Iranian reform movement
The Iranian reform movment (Persian:اصلاح طلبان), or the Reforms Front (Persian: جبههٔ اصلاحات) also known as 2nd of Khordad Front (Persian: جبهه دوم خرداد which refers to the date of Khatami's landslide election victory in the Iranian Calendar) is a political movement by a group of political parties and organizations in Iran who supported Mohammad Khatami's plans to change the system to include more democratic aspects.
'Reform' movement (1997-2005)
2nd of Khordad Movement is a term that usually refers not only to the political parties of the reforms front, but to anyone who was a supporter of the 1997 reform programs of Khatami. The reforms front consists of several political parties, some of the most famous of which include:
- Islamic Iran Participation Front: Key figures are Mohammad Reza Khatami, Saeed Hajjarian, Alireza Alavitabar, Abbas Abdi, Mohsen Safaie-Farahani, Mohsen Aminzadeh, and Mostafa Tajzadeh.
- Association of Combatant Clerics (Majma'e Rowhaniyoon-e Mobarez): Key figures are Mohammad Khatami, Hadi Khamenei, Majead Ansari, Mohammad Tavassoli, and Mohammad Mousavi-Khoinihaa.
- Mojahedin of the Islamic Revolution Organization (Sazman-e Mojahedin-e Enghelab-e Eslami): Key figures are Behzad Nabavi, Mohsen Armin, Mohammad Salevati, and Feyzollah Arabsorkhi.
The front is coordinated by the Council for Coordinating the Reforms Front.
Background
Many Iranian intellectuals were involved in establishing a foundation for the movement. Perhaps the most influential figure was Abdolkarim Soroush. For many years his was the only voice that publicly criticized the regime's policies. His regular lectures at Tehran University used to enjoy the attendance of many Iranian students who later generated the 2nd of Khordad movement. Many famous figures of the movement belong to the Soroush circle. However, at the rise of 2nd of Khordad movement, Saeed Hajjarian acted as the main theorist behind the movement and the main strategist in Khatami's camp.
The Presidential election
See also: Mohammad Khatami's reforms
Mohammad Khatami was elected president on May 23, 1997. Khatami won largely due to the female and youth vote, who voted for him because he promised to improve the status of women and respond to the demands of the young generation in Iran.
Khatami is regarded as Iran's first reformist president, since the focus of his campaign was on the rule of law, democracy and the inclusion of all Iranians in the political decision-making process.
Assassination Attempt on Saeed Hajjarian
Very soon after the rise of 2nd of Khordad movement, the conservatives opposing Khatami came to the conclusion that Hajjarian was the main strategist of the reformist camp. This led to his attempted assassination on the doorstep of Tehran's city council in March, 2000. He was shot in the face by a gunman who fled on a motor-cycle with an accomplice. The bullet entered through his left cheek and lodged in his neck. He was not killed but was "badly paralyzed"[1] for some time. During his coma, groups of young Iranians kept a vigil outside Sina hospital, where he was being treated. Due to this injury, Hajjarian now uses a walking frame and his voice is distorted.[2][3]
His assailant Saeed Asgar, a young man who was reported to be a member of the Basij militia, was later arrested and sentenced to 15 years in jail. He was released after spending only a short term in prison.[1][2]
Ganji and Red Eminence and Grey Eminences
Red Eminence and Grey Eminences (Persian: عالیجناب سرخپوش و عالیجنابان خاکستری "Alijenabe Sorkhpoosh, Alijenabane Khakestari") is name of series of articles and a book written by Akbar Ganji in newspaper under the responsibility of Saeed Hajjarian, in which he criticized the former president Rafsanjani as the "Red Eminence", and the intelligence officers in his government, such as Ali Fallahian as the "Grey Eminences". The article cost Akbar Ganji 6 years of imprisonment.[4]
18 Tir crisis
July 8, (18 Tir) crisis, refers to a demonstration in Tehran University dormitory in reaction to closing Salam newspaper by the regime. Demonstrations continued for a few days in most cities in Iran and in more than ninety-five countries worldwide. The demonstration ended in violence and the death of a young Iranian citizen along with many casualties. It was Iran's biggest anti-government demonstrations since the 1979 Islamic revolution.
6th Parliament
In this parliament reformist enjoyed a majority. Due to disqualifing many candidates for next election, more than 100 MPs resigned at once.
27 Khordad election
In this election, Mostafa Moin and Mehdi Karroubi were the main candidates to lead the 2nd of Khordad movement. However they failed to succeed in election as many supporters of the movement lost their hope and did not participate in the election.
Aftermath
Saeed Hajjarian, who was the main theorist behind the movement declared in 2003 that: "the reform movement is dead. Long live the reform movement".[5]
Notable figures
- Abdolkarim Soroush (sent to exile, expelled from University)
- Masoud Behnoud (imprisoned)
- Mohammad Khatami
- Saeed Hajjarian (attempted assassination)
- Akbar Ganji (imprisoned)
- Ezzatollah Sahabi (imprisoned)
- Ataollah Mohajerani (resigned his post)
- Reza Khatami
- Akbar Mohammadi (imprisoned, sentenced to death, murdered)
- Abbas Abdi (imprisoned)
- Elaheh Koulaei (facing charges)
- Mostafa Moin
- Alireza Rajaei (imprisoned)
- Ahmad Zeidabadi (imprisoned)
- Mohsen Sazegara (imprisoned, later released)
- Abdolfattah Soltani (imprisoned)
- Attaollah Mohajerani
- Abdollah Nouri (imprisoned)
- Alireza Noori (died suspiciously)
- Abdollah Ramezanzadeh
- Ali Akbar Mousavi Khoeini (imprisoned)
- Hashem Aghajari (imprisoned, sentenced to death)
- Latif Safari (imprisoned)
- Ayatollah Jalaluddin Taheri
- Ebrahim Yazdi (imprisoned)
- Mohammad Ali Abtahi
- Mehdi Karroubi
- Morteza Alviri
- Alireza Alavitabar (facing charges)
- Nikahang Kowsar (imprisoned)
- Ebrahim Nabavi (imprisoned)
- Abdollah Nouri (imprisoned)
- Ahmad Batebi (imprisoned, sentenced to death)
- Hassan Yousefi Eshkevari (imprisoned)
- Ahmad Ghabel (imprisoned, sent to exile)
- Ezzat Ebrahim-Nejad, (shot dead by security forces)
See also
References
- ^ a b http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/752624.stm BBC: Iran jails Hajjarian gunman (17 May 2000)
- ^ a b http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/2134063.stm BBC: Iran's reformists warn of dictatorship (17 July 2002)
- ^ http://www.guardian.co.uk/Guardian/gallery/image/0,8543,-11205218336,00.html Hajjarian casting his ballot in the 2005 election
- ^ عالیجنابان سرخپوش و عالیجنابان خاکستری، آسیب شناسی گذار به دولت دمکراتیک توسعه گرا ISBN: 964-7134-01-1
- ^ اصلاحات مرد زنده باد اصلاحات
| Mohammad Khatami | |
|---|---|
| Politics | 1997 presidential election · 2001 presidential election |
| Policies | Reforms · May of 1997 Reform Movement · Islamist democracy · Iranian reformists |
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