Note: If you agree with them, it wouldn't hurt to call your Congressional representatives
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5/30/07
Request From World Human Rights Communities Regarding United States' 75 Million Dollar Budget for Iran
By Emaddeddin Baghi, Defending Prisoners' Rights Society, Tehran, Iran
May 18, 2007
Dear Colleagues and Human Rights Activists,
We are all sensitive to violations of human rights by governments and consider it our duty to react to these violations even if in countries such as Iran these reactions have costs. At the same time, we are expected not to be indifferent to new kinds of human rights violations or outright endangerment of human rights activists.
In recent years, the government of the United States has announced that it has allocated a yearly budget for the support of civil society, democracy, and human rights in Iran. This so-called "democracy fund" is approved by the United States Congress and extensive media coverage of this financial endeavor has been encouraged.
Given the existence of longstanding hostilities between the governments of Iran and the United States, the government of Iran has shown extreme sensitivity to the idea of individuals or groups receiving funds to engage in activities that, in the public words of at least some American officials, is intended for an eventual "regime change" in Iran. I am sure the United States government would show similar sensitivity if it was revealed that there were individuals or organizations in the United States that were receiving funds from hostile groups or countries intent on creating instability in that country.
The allocation of yearly funds has led to the Iranian government's widespread concern and suspicion towards civil society organizations and human rights activists, clearly exacerbating in significant ways pressures on them and the number of arrests. Undoubtedly, not all these pressures and arrests are reflective of recently developed government concerns and suspicions. Forces that are against liberty also use the U.S. budget allocation as a pretext or excuse to legitimize their opposition to civil liberties and to discredit their critics.
In such an atmosphere, individuals and organizations that are more active and well-known are easier to spot and hence easier to threaten. In the past two years, we have been witness to numerous accusations hurled against civil society institutions such as the Society for Defending Prisoner's Rights. Such organizations have also faced investigation and even closure of their offices. In the past 14 months, for instance, I have been summoned by the Iranian judiciary or intelligence organizations 7 times but have not publicized the matter in order to avoid political tensions. I think it time to change course and act in different ways.
I would like to state categorically that it is neither wise nor morally justifiable for the United States to continue its path, without due respect or concern for the specific harm and harassment the so-called democracy fund entails for human rights activists in Iran. It is not right for independent individuals and institutions inside Iran to pay the price for allocated funds that the United States government spends on broadcasting from the United States into Iran or for the activities of exiled Iranian groups that cooperate with various American organizations.
This is why I hereby make a plea to you and your respected organizations to insist that the United States government change its ways or, in case of its insistence on allocating a yearly budget, make public and transparent the exact amount and recipients (individuals and groups) of these funds. In this way, problems are reduced for independent democracy and human rights activists in Iran. In addition, the United States government can no longer be accused of, willingly or unwillingly, being complicit with the suppressive forces in Iran which have been using the so-called democracy fund as an excuse to harass civil society activists.
I thank you in advance for your careful attention to this urgent matter and hope that the necessary steps are taken as soon as possible to correct the wrong approach taken by the government of the United States and to promote transparency.
Respectfully yours,
Emaddeddin Baghi
Defending Prisoners' Rights Society
Tehran, Iran
Do we have a Right to Impose our notions of HUMAN RIGHTS in other countries? If not could we not show we mean business by not DOING ANY BUSINESS with countries such as CHINA? lets face it... money talks... bullshit... you know the rest.
Posted by: AcidDrip at June 9, 2007 2:51 AMI dont't why they have rejected such generous offer. Correction, i do! it's personal pride before the welfare of civilians.
It's damn outrageous that anyone- whoever it should be-should personal pride before the life and welfare of others.
This is not human rights- human rights encompass a wide area and has different meanings but ultimately the goals- as understood by those who are real exponents and those who hold such values as an article of faith- is to ensure the right to life and all the benefits that flow from such beliefs and such rights.
whatever the political atmosphere and difference between the two countries and their peoplemay be-no-one and i mean no-one may deny any human the right to be afforded such safeguards as such are afforded by the benefits that arise from existance of human rights.
If the US want to play political games that's fine but such gifts and offers should be taken at face value and it should be understood that they are needed as a form of aid to improve the quality of life of the people of iran- which is something that human rights aspires to do, politics do not play a role where lifes are stake in so far as it may only be used to safeguards life but not enter into politcal squabble to score political points: that stuff of immature and insensitive politicians not worthy on any real human!
And no we are not being naive but understand why they have such policies!!!
THE MONEY IS NEEDEd TO BUILD LIVES AND SHOUL BE ACCEPTED- AND THE CRITICISM OF THE POLITICS LEFT FOR LATER WHERE RIGHTS AND WRONGS OF ANY NATIONAL OR INTERNATIONAL POLICIES CAN DEBATED AND ARGUED TO THE HEART'S CONTENT OF POLITICIANS.
THE ROLE OF HUMAN RIGHTS IS TO ARGUE AGAINST VIOLATIONS, PROMOTE THE VALUES OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEFEND AND CHAMPION SUCH VALUES. IT'S NOT POLITICS AS USCH OTHERWISE IT WOULD BE CALLED EXACTLY THAT....POLITICS!!!
A FOREIGN POLICY EXIST BECAUSE IT IS JUST THAT A FOREIGN POLICY...WHAT RIGHTS AND BENEFITS STEM FROM THEM IS FOR THE POLITICIANS TO DECIDE- IF THEY ARE HUMAN RIGHTS IN ALL ITS GUISES IT IS TO EMBRACED AND PROTECTED AND NOT FROWN UPON. IF IT IS NOT, IT IS TO BE REJECTED; FOR NO BEFENIT MAY ACCRUE FROM THAT.
ULTIMATELY IT IS THE RIGHT OF ANY INDIVIDUAL TO HOLD ANY STATE ACCOUNTABLE FOR ANY HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS BUT NOT HIS PERSONAL RIGHT TO ALLOW THE WELFARE AND LIFE OF INDIVIDUALS TO BE COMPROMISED FOR THE SAKE OF SUSPICION, DISLKIE OR DISTRUST OF ANY STATE OR WORSE STILL PERSONAL PRIDE!!!!
HUMAN RIGHTS IS NEEDED, AND MONEY FOR SUCH GOALS ARE SOMETIMES NEEDED TO BUILD LIVES!
IF ALL THIS IS ALIEN THEN THE PERSON WHO WROTE THIS ARTICLE AND OTHERS NEED TO LEARN WHAT HUMAN RIGHTS IS REALLY ALL ABOUT!!!!
BY JOSE MIGUEL DAY