 "Photo: Katy Blalock")
Students assembled in Gambrell Hall Tuesday night to hear Hossein Namdar and Akbar Atri explain what it is like to fight for democracy for more than a century.
Namdar and Atri clarified in their lecture, sponsored by Students Defending Democracy, why many influences have deprived their ancient country Iran of freedom, and what it is like to brawl for something Americans were born into naturally.
According to the CIA World Fact Book, Iran, known as Persia until 1935, became an Islamic republic in 1979 after the ruling monarchy was overthrown and the shah was forced into exile. Conservative clerical forces then established a theocratic system of government with ultimate political authority.
The result has been a drastic change; for example, Iran's theocracy allows women to be stoned to death for performing certain actions.
"The old regime was better than the new theocracy because the new theocracy takes away social freedom, and it stole the Iranians' pursuit of political freedom," said Atri.
Today, Iran's characteristics are working against terrorism. Atri started a campaign eight years ago to reform democracy for Iran.
"My campaign's effort to achieve democracy is fruitful because the theocracy cannot change," said Atri.
Atri realized this opposition when the militia tried arresting the students who were involved in the campaign. Alone, the militia destroyed 800 dormitories, arrested about 500 students and injured more than 500 more. The militia even shut down all newspapers and magazines. According to the U.S. State Department, the militia killed five to six students.
Atri claims his biggest achievement was breaking the notion that no one can splinter the regime.
"We wanted the freedom to chose our future," Atri said. "No one could challenge the leader in Iran, but we did. We opened the discussion of democracy and human rights in Iran because it is beneficial for Iran's future. It is embarrassing that the (Iranian) president is who he is. He isn't representing the Iranian people in a democratic way."
Both Namdar and Atri asked students to support what Iranians want: democracy, human rights, freedom of political prisoners and a free election.
Namdar said, "We are all human beings; therefore, we have to support each other for human rights. We need all the help we can get. It is imperative for the security of Americans that Iran becomes a democracy."
Steve Mance, a fourth-year economics and political science student, questioned Atri on what students need to do as far as promoting democracy and human rights.
Atri replied by asking the students to "tell Congress and officials at the highest level that dialogue with the Iran regime will not work."
"The sooner we take non-violent action into this movement, the better it will be. We know what is it like and we can provide ammunition to making it better. Now that is a democracy."
Anthony Busch, a second-year business student and treasurer of Students Defending Democracy, said, "This forum was necessary for students to hear because there are not a lot of outside influences like this on campus. It is important because we are having a lot of trouble with Iran and their nuclear program. Students need to hear their side of the story."
Before the end of the presentation, Namdar, who has lived in the United States for 30 years, gave students a blunt message.
"The United States of America is the greatest country. Americans are the kindest people, and the Iranian people see that. Iran is similar to the United States because there are many diverse cultures," he said.
"After Sept. 11, 2001, the Iranian people filled the streets with candles. That shows how fond the Iranians are of the United States. Do not let others tell you otherwise."
To find out more on Students Defending Democracy, visit the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies at http://www.defenddemocracy.org.
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