Iran Analysis: Saharkhiz & Abtahi Dent the Government's "Fear Factor" (Shahryar)

It started a few weeks ago with journalist Isa Saharkhiz, detained in Evin Prison and appearing in court, standing up to the Iranian regime and refusing to sign a confession. Now we have the admission of former Vice President Mohammad Ali Abtahi admission, in the wake of other revelations from Iran’s prisons, that the trials of reformists being held in Tehran’s courts were "rehearsed" in advance.

Even before the Iranian Uprising of last year, human rights activists and freed prisoners had raised questions about the validity of trials of activists, reporters, lawyers, students, and political dissidents. So what distinguishes the Saharkhiz and Abtahi developments? The answer lies in a) the timing and b) the importance of individuals making these claims.

When student protests in Iran in the 1990s was put down, part of the regime's success was that the protesters were unable to attract support from elements within the government or the clergy. And even though some student leaders escaped, they were unable to speak openly about their experiences until they left the country and were safe.

This time, the opposition has not only been able to attract high-ranking members of the establishment but has been able to break through the government's "blackout" inside Iran

Isa Saharkhiz worked for the government and the Islamic Revolution from its very early days. However, he now harshly condemns the establishment, going as far as saying that "the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic has proven that he is willing to do anything just to continue a little longer his dictatorial rule over people".

Abtahi’s short statement claiming, "A year ago on such a day we had a trial, we had practiced the day before. What a day it was...." is another nail in the coffin of the Islamic Republic’s campaign to cultivate legitimacy.

Here are two individuals who supported the Islamic Revolution and served this regime for decades. If silenced this time, they would have still assisted the regime’s claims for legitimacy in a small but notable way. (Remember, the regime’s main concern is appearing legitimate to its own population, not to the West.) But both of them have visibly snubbed the regime. Exposing the government’s hypocrisy and criticizing its Supreme Leader are daring attempts at educating the public.

The regime will attempt to a) contain the outcry after both incidents and b) reprimand the two perpetrators, something both Abtahi and Saharkhiz know. So why would two well-established public figures who have worked for the regime and know that they are now risking their lives go ahead? Because the government has lost command of the single most important virtue that keeps every dictatorship in power: fear.

Fear is what kept the people from going into the streets in the wake of the student uprisings of the 1990s. Fear is what kept them from rebelling after the Revolution took away their liberties one by one. Fear is the single most important element in the equation that has worked in the Islamic Republic’s continued existence. Saharkhiz and Abtahi’s revelations further elucidate how much ground the regime has lost since last June.

In another country more than 70 years ago, Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaimed, “The only thing we need to fear is fear itself.” It seems Iranians are beginning to learn that.

Comments

[Verde_e]

Letter from student activist (of the men in “hejab” fame) Majid Tavakoli from inside Evin Prison:
http://news.gooya.com/politics/archives/2010/08/108593.php" rel="nofollow">http://news.gooya.com/politics/archives/2010/08...

In it he says: “A dictator’s only fear is the courageous people who disobey him”

[Ange-Paris]

Hello everybody ! nice to be back :-)
I LOVE Mr Saharkhiz ! VIVA ISA ! You are so brave !

[WitteKr]

Nice to *have* you with us again, Ange! Welcome back!!!

[Ange-Paris]

Thank you Wittekr
I am very happy to be with you as well; since last year, since our "great" elections in Iran, I am so obssessed by my country that I can't be on holiday ( in my head ) , I don't enjoy anything ! AN becomes my nightmare ; thank you Mr AN !!

[Ange-Paris]

.....and thank you Scott, what a big change to post the comments !

[Ange-Paris]

Bozorg
"Who's backing them up?" perhaps their "faith" ! they believe strongly in their own thoughts without having any "doubts"; anyhow, bravo !

[Josh Shahryar]

Bozorg,

Couple of points. A) Maybe you could shed light on the 'backing up' assertion.

B) I'm not claiming that all Iranians are suddenly unafraid. I'm not even claiming that Saharkhiz and Abtahi are totally unafraid. The point is, fear is slowly eroding from people's minds. You can see it in the protests - you don't even have to read this analysis.

[Bozorg]

Josh,

Re: A) Why are they so outspoken? Is it personal courage, or do they know that they have the backing and protection of elements within the establishment? Writing and submitting a letter calling for the prosecution of Khamenei, as Saharkhiz has done during his court appearance, while being a prisoner in Evin would be suicidal for most people, don't you think? So either he's willing to go down in a blaze of glory, or something else is going on. I'm approaching this from an analytical point of view.

B) We both agree that Iranians have demonstrated admirable courage. My point is that apathy is a greater obstacle to collective action than fear. And the root of this apathy is the absence of decisive leadership and action.

[Baz]

Bozorg

"And the root of this apathy is the absence of decisive leadership and action. "

I am not sure that it is quite this simple. There have been studies as to why people have in the past gone to their slaughter, quietly and obediently - with no attempt to even object to their own deaths. It is a VERY complex psychological phenomenon.

Barry

[News vom 5. August « Ars]

[...] Saharkhiz und Abtahi bezwingen den Angstfaktor des Regimes [...]

[Rgrassroots]

Or there could be another explanation and that some of the comments here have got it wrong. Sayyid Ali Khamanei is simply following his role model Imam Ali (peace be with him) who when accused of a wrong doing, despite being the leader of the faithful (Amir al Moomineen), and holding the highest office of state, agreed to appear before the Judge (Qadi) when summoned to respond to a Jewish plaintiff's claim. In an Islamic society people are allowed to criticise their leaders,it is not a sin. What is a sin is abuse and rudeness.

[Kurt]

I agree with Bozorg's comment on apathy vs. fear. For so long fighting for freedom extended only to battles regarding one's personal space and not to a bigger picture, fundamentally. I'm not entirely sure this can be pegged upon the nominal leadership of the GM, either, though. Herein, I do believe fear reenters the equation. That begs the question of what backing Sharkhiz has, though. But, in the past, no backing could have spared them such direct challenges IMHO, so I believe Josh's basic point stands. Perhaps fear is eroding in several echelons of society...