Folklight Reflections

Azar Nafisi says Iranian women worked for freedom via election [image: GALLO/GETTY] Azar Nafisi author of Reading Lolita in Tehran : Shares her memories of how the Islamic Revolution in Iran affected a professor and her students. Her new book, Things I’ve Been Silent About , is a memoir of growing up amidst Iran’s political revolution. Nafisi is visiting professor and executive director of Cultural Conversations at the Foreign Policy Institute of Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies in Washington DC she also teaches courses in the relation between culture and politics. Interviewed following the disputed election in Iran, Professor Nafisi shares her insights into the truth of what is going on in Iran reflected by the campaigns and the elections tumultuous aftermath. Al Jazeera shares her thoughts. Al Jazeera: What has just happened in Iran? Azar Nafisi : Well, what has just happened in Iran is a continuation of what has been happening for thirty yea...

With a population of 70 million, Iran is not the nation it was before or during the revolution of 1979. Life under the Sha grew repressive (following an assassination attempt) and his reign was viewed as that of a puppet government, this forged the alliance which rules today's Islamic Republic of Iran. The facts driving a push for reform in today's voting are found in demographics as well as Persian history. There are similarities in the current 'reformist' movement and the upheaval of 30 yrs ago despite that fact that more than two-thirds of Iran's present population is under 30 years old. Is history repeating itself in Iran? Mousavi's campaign has captured the most attention and has rekindled reformist tendencies of Persian people. "What I've seen on the streets of Tehran is visible in the rest of the country," says Mousavi. "There's a sense of identity, and a bravery to express a desire for change. What I have done is provide a focal...

(image - Al Jazeera ) Iranian elections are seldom harbingers of national change but this one could prove to be very different. Despite warnings and threats , reformists are working and praying for a revolution . My expectations are; Turnout: If unrestricted will be massive. As far as I know ACORN does not ‘organize’ in Iran so any efforts to stifle voting will be to maintain TPTB (grand potentates)! Vote-Splitting and Run-Off: Mehdi Karoubi’s candidacy serves as a distraction to split votes for reforming Iranian policy making a first round victory by Ahmadinejad (pronounced- Ima Nutjob) possible and crucial if he is to win-again. Persian people can see ‘thru the veil’ and value life more than death, dialogue more than despair and peaceful coexistence. TPTB are content to cast the spell of blame on anyone, they deem ‘less worthy' (aka infidel), as the reason for Iran’s problems. Perhaps they realize they are in denial since many voters are aware of their schemes to demonize an...