Supporting the people is the best route to blocking Iran's Bomb, says Reza Pahlavi.
By Reza Pahlavi
Published: 7:02AM BST 30 Sep 2009
Tomorrow, the five members of the UN Security Council plus Germany (known as the P5+1), will sit down with Iran in the latest attempt to ease increasing global anxiety over the country's nuclear programme. The threat of new sanctions hangs in the air. We have been here before: deadline after deadline, sanction after sanction, we return to the same old dance, the only real difference being that the Islamic Republic is inching ever closer to the Bomb. So perhaps now is the time to try something new. In anticipation of the October 1 meeting, the P5+1 must embrace their greatest ally in the war on nuclear proliferation: the people of Iran.
Until now, the Islamic Republic has not responded to external pressure from the international community. No amount of sanctions has worked. Instead, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad soaks up every opportunity to perform on the world stage, entertaining his audience of cool and collected clerics. But those clerics were not so composed on that June day when hundreds of thousands of Iranian people poured on to the streets, demanding an end to fundamentalist tyranny and the regime's oppression of their human rights.
In stark contrast to its reaction to international pressure, the regime's response to the internal uprising was immediate. Quivering with fear, it instantly detained more than 4,000 of its own people, suffocating their roaring cries for freedom and democracy. Students and journalists, sons, daughters, mothers and fathers, young and old are still being held, clubbed, raped and tortured by the Islamic clerical regime. Hundreds of others stand falsely accused, helplessly awaiting trial without rights or representation.
Human Rights Watch and the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran urged the UN to appoint a special human rights envoy during last week's meeting of the General Assembly to investigate the Iranian government's egregious record of abuse. And still, suffering under a brutal regime that threatens their very right to life, the Iranian people continue to plead for their liberties, fight for their freedoms and scream for the world's support.
The clerics' fearful and nervous response to the people's uprising demonstrated that the biggest threat to their survival in power comes from within their own borders. Contrary to the state-run press and propaganda, the regime's biggest enemy is not the West; it is its own people.
By supporting the Iranian people and their struggle for human rights, by elevating the importance of their liberties, the West will find its greatest ally on the nuclear issue. Empowering the opposition movement will encourage and prolong internal dissent, and sustaining that internal unrest is the key to cracking the clerical code.
While sanctions can in fact prove to be a useful tool in the shed of diplomacy, they result in the suffering of a nation's citizens, victimising the innocent many for the sins of the stubborn few. For sanctions to truly be effective in Iran, human rights have to be put on equal footing with the nuclear concern. Many of my Iranian compatriots have indicated to me that they would be willing to add to their hardships in the short term only if they believe that sanctions will curtail the lifespan of clerical oppression and cure their want of human rights.
In 1986, the United States led a worldwide campaign for human rights and equality in South Africa when it passed the Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act, banning US investment in the country. Disinvestment sanctions were about civil rights and human rights, and other world powers quickly followed suit. Most importantly, the removal of apartheid laws and the release of political prisoners were necessary preconditions to the lifting of sanctions. Those sanctions worked. The South African people suffered a deep recession in the short term, but to this day, no South African has forgotten the importance of those preconditions and the long-term liberation they brought to them as a people.
In the case of Iran, US foreign policy and international pressure are reaching their limit. External sanctions that are imposed solely to shape Iran's nuclear policy are unlikely to ever decrease the number of centrifuges that enrich uranium. Furthermore, if the issue of enrichment continues to trump the moral fight for the most basic human liberties – namely the right to free and fair elections and the freedom of speech – then the P5+1 will be seen to have abandoned the Iranian people to their plight. Alternatively, if the West enforces new sanctions that are intrinsically tied to the national outcry for freedom, they have armed their greatest ally with the powerful weapon of international solidarity in the struggle against the Islamic regime. This uprising can change the entire fabric of stability in the Middle East.
