March 17, 2011
To the Editor
This is a letter I wrote published in the Wall Street Journal on February 19, 2011 regarding Protests in Iran.
What the West does not seem to understand or appreciate is the fact that the current reformist leaders Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi are an integrated part of the Islamic regime and are only interested in creating small reforms within the current Islamic constitution.
The majority of the Iranian people on the other hand, are seeking a complete overthrow of the Islamic regime and are only using reform as an excuse to take to the streets and protest. In fact one of the most popular slogans chanted during the June 2009 protests was "Mousavi is an excuse, entire regime is target."
Instead of promoting reforms within the Islamic regime, the West needs to support the real demands of the Iranian people, which are a secular and democratic government in Iran.
Sayeh Hassan