From “Rouhani, Obama of Iran” to “Fake Head of Rouhani”

With the election of Hassan Rouhani as the seventh President of Iran and his pre-election slogans regarding improving the human rights situation in Iran, both positive and negative views have emerged simultaneously, both domestically and internationally, towards this event.

The International Amnesty Organization stated in a statement titled “Iran’s President Must Fulfill His Human Rights Promises” that (1) “the victory of 64-year-old politician Hassan Rouhani in the Iranian presidential election has created a new opportunity to address human rights violations in this country.”

On the other hand, the Human Rights Watch organization stated in a statement (2) regarding the election of Hassan Rouhani, that Iran is obligated to make immediate changes in its human rights situation.

In any case, the opinions of critics and analysts in this matter can be divided into two categories of negative and positive, which we will discuss further by mentioning examples from each category.

Negative outlook

The letter “F”.

Shaul Bakhash, professor.”

George Mason University in Virginia says: “The president inherits alarming challenges such as: a collapsing economy, a chaotic government, deteriorating human rights situation, and strengthened extremist and conservative political organizations.”

I’m sorry, there is no Farsi text provided. Please provide the Farsi text so I can translate it to English.

From the perspective of this Western thinker, bringing order to what Rouhani is facing is a very difficult and possibly impossible task.

B) In an article titled “Repression of Iranian Dervishes Shows the Path of Rouhani” in Weekly Standard (4), Estaqan Shavardz writes: “The election of Hassan Rouhani as the new president of Iran, who is a compliant cleric, has led to many speculations in Western media about improving conditions both domestically and internationally in Iran. However, the news of heavy sentences for seven leaders of the Gonabadi Dervishes website and their lawyers, who have been imprisoned since 2011 without trial, shows that this path of repression will continue in the new government as well.”

He continues in his article to explain the situation of the Gonabadi dervishes and their accusations.

However, in the article by Mark P. Lagun and Mark D. Wallace, in the “Shadow” section of Foreign Policy (5), a very strong negative and critical view of this issue has been expressed; to the extent that the term “Head Fake” has been used in the title of the article regarding Rouhani. This term, which is itself a political and economic term, needs to be explained:

A fake head is when an actor moves their head to create a fake change in direction. In economics, a fake head is when the market appears to be moving in one direction but in the end, we see that the main direction was completely opposite to that apparent direction.

In this article it is stated: “From a spiritual perspective, the human rights situation in Iran is the best field in which one can claim change. The behavior of Iranian authorities towards their citizens is very terrifying. In such a way that citizens are not usually entitled to freedom of speech, fair trials, and personal freedoms. Iranians are arrested and sentenced for their beliefs, ethnicity, and sexual orientation. Hundreds of people are publicly executed by crane or club for minor or even no crimes. Journalists and dissidents are increasingly monitored, imprisoned, beaten, and in some cases, killed.”

The Iranian regime blames the West and sanctions for the deteriorating economic situation in Iran and does not acknowledge any mismanagement or corrupt structures within the regime. It also carries out terrorist attacks around the world and threatens military action, claiming to prevent attacks from the West. However, the violation of human rights in this regime is unparalleled, and it cannot be attributed to the West or any foreign “puppet”.

The leader of Iran, Ayatollah Khamenei, clearly knows that the people of Iran are at their breaking point with the current situation in Iran and see the leadership as the cause. It also appears that he is more inclined towards making deceptive changes rather than experiencing a clearer uprising among the people.

It is highly commendable that Khamenei will allow Rouhani to take impressive steps to pretend that there has been improvement in the human rights situation in Iran, and for this reason he has allowed Rouhani to be the first choice in the elections.

Positive outlook

In the most optimistic foreign analysis, an article by Kevin Drum has been published (6) which refers to Hassan Rouhani as “Iran’s Barack Obama”.

b) In the article by Marcus George titled “Gradual Changes Coming to Iran after the Election” (7), although the scent of change is pleasant, in a section of the article discussing the violation of human rights and the pre-election promises of Hassan Rouhani, it is suggested that he may be stopped by notorious security forces in Iran.

Julian Borger and Saeed Kamali Dehghan in an article titled “Small Signs of Change in Iran with Rouhani’s Inauguration” in The Guardian newspaper have expressed the hopes of Iranians along with the bitter experiences, and have mentioned the changes from the time of Seyyed Mohammad Khatami to the heavy crackdowns in 2009.