So, while the world toils over yellowcake, the people of Iran still believe in their green movement for freedom, hope and human rights. It is time for international leaders to stand behind the human rights of the Iranian people. In so doing, they will entrust the Iranian people with the power to resolve the nuclear issue.
The writer is Crown Prince of Iran
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Death to the "Supreme Leader's" minions!
Crowd chants:
"Basij get lost!"
"Death to the [Supreme] Leaders minions!"
"Basij get lost!"
"Death to the [Supreme] Leaders minions!"
Anti-Regime Demonstrations on Islamic Repiublic's "Jerusalem Day"
On 20 September (2009) Iranians and friends of Iranians in Stockholm, Sweden, gathered in centre of the Swedish capital to stage a counter-protest against the annual "Jerusalem Day" which is staged worldwide by the terrorist Islamic Republic and its supporters in support of Palestinians and Hezbollah. The "Jerusalem Day" demonstrations outside Iran are staged predominantly by arab muslims who support the Islamic Republic's terror over the Iranian population, and in the UK in particular also has the support of many leftist organisations. The tiny group of arab "Jerusalem Day" demonstrators in Stockholm was met by a steadfast Iranian counter-response with slogans including:
"Death to Hezbollah!"
"Death to the Islamic Republic!"
"Death to Russia!" (a steadfast supporter of the Islamic Republic)
"No to Palestine! No to Lebanon! I will give my life for Iran!"
"Get lost murderers!"
"Shut up murderers!"
"Khameini (the Islamic Republic's Supreme Leader) is a murderer!"
Across Iran on the state-staged "Jerusalem Day" demonstrations Iranians also took the opportunity to stage their counter-demonstrations against the terrorist Islamic Republic's official demonstrations - millions of Iranians across Iran turned out to express their rejection of the terrorist Islamic Republic and their "Jerusalem Day" - instead of the Islamic Republic's slogans of "Death to Israel! Death to the USA!", Iranians responded with the following slogans:
"Death to Russia!"
"Death to China!"
"Death to Dictators!" (indirect reference to the Islamic Republic leadership)
"Death to You!" (indirect reference to AhmadiNejad and Ali Khameini the Islamic Republic's Supreme Leader)
"No to Gaza (Palestine)! No to Lebanon! I will give my life for Iran!"
"Today is Iran Day!"
"State Broadcasting is the shame of the nation!"
"Dictator! Dictator! This is our last warning! We are ready to rise up!"
"Don't be afraid! Don't be afraid! We are all together!"
In the following photo from Tehran you can see Iranians holding state provided banners with "Death to Israel" on them however in clear rejection of the terrorist islamic regime the demonstrators have crossed out Israel and replaced it with "Russia", "China", and "Hugo Chavez" (major backers of the mullah's)!
In the following video you can witness a gang of "basiji's" (religious zealot thugs working for the regime who roam the streets with knives, daggers, clubs, chains, and pistols!) attacking Iranian anti-regime demonstrators however as these gather strength they start fleeing! At least one of the "basiji's" motorbikes is set on fire and towards the end of the clip the Islamic Republic's security forces have arrived to the scene and have shot rounds of tear gas into the crowd, hence the abrupt end to the clip.
More clips from the Islamic Republic "Jerusalem Day" which Iranians turned into "Iran Day":
This is an amusing clip. The Islamic Republic "Jerusalem Day" organizer, on top of a truck, is using a megaphone to chant officials slogans of "Death to Israel and Death to Russia" however the crowd is not repeating the slogans but are replying with "Death to Russia" (one of the Islamic Republic's main supporters)! And when the organizer chants "Death to anti-Islamic Republic supporters!" the crowd chants back "Death to Dictator!" :)
In this clip a Hezbollah banner is brought down with the crowd chanting "burn it!"
"Death to Hezbollah!"
"Death to the Islamic Republic!"
"Death to Russia!" (a steadfast supporter of the Islamic Republic)
"No to Palestine! No to Lebanon! I will give my life for Iran!"
"Get lost murderers!"
