Al Arabiya: The statement, which was signed by 15 prominent political, cultural and social figures, slammed the “oppressive irreparable regime” in Iran.
“It has hidden behind religion for the past four decades leading to a political deadlock and destroying the opportunity towards reform,” they said, adding that the regime “obstructs the Iranian people’s freedom.”
Their call to hold a general referendum is based on people’s right to self-determination.
They also slammed the judicial authority and said officials in the judicial and legislative apparatuses were “ignorant people who lack competency. They added that laws were “unjust as they promoted discrimination and violence” which led to corruption and looting of public funds.
They also condemned harassing and detaining lawyers, journalists and activists for criticizing the regime and demanding to separate religion from politics.
“To overcome this crisis, the current Islamic regime must be peacefully abandoned. (The country) must move forward towards establishing a parliamentarian system according to democratic bases that guarantee freedom of expression, end discrimination against women and solidify the principle of equality among men and women and people of different religions and sects,” they added.
Those who signed the statement include lawyers Nasrin Sotoudeh, Shirin Ebadi, who has received a Nobel peace prize, directors Jafar Panahi and Mohsen Makhmalbaf, philosopher Mohsen Kadivar and political activists Mohsen Sazegara and Hassan Shariatmadari.
Never heard of a regime to hold a referendum to topple herself... Since when a Sazegara and a Makhmalbaf have been intellectuals? Would such an imaginary referendum include all factions, fromMKO and fadaeian all the way to monarchists, or would it be a cover up to keep a milder version of mullacracy in the hope of its full revival at the first available opportunity?
A national, true, honest and healthy referendum is a must, but only after the total removal of bloody IRI. That’s all...
Nice to see these "intellectuals" issung a "statement." I want to know what Mr. Sazegara--the founder of the IRGC- was doing back in 1979. I bet he wasn't issuing statements. He was probably some serious arbadeh keshi on the streets and was burning building down and shooting soldiers on the streets.
Incidentally, where were you back in 1979 JJ? What were you doing then? :-)
Up theirs
بیانیه 15 فعال گلوبالیستی برای رفراندوم یعنی نابودی ایران_لایو اینستاگرام رودست
Related:
شورش 57 از نگاه اقتدارگرایی و منافع ملی، اشتباهات نابخشودنی پادشاه فقید_ فیس گرام رودست
Hate to be a party pooper, how about not having a referendum! The last one we had gave a rise to this shia madness that to this date we have problem taming it, now another one.
The IR Regime will agree to a referendum only as a last ditch effort as it begins to collapse. Any referendum before that will be a con job by the Regime to say that the Reformers will be doing something different than the Hardliners. People will not fall for that. And if they do, they deserve the Islamic Republic.
Referendum can only be a possible tool to undo the first illegal referendum (peacefully) and restore constitutional monarchy, the legal state. It was mentioned as a possible option from years ago. Mostly, as an argument to deter the regime apologists propaganda against the "violence" of proponents of the “regime change” who by the same token, were justifying the violence of Islamic regime!
It's not going to happen as long as there is no structured opposition for a regime change..
BTW there is no such thing as "Iranian Intellectuals". This is faulty expression in Iran used for those who are literate and can read and write!