In an article titled “Berlin Speech: Iranian Vote was a Positive Message to the World” (11), Ashpigl writes from the pen of Dai Volt (from the conservative faction): “The opposition movements that were heavily suppressed in 2009 have not disappeared. After eight years of President Ahmadinejad, many voters have come to the conclusion that something needs to change. But it will be difficult for Rouhani to truly improve the living conditions in the country, as his supporters had hoped for at his victory celebration. He says he will improve relations with the West and expand human rights and civil society. Perhaps the tone of the Iranian government will soften a bit, but the leader of Iran, Ayatollah Khamenei, will have the final say on foreign relations and security policy.”

The beginning of Hassan Rouhani’s work and the first convictions of human rights groups.

One day left until the official start of Hassan Rouhani’s work, in the first case of condemnation, Rouhani was condemned by the United Nations Watch organization, a human rights group in Geneva (12). This group has asked the United Nations to condemn Rouhani for his “ugly and provocative” remarks on Quds Day, which is known as the “Festival of Hatred”. The United Nations Watch organization has deemed these remarks as a catalyst for the suppression of religious minorities and provocative.

But with the appointment of cabinet members by Hassan Rouhani, a new wave of condemnations from international human rights groups, including human rights watch and reporters without borders, emerged (13).

These two groups strongly protested in a joint statement against the proposal of Mustafa Pourmohammadi as Minister of Justice and demanded his immediate replacement.

In this statement, the human rights record of Pourmohammadi, including his involvement in the execution of thousands of political prisoners in the 1980s and his positions as Minister of Intelligence during the first term and Deputy Minister of Intelligence during the second term of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, is mentioned and it is feared that he will continue to violate human rights and commit crimes against humanity.

It is worth mentioning that the human rights watchdog, in a report in 2005, referred to Pourmohammadi as the “Minister of Death” (14).

Lucie Morillon, head of the research department at Reporters Without Borders, says: “The nomination of Mostafa Pourmohammadi is not only a blow to all those who have fought against his impunity, but also a humiliation for the families of journalists and opponents who were killed and tortured during his tenure. His selection will have a destructive impact on the ability of journalists and media workers to provide effective and independent information to the public.” (13)

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In this joint statement, Joe Stork, the Middle East director of the Human Rights Watch organization, notes: “During his election campaigns, Rouhani repeatedly promised to support the rights of the Iranian people and seriously address human rights violations.”

The selection of Pourmohammadi as the Minister of Justice is a terrifying message about the new Iranian president’s commitment to international legal obligations.

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Sources

Iran: The new President must fulfill his promise to improve human rights.

Iran’s new president must fulfill his promises on human rights – June 17, 2013

Iran: Urgent Need for Meaningful Rights Reform

Iran: Urgent Need for Meaningful Rights Reform

3- امیدها به روحانی ایران است، اما وظیفه بزرگی در پیش است: توسط جان همینگ – دبی (رویترز)

3- Hopes are pinned on Iran’s Rouhani, but there is a huge task ahead: By Jon Hemming – DUBAI (Reuters)

Hopes Ride on Iran’s Rouhani, but Huge Task Ahead

The severe suppression of Iranian Sufis reflects Rohani’s approach – By STEPHEN SCHWARTZ.

The article discusses the severe suppression of Iranian Sufis, which reflects the path of President Rohani.

5- Rouhani’s Head Fake — Posted By Mark P. Lagon, Mark D. Wallace

This refers to a post or article written by Mark P. Lagon and Mark D. Wallace about a deceptive move made by Rouhani.

“Rouhani’s Head Fake”

6- Hassan Rohani is the Iranian Barack Obama.

Hassan Rouhani, the Iranian Barack Obama.

7- تجزیه و تحلیل: تغییر به آرامی پس از انتخاب معتدل ایرانی رخ خواهد داد

7- Analysis: Change will slowly come after the election of a moderate Iranian.

“Analysis: Change to Come Slowly After Election of Iranian Moderate”

As Hassan Rouhani’s inauguration approaches, there are small signs of change in Iran.

“Signs of Change: Iran’s Rouhani Inauguration”

The Iranian election has sent a positive message to the world from Berlin.

The German press reacts to the election of Rohani as the Iranian president.

The United Nations must condemn Iran’s Rouhani for his “ugly incitement” today.

Iran’s Rouhani must be condemned by UN for today’s ugly incitement.

11- Iran: Withdraw Cabinet Nominee Implicated in Abuses

Iran Withdraws Cabinet Nominee Implicated in Abuses

12- وزرای قتل: هیئت امنیت جدید ایران

12- Ministers of Murder: Iran’s New Security Cabinet

“Ministers’ Murder: Iran’s New Security Cabinet”