Akbar Ganji, Iranian Dissident Journalist, Issues a Challenge
By Matteen Mokalla

While imprisoned on charges of "threatening national security," Iranian dissident journalist Akbar Ganji wrote in his now famous "Manifesto of Republicanism": "Intellectuals and the elite should not excuse themselves of their moral duty … one must create hope, inject life and passion and exuberance into the society. Doing this demands self-sacrifice, boldness, and intrepidity. History has shown that giant steps have been taken only by men who were brave, idealistic and self-sacrificing."

Indeed, no one can accuse Mr. Ganji of pusillanimity. In the 1990s Mr. Ganji, a former revolutionary, wrote a series of articles accusing members of Iran’s ruling government of the brutal murders of several prominent intellectuals. As a result, he was jailed in 2000 for six years. Unwilling to be silenced, Mr. Ganji wrote his "Manifesto of Republicanism" and engaged in a hunger strike to protest his imprisonment. For a short time, Mr. Ganji’s imprisonment captured the world’s attention.

A month ago, Mr. Ganji was welcomed to SIPA to deliver a lecture entitled "Civil Liberties, Islam and the Nexus between the Struggle for Democracy and Iran’s Nuclear Ambitions."

In his address, Mr. Ganji thoroughly commented on the controversies that have led the so-called "Western World" to fear Islam and its followers: President Ahmadinejad’s Holocaust Conference, the activities of Osama Bin Laden, and the Danish cartoon controversy. He argued that in any faith many categories of believers exist, ranging from fundamentalists to those who incorporate their traditions into liberal ideologies. Muslims, Mr. Ganji argued, are no exception.

With great dexterity, Mr. Ganji was able to impart to his audience a firm and powerful message: Fear not, America. Your enemy is not Islam, but fundamentalists of all religious stripes.

Still, a general criticism I heard, particularly from individuals who
are concerned with matters of the Middle East, was that Mr. Ganji’s
presentation lacked weight. "Of course there are Muslims in the world
that would rather live under a more democratic system of rule," they
said. "So what?"

But in reality, at least in the United States, Mr. Ganji’s arguments
should be considered profound. When I left the presentation, a
gentleman who had not attended the event inquired as to who Mr. Ganji
was. "At least he can speak freely here in this country," he replied
after I had explained the afternoon’s event.  Unfortunately, the
gentleman’s statement can at best be considered a half-truth.

Undoubtedly Mr. Ganji can speak freely at university campuses to
sympathetic audiences and on programs such as Amy Goodman’s outstanding
and informative "Democracy Now!", but for now Americans will never see
him in the mainstream mass media. This is a great shame since
individuals such as Mr. Ganji can help give a human face to the great
diversity of thought and ideas that constitute Iran today.

Presently, many Americans are consumed with Anna, Britney, Angelina and
Brad (no last names needed). Moreover, when an opportunity arrives to
learn about Islam or an Islamic country, it seems more often than not
an appetite for the simplistic and bigoted master narratives promoted
by Ann Coulter, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, and Daniel Pipes. Individuals such as
Mr. Ganji are nowhere to be found.

Near the conclusion of his talk, Mr. Ganji said that if there is an
intention to help Iran democratize, the best thing for the United
States to do is to leave it alone. In other words, let the Iranian
people work out their own problems. The United States would probably be
wise to take this advice with most countries in the Middle East. Still,
while this may be relevant for the U.S. government, it should not apply
to the people of the United States, particularly SIPA students.

While Mr. Ganji may technically be able to speak freely in the United
States, he will certainly not be heard. That is unless individuals such
as SIPA students, particularly those from the United States, take a
stand. As students at one of the world’s premier schools of
international affairs, SIPA students are blessed with the opportunity
to learn everyday about the world and its people. As such, it is indeed
our responsibility as SIPA students to be "brave, idealistic, and
self-sacrificing."

Write to editors, write to members of Congress, and talk to people
about the things you learn everyday at SIPA. The roots of all of our
problems-ignorance, intolerance, and bigotry-can slowly be eliminated
if you are willing to work for it. But more importantly, it is our
charge to convince the public at large that they will have to work for
it too.
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This article was originally published in the April 2, 2007 issue of Communiqué.

Matteen Mokalla (MIA1) is a Middle East Regional Concentrator. He wishes everyone a happy Persian New Year.