By Masih Alinejad
Editor’s Note: Masih Alinejad originally wrote this article as a column for Etemad Melli a reformist Iranian newspaper headed by presidential candidate Mehdi Karroub . Her editor declined to publish it for fear that the baton carriers would descend on the newspaper office.
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These days, while millions of Iranians have poured into the streets to protest the [allegedly] rigged reelection of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, people overseas – on the sidewalks, subways and other public areas – are talking and speaking out about Iran. Iranians abroad have turned into ambassadors and stood in front of Iranian embassies worldwide to let the world know what the regime did to their votes.
Iranians have turned their attention to their embassies – their Iranian home away from home – to scream their defiance. Accused by the conservative camp of “opening the doors for foreign powers to meddle in Iran’s affairs,” the crowds have been large and unprecedented, but sadly, largely ignored by their official ambassadors.
Next to these two crowds – both at home in Iran and abroad – are uniformed men outfitted in police attire and gear. Iranians refer to these men as “baton carriers.” However, there is a significant difference between domestic baton carriers and foreign ones. Those in foreign countries are there to keep the peace and provide security for demonstrators, and people feel safe seeing them there. At home, our people are fearful of these large men – so much so that they pale and their legs shake, until they have to start running for their lives.
For half of the demonstrations I was in Iran; for the other half, I have been abroad. During demonstrations in Iran, carrying my camera and notebook, I have to run and hide so the baton carriers will not get to me. In the demonstrations abroad, when some old Iranian communists throw tomatoes at the demonstrators, I quickly reach the baton carriers in order to feel safe. At home, even in quiet demonstrations, baton carriers cannot wait to launch themselves at everyone. They beat people and sometimes even open fire. The approach is so violent that even the conservative speaker of the Iranian parliament speaks out against it. Each of us has at least a few bruises to remind us of our meeting with the baton carriers.
Away from home, in strange lands – as conservatives call Western countries – when Iranians shout and scream, the baton carrying police show patience and protect the protestors’ right to voice their dissent. The police react only when someone throws a rock or something else at demonstrators. That’s when they step in and charge – in defense of the protestors. This is strange and difficult for me to digest – to see police officers overseas surrounding Iranian protestors, where they do not understand what the crowd is shouting, but do not seem to mind the angry words.
At home the anti-riot forces attack the quiet assembly of citizens and the common language does not help. The crowd calls on them: “Security forces…support us…support us” or “My revolutionary brother…why are you killing your brother?” Fearful women ask the police to protect them, but they still are beaten by the armed militia.
These beatings take place while the parliament could easily interfere, take a stand and go further than just issuing statements. After all, in this Islamic country the citizens’ right to a peaceful assembly is guaranteed by Article 27 of the constitution, and they should be able to exercise that right without facing bloodshed.
Some people have lost their lives in demonstrations, right in front of the eyes of the police, while others have stood in prayer right on the same spot. In this Islamic country, why don’t the Muslim officials have mercy on these people and at a minimum see that Article 27 is enforced?