"Shut up murderers!"
"Khameini (the Islamic Republic's Supreme Leader) is a murderer!"
Across Iran on the state-staged "Jerusalem Day" demonstrations Iranians also took the opportunity to stage their counter-demonstrations against the terrorist Islamic Republic's official demonstrations - millions of Iranians across Iran turned out to express their rejection of the terrorist Islamic Republic and their "Jerusalem Day" - instead of the Islamic Republic's slogans of "Death to Israel! Death to the USA!", Iranians responded with the following slogans:
"Death to Russia!"
"Death to China!"
"Death to Dictators!" (indirect reference to the Islamic Republic leadership)
"Death to You!" (indirect reference to AhmadiNejad and Ali Khameini the Islamic Republic's Supreme Leader)
"No to Gaza (Palestine)! No to Lebanon! I will give my life for Iran!"
"Today is Iran Day!"
"State Broadcasting is the shame of the nation!"
"Dictator! Dictator! This is our last warning! We are ready to rise up!"
"Don't be afraid! Don't be afraid! We are all together!"
In the following photo from Tehran you can see Iranians holding state provided banners with "Death to Israel" on them however in clear rejection of the terrorist islamic regime the demonstrators have crossed out Israel and replaced it with "Russia", "China", and "Hugo Chavez" (major backers of the mullah's)!
In the following video you can witness a gang of "basiji's" (religious zealot thugs working for the regime who roam the streets with knives, daggers, clubs, chains, and pistols!) attacking Iranian anti-regime demonstrators however as these gather strength they start fleeing! At least one of the "basiji's" motorbikes is set on fire and towards the end of the clip the Islamic Republic's security forces have arrived to the scene and have shot rounds of tear gas into the crowd, hence the abrupt end to the clip.
More clips from the Islamic Republic "Jerusalem Day" which Iranians turned into "Iran Day":
This is an amusing clip. The Islamic Republic "Jerusalem Day" organizer, on top of a truck, is using a megaphone to chant officials slogans of "Death to Israel and Death to Russia" however the crowd is not repeating the slogans but are replying with "Death to Russia" (one of the Islamic Republic's main supporters)! And when the organizer chants "Death to anti-Islamic Republic supporters!" the crowd chants back "Death to Dictator!" :)
In this clip a Hezbollah banner is brought down with the crowd chanting "burn it!"
The mullah's rewrite of Iran's ancient history
The mullah's rewrite of Iran's ancient history: Don't overlook this atrocity
The Islamic Republic's butchery of Iran's ancient history is beyond belief and comprehension.
The clerics' audacity and blatant hatred for Iran spews from every page written by approved scholars. Iranology suffers from the lack of sufficient primary sources — especially native — making the task of balanced fact-finding more difficult. But any degree of bias observed in foreign sources about ancient Persians is nothing compared to the negativity, falsehood, and insufficient information provided by the Islamic Republic to Iranian children.
A quick survey of 2005-06 history textbooks for middle school (grades 6-8) shows that over 1300 years of Iranian history as one of the ancient superpowers prior to the Moslem invasion is covered in approximately 37 pages while more than 2.5 volumes of materials are dedicated to Islam, its founder, and Iran's post-Islamic history (mid-7th century to present). With more than half of the 37 pages devoted to pictures and maps, it is fair to say that 1300 years of history is crammed into 17 pages of actual written content. It goes without saying that putting this part of history in 6th grade textbook provides a convenient forum for simplifying materials.
In reviewing all of these 37 pages dedicated to one of the most important ancient civilizations, the following general observations are made. There are no dates associated with any of the eras, characters, or major events. It is difficult to understand how history can be taught without dates. Only a few kings are mentioned for each dynasty and no explanation is provided as to why those few are named in the first place. No major events such as wars, peace treaties, or social and political developments are mentioned. In short, there are no discussions as to what 1300 years of ancient Iranian history contributed to civilization. There is nothing in the 37 pages indicating that the Achaemenid Persia was the first ancient world empire, and prior to Islam Iran was a superpower for 13 centuries.
