Mehrangiz Kar, Human Rights Activist
"The Chaos in Human Rights Organizations is Rapidly Becoming a National Threat"
 In general, I believe it is beneficial for activists involved in civil and human rights in Iran to remain in contact with the political establishment. However, when the regime in power is not facing any sort of pressure from inside or outside the country, improving the condition of human rights is more complicated than it might appear and requires a great deal of deliberation and caution. The international community is not the least bit concerned about the present human rights crisis in Iran.
In order to clarify my answer, I will define the international community’s position in relation to the Iranian government. This is a broad outline of the situation and while it makes no claim to having scholarly or scientific pretensions, just the same, it is a tragic story of the age we live in. We had better recount this tragic story instead of sweeping it under the carpet, out of sight and out of mind.
[View the entire response]
Ali Afshari, Civil Rights Activist
"Dialogue Alone is Not Enough"
 To answer this question with any degree of accuracy, we should first note that the battle to establish democracy and human rights in Iran is a gradual and evolving process, not a sudden, short-term act with a clearly discernable moment of completion that can be projected in advance. Democracy and human rights are fundamentally dynamic and broad concepts, and there is no limit to their reach. Even in democratic and developed countries, the level of democracy and human rights is far from optimum, and there is constant striving to achieve more satisfactory results. Secondly, Iranian society is now in its pre-democratic stage, still caught up in the push and tugs of tradition and modernity. A structure conducive to absolute control that employs individual and despotic power is highly resistant to any improvement in human rights or the expansion of democracy and systematically engages in violent opposition against such improvements. Keeping this in mind while also acknowledging the limited opportunities and facilities available to human rights activists in Iran, I consider the present activities toward establishing human rights and democracy to be effective, though they have yet to reach a satisfactory level. The present outlook remains bright, provided that efforts will continue to be made to correct mistakes and that collective wisdom and innovations will be utilized. A decisive majority of political and social forces in Iran have adopted a model that gives priority to human rights. The majority of progressive forces have even based their manifestos on the adherence to human rights standards.
[View the entire response]
Ahmed Batebi, Human Rights Activist
"The Practice of Democracy and the Establishment of a Democratic Culture"
 The terms for determining the effectiveness of civic engagement in Iran are undefined, lacking standards or measurable points of comparison by which to calculate productivity.
But keeping in mind the specific limitations and capacities of Iran, namely the government’s relationship with its citizens, I think civic involvement has been effective.
Examining other societies which were able to elevate their civil society to its current state, we can see that they reached their successful position after a long process and period of growth.
Human rights activism in any form is necessary given the current situation. To arrive at an environment conducive to democracy, ready for civil liberties, human rights, and other ideals, we need a cultural foundation and a united public. Activism is the very practice of democracy and the establishment of that democratic culture.
[View the entire response]
Kianoosh Sanjari, Human Rights Activist
"The Voice of Protest Against Violations of Human Rights is Heard More Clearly Now Than Any Other Time."
 It really depends on what you mean by "successful." If we take successful to mean bringing to an end the execution of children, torture of university students and imprisonment of dissidents and the politically disillusioned, or to mean the swinging open of the doors of Section 209 of Evin Prison and the end to expulsion from university of students who speak out, or even to mean observing the law of segregation by crime in prisons that are run by the Organization of Prisons (and even not blindfolding prisoners during interrogations in secret and security detention centers of the Islamic Republic), and other such practices, then I believe efforts toward establishing human rights and democracy in Iran have not been successful.
The ruling power in Iran respects neither the actions taken by human rights activists nor the appeals to end oppression made by domestic and international organizations defending human rights. A few months ago, even Mr. Mohammad Javad Larijani described human rights activists in Iran as "fake."
[View the entire response]
Aso Saleh, Human Rights and Kurdish Civil Society Activist
“Civil and Human Rights Activists Main Target Audience is Society, Not the Government.”
 1. The founding, establishment, and organization of particular social movements in Iran since 1993—including those of women, workers, students, and human rights activists—are among the results of civil society activists’ efforts toward promoting democracy in Iran. While this is not the place for analyzing these results or determining the breadth of their scope, a glimpse at the resources and potential of both the Iranian government and society reveals the high value of these results. In fact, this is all a part of the democratization of Iran, a process that—taking into account the meddling of Iranian affairs from the sidelines or abroad—seems to continue at a remarkable speed. Talk of social movements raises the question of working with the government; cooperation with the government and the manner in which that cooperation is carried out do, however, demand the existence of deep-rooted, democratic factors within the government. In my opinion—no matter the circumstance—it is necessary to maintain contact with the government and make use of whatever potential, however slight, it may have.
