Iran in Post-Revolution Era
February 9, 1999 - 0:0
Iran has the longest history of parliamentary system in the region. But before the culmination of the Islamic Revolution, the country's two-chamber legislature was simply a formal body and power was, in practice, wielded and enjoyed by despotic rulers. Therefore, the Iranians for some 2,500 years had no civil rights, and if someone dared to object to the status quo and stood up for his rights, he faced torture, imprisonment or exile.
The Pahlavi regime was no exception either, under which many revolutionary stalwarts underwent torture in the prisons of the regime's most dreaded secret police SAVAK or were sent into exile, among them the founder of the Islamic Republic the late Imam Khomeini and the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei. Feb. 11 is the 20th anniversary of the day when the Iranian people, after making unprecedented sacrifices, achieved what they deserved including the right to choose the type of the ruling system in their country.
They did so, and 95 percent of the people unanimously opted for the Islamic Republic. The late Imam believed in democracy and all that it entailed such as a constitution, a legislative body and a president. Under the Islamic Constitution, the people were vested with the right to elect their president and their representatives in the legislature. Although it cannot be claimed that, during the 20 years after the revolution victory, the country has accomplished the entire goals of its revolution, still it has made considerable progress in many areas.
For instance, under the former regime all types of consumer goods used to be imported into the country. However, nowadays, these are mostly produced inside the country and some items are even exported, bringing the country foreign currency. on the political front, there are a large number of political parties and groups and also print media voicing their views on various domestic and international issues, which means that, in today's Iran, democracy is the order of the day.
It will not be out of place here to remind those active on the political arena that the democracy through which they are airing their views freely is the outcome of the sacrifices of thousands of people who watered the sapling of freedom with the blood. Hence, to safeguard the achievement of our martyrs and to frustrate the enemies, who would very much like to destroy what we have achieved, all politicians, writers and journalists should act within the framework of the constitution.
In fact, adhering to the law of the land will help to preserve law and order and guarantee further progress and development.
The Pahlavi regime was no exception either, under which many revolutionary stalwarts underwent torture in the prisons of the regime's most dreaded secret police SAVAK or were sent into exile, among them the founder of the Islamic Republic the late Imam Khomeini and the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei. Feb. 11 is the 20th anniversary of the day when the Iranian people, after making unprecedented sacrifices, achieved what they deserved including the right to choose the type of the ruling system in their country.
They did so, and 95 percent of the people unanimously opted for the Islamic Republic. The late Imam believed in democracy and all that it entailed such as a constitution, a legislative body and a president. Under the Islamic Constitution, the people were vested with the right to elect their president and their representatives in the legislature. Although it cannot be claimed that, during the 20 years after the revolution victory, the country has accomplished the entire goals of its revolution, still it has made considerable progress in many areas.
For instance, under the former regime all types of consumer goods used to be imported into the country. However, nowadays, these are mostly produced inside the country and some items are even exported, bringing the country foreign currency. on the political front, there are a large number of political parties and groups and also print media voicing their views on various domestic and international issues, which means that, in today's Iran, democracy is the order of the day.
It will not be out of place here to remind those active on the political arena that the democracy through which they are airing their views freely is the outcome of the sacrifices of thousands of people who watered the sapling of freedom with the blood. Hence, to safeguard the achievement of our martyrs and to frustrate the enemies, who would very much like to destroy what we have achieved, all politicians, writers and journalists should act within the framework of the constitution.
In fact, adhering to the law of the land will help to preserve law and order and guarantee further progress and development.