In the Name of God
At a time when the Iranian government is trying to divert world opinion from violations of human rights and freedom in Iran and to put nuclear energy and uranium enrichment at the center of attention, any action that draws global public attention to violations of human rights and freedom in Iran is right, principled and timely.
In this regard, the recent action by our dear brother Mr. Akbar Ganji, who has called for the release of three political prisoners and intends to draw foreign public opinion to this issue through a hunger strike, is, like all similar actions, certainly a move that all freedom-seekers can endorse. Solidarity and unity around defending the freedom of political prisoners is a highly strategic step in deterring the encroachments of the structure of domination. At the same time, in defending political prisoners, it is fitting to take a comprehensive and even-handed approach and to defend the rights of all those who have been oppressed and have fallen victim to human rights violations. We also consider it necessary to mention two points:
First: The country's present circumstances, its existing social and political rifts, and the balance of power between the government and the people are such that no single individual or movement can upset this balance on its own. The right course is for every action to be guided by the principle of maximum alignment, common direction and, ultimately, cooperation among all genuine freedom-seeking forces that believe in the national and territorial interests of the country, while each movement preserves its own principles and boundaries. Any individualistic statement or action is not reasonable.
Second: Above all, freedom-seeking forces in the present circumstances must be able to assure the people of their own competence and effectiveness, and in doing so remove from the body of society the negative effects of the incompetence and blunders of the 2nd of Khordad Front (the reformist coalition), which squandered the people's hopes over eight years. For this reason, sound and well-calculated management is a necessary condition for any action, so that it can achieve the goals announced for it. Great care must be taken to ensure the sound management and careful planning of every freedom-seeking action.
Therefore, while supporting the global campaign for the release of political prisoners, we wish Akbar Ganji and everyone involved in this program success.
Ali Afshari Mohsen Sazegara Akbar Atri