and this time in the name of the religion? We are in a situation that the people's rights which have been described in the constitution and were the values of the revolution are being violated; the third chapter of the constitution, in which the rights of the nation are stated, has become a footnote and whatever is to the benefit of the rulers has been executed in an exaggerated manner and in many folds; and unquestionable obedience in front of the power has become divine and godly, and not questioning the ruling power has become value; and with ridiculous comparisons, any criticizing and objecting voice has been accused of being an agent and ally of foreigners and Zionism, and has been accused of infidelity; so much so, that today the country’s political scene has nothing short from the danger of the recreation of the magisterial relations but the hereditary of the government.

Certainly the [presidential] election of the year ’88 (2009) was a sign of this sense of the public responsibility in front of the dangers. The people who were fearful, the people who were disappointed from the incompetency of the country’s management system, the people who were tired of lies, the people who felt that for country’s development more extensive and more fundamental transformations are needed, came to the scene; and perhaps many who had not been participating in any election for years broke their silence this time, and perhaps many who surpassed the routine political competitions and became united to create a great change.

It is a pity that what happened to the result of the election and what happened after the semi-coup by the totalitarians harmed the fundamental right of the nation to determine its own destiny. However, arresting protestors, beating them on streets, killing many of the youths, women and men on streets and in prisons, the disasters of [Tehran] university’s dormitory and Kahrizak [prison], attacking homes and offices of Maraje (senior religious figures), holding shameful carnivals and (government organized) parades in order to create fear, constant struggle to divert public’s attention toward unimportant issues and diversions, unethical treatment of the families of the martyrs and [political] prisoners, and announcing the annihilation of the Green Movement in repeated occasions; none has managed to save the authoritarians from the great challenge of the lack of public’s trust, just as none has managed to make people forget their rightful demand of achieving the citizenship rights asserted in the constitution.

During these months, important events have happened that interest any informed observer. Many of those who were employed at army, police and security forces couldn’t trade the time they spent at the war fronts and their devotions for protecting the borders and the country’s security, and suppress and beat innocent people. Some because of reservation or lack of information and some simple people because of the government’s propaganda, used to think that the protesters were aiming their religious beliefs but gradually realized that this is not the case. Many, who used to think that the protest movement of the people was initiated by the conspiracy of the foreign domineering powers or the brutes that at the peak of the war sought refuge in the arms of the enemy and served it, realized that this was nothing but a trick to defame critics and justify the inhumane actions of the authoritarians.

And we don’t believe it would take long before those who are truly concerned about the national interests and Islamic values stand alongside the entire nation (or as the totalitarians call " dirt and dust") and separate their line from that of the power mongers, the violators of people's rights and the greedy of nations resources . We especially believe that at the end, Basij and Islamic Republic's Revolutionary Guards and the armed forces will not leave their nation alone.

In the recent years and especially the past two years, a new discourse was born and nothing can stop its growth: a discourse that does not tolerate corruption and with the promise of bringing oil [revenue] to the people’s table, does not increase the price of bread, fuel, electricity and gas many folds overnight; a discourse that believes in protecting the country’s labor force and does not ruin national resources and products by handing in the national market to foreign imports; a discourse that wants dignity for workers and employers, not humility; a discourse that the considers addiction, theft, and divorce the results of thirty percent unemployment rate of the youths and therefore does not tackle the problem of crimes and offences by establishing gallows and historic brutality; and with the excuse of crime and betrayal of a small group, start a new era of repentant, getting forced confessions and torturing in the prisons (Truly how many women can you, those who every day and every hour claim to be concerned for Islam and religion, name to have been executed at the early days of Islamic state during [the time of prophet Mohammad]?); a discourse that is not afraid of the people’s vote and is not terrified of referring to the constitution; a discourse that, not in slogan and Machiavellistic form, but rather in action attempts for Islamic unity and closeness of Islamic sections, and does not repulse millions of Iranian citizens from their own rights for being Sunni, Darvish, Ahle-Hagh or others.

Yes, a new discourse is born today: A discourse that those who were martyred for its values are its leaders and those who were imprisoned for its values are its flag bearers; a discourse that condemns violence and pursues change through peaceful means; a discourse that responds to lies, false accusations and insults with truth, honesty and good manners; a discourse that does not have hopes in [the outcome of] the secret games of the international powers and considers the clear national solution as the only path toward reforms; a discourse that does not follow the ideology of “Us vs Them” but rather tries to turn “Them” into “Us”; a discourse that recognizes all voices and does not see the national unity in absolute silence but rather see it in relying on the collective rationality; a discourse that does not consider the people as outsiders when it comes to what is happening in the country but rather tries to spread awareness among all layers of the society and to every corner of this land; a discourse that by empowering social networks brings people together and expands the civil atmosphere; a discourse that has become a role model for many other freedom-seeking movements; a discourse that criticizes past mistakes but does not deny its clear achievements; a discourse that does not see justice in charity-based economics but rather in providing equal opportunities and empowering the disadvantaged; a discourse that instead of spreading hatred and retribution among the poor and rich, rural and urban, ethnic groups and different religions promotes tolerance, understanding and mercy; a discourse that tries to end the era of empowering thugs and instead is after establishing an era in which those qualified are empowered so that in light of that prosperity and growth of talents lay grounds for the progress of this land to a stature that it deserves; a discourse that is not after finding hero saviors but rather wants every Iranian play a role in saving his or her country; a discourse that its leaders are as many as those who believe in it; a discourse that considers preserving the system is preserving the values that the system was established based on, not preserving the individuals in power; a discourse that believes circulation of power, accountability in front of the people and equality in front of the law are the assurance for having a healthy [society] and foundations for progress; a discourse that believes honoring [both] “Islam” and “Republic” pillars of the system as well as having democracy in all affairs of the country are the only way which will guide the people to prosperity; a discourse in which personal decisions and interests are replaced with collective wisdom; a discourse that believes in a God that wants human dignity and follows the path of hope through seeking-justice, good deeds, patience and perseverance, and has faith that good will prevail and evil will fail.

Today by creating a concern that without its existence the religion will be destroyed and by repeatedly warning about this [so-called] danger, the government tries to mobilize and unite the religious layers [of the society] behind itself; while in fact what has most damaged the religious atmosphere in the society is the oppressive and anti-religion actions of the government. The foundations of all divine religions are based on human nature and if Islam has lasted after fourteen centuries, it is because it has strong intrinsic roots, so much so that even the attack of Mongols and the actions of Pahlavi the first could not destroy it. This religion has thought us not to bow to oppressive individuals and [has warned us] if we do so, we will be deprived of God’s help: “And incline not toward those who do wrong lest the Fire touch you, and ye have no protecting friends against Allah, and afterward ye would not be helped.” (The Holy Quran, Sura: Hud, Verse: 113)

On the eve of the thirty-second anniversary of the Islamic Revolution, we, as two humble companions, praise you, the countless messengers of this new discourse; and we pray to the almighty God to make all of us supporters of oppressed and enemies of oppressor.

Victory comes only from God, the Mighty the Wise

Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi