Movement's "Declaration of Human Rights"
The goal of this document is not to offer new ideas, as many of these principals are derived from the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. Rather, its objective is to offer a compelling argument as to why the Islamic Republic of Iran is an illegitimate government, and to present a viable and attractive secular alternative.
Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of every individual is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world,
Whereas these rights are universal and apply to all people, regardless of religion, ideology, ethnicity, race or gender,
Whereas the advent of an environment in which all people, not just a privileged few, shall enjoy freedom of speech, belief, religion, press, political participation, pursuit of their dreams, and freedom from fear and want is the highest aspiration of mankind,
Whereas a governments power and legitimacy is vested in and is derived from the people,
Whereas no individual, or set of individuals, is entitled to have exclusive power over the people, and government officials are but trustees of the people, dismissible at their will through elections,
Whereas it is essential to promote global peace and the development of friendly relations with other nations,
Whereas the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) has failed to uphold even the most basic of these rights, Whereas Velayat-e faqih absolutely contradicts individual liberty and free choice,
Whereas IRIs disregard and contempt for human rights, such as its executions, stonings, amputations, tortures, forced exiles and other barbarous acts have all outraged the conscience of mankind,
Whereas IRI has relegated the Iranian women as second class citizens, and brutally repressed the rights and aspirations of Irans proud ethnic groups,
Whereas IRI has isolated our country from the international community,
Whereas IRI has totally mismanaged the economy to the point that Irans real GNP per capita is only one quarter of what it was in 1979,
Whereas people have no jobs, no adequate dwelling, no proper medical coverage and no opportunity for financial advancement, while having to suffer from rampant inflation,
Whereas IRI has merely replaced one class of elite with another, and enriched the pockets of the mullahs and their cronies,
Whereas IRI has made it exceedingly difficult for the average person to earn a decent living with dignity and without having to take on a second or third job just to make ends meet combination of which minimize family time or time for the enrichment of ones soul,
Whereas the people have patiently been waiting for the regime to change its intolerant and brutal policies, and even voted twice for Khatami with that hope in mind,
Whereas after 7 years of sham reforms, Khatami has failed to deliver upon any of his promises, and even worse by his silence during the June, 2003 demonstrations has revealed his allegiance to the brutal mullahs, rather than to freedom, justice and economic opportunity for the average person,
Whereas it is essential and the duty of every patriotic and freedom-loving Iranian, if no peaceful remedy exists, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression,
Now, therefore, we, members of SMCCDI, urge all those who oppose the tyranny and oppression of the theocracy to join us in proclaiming the establishment of THIS DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS as our common, non-violent goal - irrespective of our political ideologies. We do not engage in such activity lightly or for frivolous reasons, as our history has sadly demonstrated hunger for change at all costs can, inadvertently, lead to an even more repressive society. However, we, regretfully, think the theocracy has left us no other option.
Let us set aside our political preferences and unite in establishing these rights as the primary law of our country, and trust the Iranian people to later decide as to which ideology or leader suits them best. Let us unite behind these principals, and no longer place our faith in any individual. Time of individual worship has long passed. Let us unite in first establishing RESPECT FOR HUAMN RIGHTS in our country. This is not a moment for ideological debate, such as a secular republic vs. a constitutional monarchy, etc Rather, it is time to implement - RESPECT FOR HUAMN RIGHTS - as the primary governing principal in Iran.
Article 1.
Individual rights supercede political ideologies. Regardless of the type of constitution, form of government, or political parties, the rights listed in this declaration are independent of and supercede the authority of the government and political parties.
The temptation to lever the strings of the state to favor the incumbent groups must be curtailed. The governments authority and legitimacy is based upon its recognition of, respect for and abidance by these individual rights. The government forfeits its authority and is no longer considered legitimate if it infringes upon these rights.
Article 2.
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. Their freedom or rights cannot be denied in part or entirety based on their religion, ideology, language, ethnicity, race, gender or any other factor. Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this declaration at all times. No exceptions are allowed for national security, emergency or any other circumstance. An exception clause has too many times been abused in our history, i.e. IRIs constitution.
The brutal persecution of the Kurds, Bahais and other minorities must cease. These crimes will forever mark a tragic and shameful episode in our history. A society is judged not only by its treatment of its majority population, but also by its protection of the rights of its most disenfranchised, peripheral minorities. Our Iranian culture will be strengthened, not weakened, by Azeri poetry, Kurdish songs, etc Only weak and declining cultures have to fear diversity.
Article 3.
Women have equal rights, and these rights cannot be denied based on gender. These rights include, but are not limited to, the pursuit of education, career opportunities, sports, arts, legal witness, inheritance, and deciding their own dress attire. Specifically, they have equal rights to freely choose with whom and when to engage in marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution.
Iran will never realize its great potential so long as half of its population is relegated as second-class citizens. The Iranian women must not be forced to wear or not wear the Hijab. They should make that decision for themselves. There must be a limit to the governments undue interference in peoples personal choice.
Article 4.
Everyone has the right to life, liberty, security of person and property and the opportunity to pursue their dreams.
Article 5.
Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion, expression and assembly; this right includes, but is not limited to, freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers. Everyone has the right to dissent, protest, freely express ones beliefs, strike, organize, demonstrate, engage in civil disobedience, etc No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention, exile, and torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment under any circumstance for any reason. No one may be compelled to belong to an association. The death penalty for any political activity during peacetime is outlawed.
Article 6.
(1) Everyone has the right to an effective remedy by competent national tribunals for acts violating the fundamental rights granted one by this document, the constitution or by law. Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of ones rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against one. The accused has the right to free and competent representation and the right to face and question ones accuser.
(2) Everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law in a public trial at which one has had all the guarantees necessary for ones defense.
(3) No one shall be held guilty of any penal offence on account of any act or omission, which did not constitute a penal offence, under national law at the time when it was committed. Nor shall a heavier penalty be imposed than the one that was applicable at the time the penal offence was committed.
(4) No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with ones privacy, family, home or correspondence, and nor to attacks upon ones honor and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.
Article 7.
Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of ones property.
Article 8.
Everyone has the right to take part in the government, directly or through freely chosen representatives. Everyone has the right of equal access to public services. The will of the people constitutes the basis of the authority of government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections, which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote.
The will of the majority cannot infringe upon the rights granted to the country's minorities per this declaration, constitution or by law.
Article 9.
(1) Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favorable conditions of work and to unemployment benefits.
(2) Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work.
(3) Everyone who works has the right to just and favorable remuneration ensuring for ones self and family an existence worthy of human dignity, and supplemented, if necessary, by other means of social protection, such as pension plans for government employees.
(4) Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of ones interests.
(5) Everyone has the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic holidays with pay. Motherhood and childcare are entitled to special care and assistance.
(6) These ideas of a strong social safety net in no way deter from relying on free markets as the most fair and efficient method to allocate a societys resources. However, as capitalism rejected absolute laissez-faire economics and saved itself in the West through a series of wide ranging social reforms, Irans economic system has to be fair both to the poor as well as the rich. Selective and appropriate government regulations are vital to the proper functioning of a free market system. The underprivileged and less affluent should be given opportunities to equally pursue their dreams and enhance our countrys dynamism and vitality.
Article 10.
Everyone is entitled to a universal medical coverage, with a major focus on preemptive medicine.
Article 11.
(1) Everyone has the right to education. The educational system must be non-ideological and based on merit. Free education shall be provided from elementary until the completion of a masters program. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available.
(2) Everyone should have an equal opportunity to pursue higher education, without having to be subjugated to ideological tests. The only tests should be based on the students relevant skills and knowledge. Meritocracy should be the standard for acceptance, not political affiliation. Ideological tests deprive countless number of qualified students from realizing their dreams, and, precariously, compromise the future of our nation.
(3) After seven years and subject to the specific educational facilitys discretion, high school and above teachers/professors have to be given lifetime employment, without fear of dismissal for any reason. This is to protect the instructors of our future generations from fear of politically motivated charges and dismissals. The free exchange of ideas without the fear of persecution is absolutely indispensable if Iran is to successfully embrace modernity.
Article 12.
Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change ones religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest ones religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.
Article 13.
Everyone has the right to freely leave Iran and to return without fear of incarceration or other means of retribution. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of ones citizenship.
Article 14.
Everyone has the right to freely participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts, to listen to music, to paint, etc according to ones own taste and pleasure, and without fear of government interference.
Article 15.
All media, including magazines, periodicals, newspapers, books, radio, TV, the internet, etcare free to operate without fear of government interference or oversight.
A free press is the linchpin of any democratic society. A democracy will cease to exist without it, and a dictatorship will cease to exist with it. By exposing corruption, ineptitude and injustice, a free press is the ultimate guarantor of freedom. A free press allows dissent, encourages debate and ensures a better decision-making process.
Although there are many reasons as to why Iran has, thus far, failed to adopt modernity, the most important factor is the absence of dissent. Policies need to be debated, analyzed and above all criticized. Only through dissent can the decision-making process be optimized. A free press is not only indispensable to this pursuit, it is the only way.