The overall tone is negativity towards Iranian monarchs, who define the nation's culture and history, and all leaders of the Iranian communities, who helped build and protect the country. The ancient Persians are described as greedy, unjust, chaotic, and selfish. According to the textbook, Iranian leaders accomplished nothing of importance for the common good, and that the people of Iran hated their leaders and way of life. There is no mention of the ancient Iranian prophet, Zoroaster, who is credited with being the first monotheist. Most scholars agree that Zoroaster lived around 1700 BCE. That makes Zoroastrianism the dominant religion in Iran for at least 2700 years, and yet the middle school history textbook barely mentions it, let alone its teachings.
There is nothing in the 37 pages about Persian society, daily life, commerce, warfare, technology, and international diplomacy. As a misogynistic regime, there is no hint as to the relatively liberal status of women in ancient Persia. The names of famous Iranian women who were queens, monarchs and warriors are completely disregarded. There is no discussion about the development of the Persian language or the invention of cuneiform. As a history textbook, it is baffling to find that myths are actually taught as history. Incorrect information and religious propaganda are boundless. In short, Iran's ancient history has been sterilized and faces extinction.
Median Empire (728-550 BCE) - 5 pages
The events leading up to the conquest of Assyria by Babylonian-Median alliance is not discussed. The textbook claims that because of the friendship of the Lydians and the Babylonians, the Medes were no longer threatened by external forces. The Median Empire is marginalized and its downfall is attributed to the kings' life of leisure, greedy nobility, abuse of the people, and high taxes collected from neighboring tribes.
Achaemenid Empire (550-330 BCE) - 10 pages
The Achaemenid kings important to world history such as Cyrus and Darius are not referred to as "the Great." Incorrect and inadequate information are given regarding the origin of the name "Achaemenid," the relationships between Cyrus and Darius or Cyrus and the Median ruling house, conflict between the Persians and the Medes, and the conquest of Lydia and other nations by Cyrus. The book also suggests that Cyrus' motivation for conquest was to become wealthy. Nothing is mentioned of Cyrus' famous bill of rights cylinder and his decree in freeing the Jewish captives from Babylonia while taking on the financial responsibility to rebuild their temple. No mention of ancient Jewish communities was noted. The book states that some experts believe Cyrus was great, as if Iranians do not. No reason is given as to why he would be considered great even by his own enemies.
The events surrounding the death of Cyrus's younger son Bardiya and his relationship with his older brother and king, Cambyses, are incorrect. The role of the usurper Gaumata responsible for Bardiya's death is misrepresented at the expense of Iranian leaders, who saved the fragile empire from destruction. The book claims that the Median and Persian ruling families were unjust and cruel to the people. Rebellions without details are generally emphasized to show that the Persian rulers were hated. The brilliant administrative skills and innovations of Darius and the ability of the Iranian leaders in managing an unprecedented empire comprising of 23 nations are not mentioned. The book states that the Greeks were the most important neighbors to the Persians when in fact the Achaemenid political strategy considered Mesopotamia, Egypt, Central Asia, and India as the most important regions. None of the famous Persian-Greek wars or their aftermath is mentioned. The fall of the Achaemenids is attributed to the fact that nobody had any say in the matters of the country but the monarch, and that is why they eventually became corrupt. Apparently, the greed of the nobility caused further suffering for the people. Alexander's invasion of Iran is mentioned in one sentence, and the bravery of the Iranian defenders during that invasion is not discussed.
Alexander/Seleucids (330-247 BCE) - 2 pages
Only two pages are dedicated to this era. Nothing substantive is mentioned. Alexander's desire and subsequent actions to mix the Persians and the Greeks are not discussed nor the effect, if any, of Hellenization on the Achaemenid Empire. The textbook does not cover how Alexander used Iranian soldiers, commanders, and governors for his eastern conquests and management of the empire.
