More Sanctions to be Imposed on Iran

"  Demands for respect for rights, open government, action against corruption and genuine political participation have and will spread by themselves over time - not because we and other nations advocate them, but because they are the natural aspirations of all people everywhere." -William Hague, British Foreign Secretary

William Hague, British Foreign Secretary

             The upheavals seen across the Middle East over the past year have been a result of wide scale abuses perpetrated by authoritarian regimes. From Syria, to Tunisia, to Libya, to Morocco, protests have sprout up in response to the negligent and oppressive regimes that currently have control over these nations. Iran, which is no stranger to uprisings and revolts, has not only been in the process of their own political awakening since the Green Revolution first mobilized protesters in the summer of 2009, the Arab Spring has again awoken the dormant plights of millions in the country.

            Organized through social media like Twitter and Facebook, organizations have been able to gather millions into the town squares of Iran to peacefully protest against the regime's conducts. Despite the legitimate aspirations of Iran's people, the government has cracked down with violence and detainment as a tool of suppression, forcing these young activists back to the safety of their computer screens, to fight another day.

            President Mahmoud Ahmadenijad in what William Hague, British Foreign Secretary calls an example of "breathtaking hypocrisy", said he supports the recent Arab Uprising. Meanwhile in his own country protesters were violently beaten, detained, and tortured for their partaking in this widespread activist movement that has inflamed the region. 

            There have been reports of hundreds being killed in government led violence against the peaceful protesters, a censorship of the media, and a crackdown on the few civil liberties Iranian citizens had. Britain, being represented by William Hague as Foreign Secretary is looking to the UN to impose new sanctions on Iran, as human rights abuse cases keep piling on. Mr. Hague went on to say that the protests in 2009 in Iran show that the Iranian people seek a more open government (BBC). "The lessons of the Arab revolutions hold true for Iran just as they apply to repressive countries across the world," (BBC).

             Mr. Hague added that "Demands for respect for rights, open government, action against corruption and genuine political participation have and will spread by themselves over time - not because we and other nations advocate them, but because they are the natural aspirations of all people everywhere." (BBC). This idea has reverberated throughout Iranian history, with both foreign and domestic factions seeking to gain control over the country for it's vast resources. While the Iranian government chooses to ignore the warnings, Mr. Hague made a few comments on what could be the coming consequences

"Simply refusing to address legitimate grievances about human rights or attempting to stamp them out will fail... While some governments across the region are waking up to this truth, Iran is moving in the opposite direction... The actions of the Iranian regime are holding Iran back, isolating its people and suffocating their immense potential, and preventing Iran from enjoying normal and productive relations with the outside world."

           Nothing could be more true than what Mr. Hague has said. But history has shown that Iran has never been ruled under a fully functional democratic government without experiencing corruption, oppression and limited civilian rule. The time may be ripe for Iranian's to overthrow the regime. President Ahmadinjad's government seems successful in quelling the riots through force, intimidation and censorship. It is only a matter of time before Ahmadinjad's regime is no longer not only tolerable, but is no longer an option. Then and only then, will this country be transformed.



Signing out- John Thomas