[View the entire response]
Dr. Fatima Haghighatjoo, Human Rights Defender
"Most of the Efforts of Human Rights Organizations Have Been Productive"
.jpg) To answer the question of whether or not human rights activists have been effective in the past few years, we must pose another question: if activists had not cried out in defense of the victims, made announcements, formed campaigns and protests, or opposed human rights violators, what would the state of human rights in Iran be like today? Without a doubt, these efforts have been useful and, of course, effective. At this time, the effectiveness of a human rights activist is measured by the role they play preventing the spread of human rights violations and thwarting the growth of the authoritarian base.
A comparison of the 1980’s—with its mass hangings and unfair 15 minute trials that ended in death sentences—to recent years, illuminates the lasting influence of human rights organizations and activists. In the 1980’s the government freely committed acts of violence. Today’s government, in contrast, is obligated to create new laws and to observe existing law. In order to continue the violation of the basic constitutional rights of its citizens, the government must operate under a legal guise. This change is in itself a big accomplishment, and was not easily achieved.
[View the entire response]
Abdollah Momeni, Iranian Human Rights Activist
"The Most Important Task: Preventing the Silencing of Human Rights Victims"
.jpg) 1. In assessing the influence and effectiveness of human rights activists within Iran, it is crucial to take into account the limitations and obstacles they face, while still expecting achievements that are proportional to their abilities and resources.
In other words, given the present condition of Iranian civil society--which is small and weak, in contrast to a government that believes its power is mandated from heaven--it is unrealistic to expect human rights activists’ activities to be fully effective. Currently, human rights activists inside Iran are unable to prevent widespread, institutionalized human rights abuses, and it is difficult to imagine that they could ever be truly successful at convincing the ruling power to observe human rights.
Given the weak and scattered nature of Iranian civil society, the state’s monopoly on the media, and the overarching intent of those institutions in power to oppress the people, any hope that the government will yield to the calls of human rights defenders is simply wishful thinking.
[View the entire response]
Fariba Davoodi Mohajer, Women’s Rights Activist
“Setting Up a System of Networking Between Human Rights Activists Inside Iran With Iranian Activists Living Outside Iran is Necessary."
.jpg) The civil society of Iran, which has always tried to overcome weakness and transition to a strong civil society, has, in the past few years, taken positive steps in this direction. However, with the rise of Ahmadinejad and his government—a government hostile toward civil society—to power, this trend has lost some of its momentum.
The civil society of Iran is facing threats from abroad and dangers from within, which, if ignored, could cause this frail process to wither on the vine. In any case, the transition from a weak civil society to a strong one is the only way our society can escape from dormancy and transform into a vibrant democracy. We must meet these dangers and threats head on.
[View the entire response]
Alborz Baqeri, Journalist
"The issue of educating people is the most fundamental of all."
 In my opinion, we need to first make a distinction between efforts toward human rights and those toward democracy. You will agree that in a society like Iran, in which crises stemming from these two issues manifest in a variety of ways, we cannot afford to lump them together into one category.
As for human rights, I think there have been efforts in recent years that are commendable, but inadequate. There is a fairly favorable current in this direction, but promulgation of civil teachings is still not serious enough. Today’s human rights activists fail to zero in on the problematic areas in the law and the norms of society. They do not endeavor to spread and promote human rights. They are caught up with print or internet bulletins in which they pack in news of arrests and the ruling powers’ opposition.
[View the entire response]
Mohsen Sazegara, Iranian civil society activist
"Students have achieved the greatest successes in opposing human rights violations."
 When assessing the effectiveness of efforts to advance human rights and democracy in Iran, it must be acknowledged that what has been done so far, and what is still being done, has been very influential: the ruling power has become intimidated by the actions taken to prevent human rights violations. This anxiety on the part of Iran’s leaders is especially palpable in the case of prisoners.
Those in power may seem indifferent or pretend to take no notice of the actions, letters, and campaigns, but in reality, they have not been able to brush these efforts off so easily. That the first piece of advice they give to families of prisoners who are hoping for their loved ones’ release is to keep silent—suggesting silence as the means of release of a family member—is proof that they dread disclosure of their actions and the resultant pressures exerted by domestic and international activists.
[View the entire response]
|
.jpg)