Parthians (247 BCE-224 CE) - 9 pages
According to the textbook, the Iranian noble families helped the Parthians in pushing out the foreign Seleucids, but only for personal gain. The Romans are slave-owners mostly in pursuit of leisure. Jesus Christ is introduced as savior of the people from the hands of the evil Romans. The textbook states that Jesus appeared in Palestine during these difficult times while his Jewish heritage is omitted. Jesus is portrayed in a limited but political capacity. He is defined as a defender of those in suffering. According to the textbook, the Romans, who abused the Christians, after some time decided to become Christians too. The fall of the Parthians is attributed to the weakness of the kings, greed and power hungry nobility, and Parthian liberal attitude towards religious matters.
Sasanians (224-651 CE) - 11 pages
The book claims that Ardeshir I, founder of the Sasanians, rose to power because he promised the Zoroastrian priests that he would revive the religion if they support him in overthrowing the Parthians since the Parthians did not know how to manage the country. Ardeshir is credited with specifically stating that the rise of Buddhism and Christianity is one of the unattended problems. According to the book, those Iranian nobles who supported Ardeshir did so only for personal ambition. However, despite the rise of the Sasanians, religious chaos continued because people were free to practice their religion.
The relationship between Armenia and Persia is marginalized, and the continuous Roman-Persian conflict over Armenia is not discussed. Mani and Mazdak, two radical and independent socio-religious figures, are sympathized as oppose to the Sasanian rulers. The political and social implications caused by the respective preachings of Mani and Mazdak are not discussed. The textbook accuses Sasanian rulers from becoming very wealthy by taxing people and that most of the tax collected was not used for the benefit of the people.
The textbook incorrectly claims that the Sasanian society was divided into two classes: the nobility and the common folk. It further claims that nobility had many privileges including education while commoners were not allowed to attend school. Nothing is mentioned of the large middle class, the dehghans, created by the Sasanian monarchs to balance the society. An alleged letter from the prophet of Islam to Sasanian king asking him to convert as well as the king's audacity to reject such an invitation are mentioned as well-known history. Not surprisingly, the book claims that the righteous Moslem invaders were able to defeat the corrupt and cruel Sasanians, and bring freedom and justice to the people, who willingly accepted Islam.
Volumes of books in many languages have been written on Iran's 1300 years of pre-Islamic history. One of the most respected, comprehensive set is The Cambridge History of Iran which has devoted 2600 pages without pictures to this era. Yet the Islamic Republic only found enough written material to cover 17 full pages directed to 6th grade students most of which contain deliberate misinformation and anti-Iranian sentiment. The mullahs are using Iran and its resources to further a warped religious agenda at the detriment of the Iranian people and the international community. In this process, they are systematically destroying a nation's understanding of its past given such a past is more advanced, humane, and liberal than the Islamic Republic's Constitution of the 21st century. Stay tuned for more on the ongoing Iranian genocide at the hands of the Islamofascist clerics.
Sheda Vasseghi has a Masters in Ancient History with emphasis on ancient Persia. She handles public relations for persepolis3d.com and is a member of the Azadegan Foundation. Ms. Vasseghi is a regular contributor to political magazines such as WorldTribune.com.
The Islamic Republic's butchery of Iran's ancient history is beyond belief and comprehension.
The clerics' audacity and blatant hatred for Iran spews from every page written by approved scholars. Iranology suffers from the lack of sufficient primary sources — especially native — making the task of balanced fact-finding more difficult. But any degree of bias observed in foreign sources about ancient Persians is nothing compared to the negativity, falsehood, and insufficient information provided by the Islamic Republic to Iranian children.
A quick survey of 2005-06 history textbooks for middle school (grades 6-8) shows that over 1300 years of Iranian history as one of the ancient superpowers prior to the Moslem invasion is covered in approximately 37 pages while more than 2.5 volumes of materials are dedicated to Islam, its founder, and Iran's post-Islamic history (mid-7th century to present). With more than half of the 37 pages devoted to pictures and maps, it is fair to say that 1300 years of history is crammed into 17 pages of actual written content. It goes without saying that putting this part of history in 6th grade textbook provides a convenient forum for simplifying materials.
