Iranian protests confirm ANC on right track with media freedom

Iran is currently witnessing the most violent demonstrations it has seen since the Islamic Revolution itself. Protesters in Tehran and further afield are pouring out onto the streets despite the government declaring protests illegal. Foreign journalists, in the country for the elections, are describing police brutality and even deaths among protesters as hostility increases.

The cause of their resentment and hatred — Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who is currently out of the country on a visit to Russia.

“The protests showed how the government’s assertion that Mr Ahmadinejad won re-election by a margin of almost two to one had further cleaved Iranian society into rival camps. On one side are the most powerful arms of the Islamic system of government: Ayatollah Khamenei; the military; the paramilitary and the Guardian Council. On the other is a diverse coalition that has grown emboldened by the day, with some clerics joining two former presidents and Mir Hossein Mousavi, the former prime minister and main opposition candidate, who addressed the crowd from the roof of a car near Freedom Square in downtown Tehran.” (New York Times)

Of course prior to Ahmadinejad Iran had been under the rule of the more moderate Mohammad Khatami who, largely unsuccessfully, tried to introduce a measure of freedom and tolerance. This ended when the ultra-conservative Ahmadinejad became president in 2005.

The actual head of Iran is in fact the “Supreme Leader of Iran” (Ali Khamenei) who is responsible for setting and overseeing policy with the next highest office being the president. Accordingly it is hard to imagine that the views and policies of the hardliner Ahmadinejad do not carry his blessing.

Currently Ahmadinejad has set about a path of Holocaust denial, nuclear arms acquisition and open threats against Israel and those who oppose his goals for the region. His opponent in the election, Mir Hossein Mousavi, styled him an embarrassment to the country.

Unfortunately for the people of Iran and in particular those who oppose the new president there is very little they can do to communicate their unhappiness with the election and the new government. Freedom of speech and expression is tolerated in so far as it accords with the views of the government.

Dissent can be extremely hazardous to your health.

Accordingly when people wanted to protest the result as a fraud and their anger at the re-election of Ahmadinejad they were met with a blanket ban.

The fact that they are so outraged as to ignore the severe repercussions that protests might bring and took to the streets in their tens of thousands speaks volumes for the level of anger that exists in Iran right now.

In denying people a legitimate outlet for their anger they turn to other more dangerous methods which sometimes bring down the government itself.

The question here will be how much momentum is gained in the early part of the demonstrations before the state can bring it under control. If it ignites a spark we will be watching history in the making.

In South Africa prior to the election I welcomed the ANC’s new approach in allowing those within the party to voice their concerns as well as the commitment to continued media freedom.

As South Africans we enjoy freedoms denied to many citizens the world over including many western countries.

This “outlet” will stand the ruling party and the government in good stead as it allows the free exchange of ideas rather than an angry uncontrolled mob who pitch up at your door one day to advise you that your time is up.

Other than Minister Hogan being taken to task for expressing her views, which is regrettable, South Africa is witnessing robust debate, protests and a free press.

Long may it continue.