Over 230 Political and Social Activists Call for Transition to Democracy and Separation of Religion and State

More than 230 political and social activists issued a statement calling for "national consensus regarding the transition to democracy," "separation of religion and state," and the establishment of a "law-based, freedom and justice-oriented governance" in Iran. This statement, published on Saturday, May 15, on the Telegram channel "Iran Farda," emphasized the continuation of "political and religious blockage and despotism" in Iran, criticizing the existence of a "never-ending cycle of corruption," "chronic economic crisis," and "unsolved livelihood problems." The signatories of the statement evaluated the overlooking of "major violations and widespread corruption" as a sign of an "unjust legal system" in the Islamic Republic, stating: "The legal and political status of individuals is defined in relation to their proximity or distance from the government." Regarding the current economic conditions in Iran, they wrote: "According to existing indicators, unfortunately, our homeland is in its most miserable state in the past three decades, and according to official statistics, Iran is recorded as the eighth country in the world with the highest misery index." They pointed out the emergence of a class known as "beneficiaries," stating that they have "accumulated astronomical wealth from existing crises such as rampant inflation, sanctions, and currency devaluation, and in return for this economic-political dominance, there has been increasing political blockage and repression." The signatories considered the ultimate result of the dominance of the beneficiaries' class as "intensification of blockage and repression in the political and cultural space of the country." They assessed the most acute issues facing Iran today, especially in the area of "lack of political freedoms and the tightening of people's livelihoods due to intertwined economic-social crises." They also criticized the policy of enforcing mandatory hijab, questioning the Islamic Republic's government: "Does the government have the will to control the internal radical authoritarian forces, or conversely, has it left them to intimidate and undermine the rights of women in the country?" The signatories described the civil resistance of women against discrimination and defiance against the abusive and vile behaviors of law enforcement groups to impose official dress codes and mandatory hijab, the continuation of professional protests, including those by academics and especially teachers, despite incurring heavy costs, the resilience of political prisoners, and the exposure of violent actions by agents against environmental activists and peaceful civil protesters as manifestations of civil activism and hopeful indicators of today's Iran. This statement, signed by figures such as Abolfazl Ghadyani, Alireza Rajai, Saideh Montazeri, Saeed Madani, Morteza Alviri, Ali Baba Chahi, Eisa Saharkhiz, Parvaneh Salhashoor, Ehsan Shariati, Keyvan Samimi, Tahereh Taleghani, Fatemeh Ghoorayi, emphasizes that fostering national dialogue is essential for "gradual fundamental transition from crises"; "Dialogue aimed at achieving a type of discourse of convergence and national consensus regarding the transition towards democracy. Also, ensuring a true republic, separating the institutions of religion and state, establishing law-based governance and freedom and justice-oriented policies, pursuing an independent and national policy, peace and general disarmament in the region, and de-escalation with neighbors." Other signatories of the statement include Hamid Asafi, Elaheh Amirian, Masoud Pedram, Mehrdad Hojjati, Amir Khorram, Nasser Daneshfar, Amir Khosrow Delirsani, Masoumeh Dehghan, Maryam Sharbatdar Quds, Hormoz Sharifian, Ismail Alavi, Firoozeh Saber, Faizollah Arabserkhi, Nezamoddin Qahari, Ali Mazrouei, Fatemeh Ghoorayi, Hossein Mojahid, Fakhr al-Sadat Mohtashami Pour, and Mehdi Mahmoudian.