In reviewing all of these 37 pages dedicated to one of the most important ancient civilizations, the following general observations are made. There are no dates associated with any of the eras, characters, or major events. It is difficult to understand how history can be taught without dates. Only a few kings are mentioned for each dynasty and no explanation is provided as to why those few are named in the first place. No major events such as wars, peace treaties, or social and political developments are mentioned. In short, there are no discussions as to what 1300 years of ancient Iranian history contributed to civilization. There is nothing in the 37 pages indicating that the Achaemenid Persia was the first ancient world empire, and prior to Islam Iran was a superpower for 13 centuries.
The overall tone is negativity towards Iranian monarchs, who define the nation's culture and history, and all leaders of the Iranian communities, who helped build and protect the country. The ancient Persians are described as greedy, unjust, chaotic, and selfish. According to the textbook, Iranian leaders accomplished nothing of importance for the common good, and that the people of Iran hated their leaders and way of life. There is no mention of the ancient Iranian prophet, Zoroaster, who is credited with being the first monotheist. Most scholars agree that Zoroaster lived around 1700 BCE. That makes Zoroastrianism the dominant religion in Iran for at least 2700 years, and yet the middle school history textbook barely mentions it, let alone its teachings.
There is nothing in the 37 pages about Persian society, daily life, commerce, warfare, technology, and international diplomacy. As a misogynistic regime, there is no hint as to the relatively liberal status of women in ancient Persia. The names of famous Iranian women who were queens, monarchs and warriors are completely disregarded. There is no discussion about the development of the Persian language or the invention of cuneiform. As a history textbook, it is baffling to find that myths are actually taught as history. Incorrect information and religious propaganda are boundless. In short, Iran's ancient history has been sterilized and faces extinction.
Median Empire (728-550 BCE) - 5 pages
The events leading up to the conquest of Assyria by Babylonian-Median alliance is not discussed. The textbook claims that because of the friendship of the Lydians and the Babylonians, the Medes were no longer threatened by external forces. The Median Empire is marginalized and its downfall is attributed to the kings' life of leisure, greedy nobility, abuse of the people, and high taxes collected from neighboring tribes.
Achaemenid Empire (550-330 BCE) - 10 pages
The Achaemenid kings important to world history such as Cyrus and Darius are not referred to as "the Great." Incorrect and inadequate information are given regarding the origin of the name "Achaemenid," the relationships between Cyrus and Darius or Cyrus and the Median ruling house, conflict between the Persians and the Medes, and the conquest of Lydia and other nations by Cyrus. The book also suggests that Cyrus' motivation for conquest was to become wealthy. Nothing is mentioned of Cyrus' famous bill of rights cylinder and his decree in freeing the Jewish captives from Babylonia while taking on the financial responsibility to rebuild their temple. No mention of ancient Jewish communities was noted. The book states that some experts believe Cyrus was great, as if Iranians do not. No reason is given as to why he would be considered great even by his own enemies.
The events surrounding the death of Cyrus's younger son Bardiya and his relationship with his older brother and king, Cambyses, are incorrect. The role of the usurper Gaumata responsible for Bardiya's death is misrepresented at the expense of Iranian leaders, who saved the fragile empire from destruction. The book claims that the Median and Persian ruling families were unjust and cruel to the people. Rebellions without details are generally emphasized to show that the Persian rulers were hated. The brilliant administrative skills and innovations of Darius and the ability of the Iranian leaders in managing an unprecedented empire comprising of 23 nations are not mentioned. The book states that the Greeks were the most important neighbors to the Persians when in fact the Achaemenid political strategy considered Mesopotamia, Egypt, Central Asia, and India as the most important regions. None of the famous Persian-Greek wars or their aftermath is mentioned. The fall of the Achaemenids is attributed to the fact that nobody had any say in the matters of the country but the monarch, and that is why they eventually became corrupt. Apparently, the greed of the nobility caused further suffering for the people. Alexander's invasion of Iran is mentioned in one sentence, and the bravery of the Iranian defenders during that invasion is not discussed.
Alexander/Seleucids (330-247 BCE) - 2 pages
Only two pages are dedicated to this era. Nothing substantive is mentioned. Alexander's desire and subsequent actions to mix the Persians and the Greeks are not discussed nor the effect, if any, of Hellenization on the Achaemenid Empire. The textbook does not cover how Alexander used Iranian soldiers, commanders, and governors for his eastern conquests and management of the empire.
Parthians (247 BCE-224 CE) - 9 pages
According to the textbook, the Iranian noble families helped the Parthians in pushing out the foreign Seleucids, but only for personal gain. The Romans are slave-owners mostly in pursuit of leisure. Jesus Christ is introduced as savior of the people from the hands of the evil Romans. The textbook states that Jesus appeared in Palestine during these difficult times while his Jewish heritage is omitted. Jesus is portrayed in a limited but political capacity. He is defined as a defender of those in suffering. According to the textbook, the Romans, who abused the Christians, after some time decided to become Christians too. The fall of the Parthians is attributed to the weakness of the kings, greed and power hungry nobility, and Parthian liberal attitude towards religious matters.
Sasanians (224-651 CE) - 11 pages
The book claims that Ardeshir I, founder of the Sasanians, rose to power because he promised the Zoroastrian priests that he would revive the religion if they support him in overthrowing the Parthians since the Parthians did not know how to manage the country. Ardeshir is credited with specifically stating that the rise of Buddhism and Christianity is one of the unattended problems. According to the book, those Iranian nobles who supported Ardeshir did so only for personal ambition. However, despite the rise of the Sasanians, religious chaos continued because people were free to practice their religion.
The relationship between Armenia and Persia is marginalized, and the continuous Roman-Persian conflict over Armenia is not discussed. Mani and Mazdak, two radical and independent socio-religious figures, are sympathized as oppose to the Sasanian rulers. The political and social implications caused by the respective preachings of Mani and Mazdak are not discussed. The textbook accuses Sasanian rulers from becoming very wealthy by taxing people and that most of the tax collected was not used for the benefit of the people.
The textbook incorrectly claims that the Sasanian society was divided into two classes: the nobility and the common folk. It further claims that nobility had many privileges including education while commoners were not allowed to attend school. Nothing is mentioned of the large middle class, the dehghans, created by the Sasanian monarchs to balance the society. An alleged letter from the prophet of Islam to Sasanian king asking him to convert as well as the king's audacity to reject such an invitation are mentioned as well-known history. Not surprisingly, the book claims that the righteous Moslem invaders were able to defeat the corrupt and cruel Sasanians, and bring freedom and justice to the people, who willingly accepted Islam.
Volumes of books in many languages have been written on Iran's 1300 years of pre-Islamic history. One of the most respected, comprehensive set is The Cambridge History of Iran which has devoted 2600 pages without pictures to this era. Yet the Islamic Republic only found enough written material to cover 17 full pages directed to 6th grade students most of which contain deliberate misinformation and anti-Iranian sentiment. The mullahs are using Iran and its resources to further a warped religious agenda at the detriment of the Iranian people and the international community. In this process, they are systematically destroying a nation's understanding of its past given such a past is more advanced, humane, and liberal than the Islamic Republic's Constitution of the 21st century. Stay tuned for more on the ongoing Iranian genocide at the hands of the Islamofascist clerics.
Sheda Vasseghi has a Masters in Ancient History with emphasis on ancient Persia. She handles public relations for persepolis3d.com and is a member of the Azadegan Foundation. Ms. Vasseghi is a regular contributor to political magazines such as WorldTribune.com.
Friday, September 11, 2009
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