An astonishing display of defiance, as more than 100 Iranian academics sign a letter ferociously criticizing the regime and, above all, the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
In another sign of popular anger with the Iranian regime’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic within its own borders, more than 100 academics have signed a protest letter charging Ayatollah Ali Khamenei — the country’s ‘supreme leader’ — as “the No. 1 culprit in the COVID-19 pandemic becoming a national disaster!”
This is a direct assault on Ayatollah Khamenei, blaming him for the failure of the country to contain the outbreak. He doesn’t dare to arrest these signatories; they are not the man-on-the-street protesters, but distinguished academics whom he would do best to ignore rather than try to engage them in debate. For he has only his crazed conspiracy theories, involving Americans, Israelis, and djinn, who have, in his view, been collaborating in spreading the coronavirus in Iran and around the world. The signers of this letter, on the other hand, have the facts and medical experts on their side.
The March 29 letter, translated into English by the Middle East Media and Research Institute (MEMRI), asserted that Khamenei and other regime officials had concealed information about the coronavirus outbreak from the public and failed to take measures to curb the spread of the disease, out of political and religious consideration.
The Iranian regime waited nine days after the first appearance of the coronavirus to let the public know it was now in Iran. Furthermore, the Iran’s Ieaders consistently under-reported both the number of cases, and the number of deaths, from the coronavirus. This under-reporting came from independent sources in Iran, with wide contacts among the medical personnel, who knew early on that the regime was understating the outbreak. The worst mistake of the Supreme Leader was in not shutting down the city of Qom. That was, and remains, the epicenter of the disease in Iran. But the clerics, and many of the faithful, in that city, refused themselves to shut down the shrines and the mosques, and resisted attempts by others to shut them down. Some clerics have insisted that far from spreading the disease, going to the mosques helps to contain the illness, for such devotion make mosque-goers immune to the disease. Meanwhile, In the real world, Shi;a pilgrims and students in Qom returned home, spreading the virus. It is now known that Shi’a returning from visits to Qom the spread the coronavirus to Bahrain, Kuwait, the UAE, Qatar, Iraq, Syria, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. And still Qom is not in total lockdown.
The other great error by the Iranian regime — even two months after the outbreak in Wuhan Province — was to continue to allow Mahan Airlines, Iran’s largest carrier, to fly between Iran and China, bringing back to Iran some who had caught the disease in China. The government ought to have immediately shut that airline down, but was too afraid of the economic consequences of shutting down Iran’s major airline, and of the effects, too, on Chinese trade with, and investment in, Iran, if the Iranians cut off transportation links with China.
The “political and religious considerations” mentioned in the letter refer obliquely to two considerations. The government in Tehran wants to appear fully competent, not as confused, uncertain, or overwhelmed by events. By understating the morbidity and mortality rates from the coronavirus, it hopes to convince the Iranian public that it has things under control. It was an absurd hope, for the regime could not indefinitely understate the dangers as the mass graves were dug, and lines of coffins appeared on city streets for all to see. Instead, the Iranians no longer trust any of the statistics released by the government, and even when — if — the regime finally provides accurate numbers, it is likely to be disbelieved. Iran’s medical personnel have seen enough cases and deaths in their own hospitals to convince them that the government is lying; some believe the regime’s statistics understate the true figures by a factor of ten.
As for “religious considerations,” there are many clerics, and Believers, in Iran who insist that the mosques must remain open. Thee people are convinced that in attending the mosques, Muslims win favor with Allah, who then protects them from the coronavirus. There have been riots at some of the country’s mosques when the police have tried to close them. The theocratic regime in Tehran has been reluctant to take on fellow clerics. It has instead downplayed the urgency of the crisis and, therefore, the need to shut down mosques. Thus it minimizes the possibility of clashing with those clerics who want the mosques to remain open. And the people pay for the regime’s timidity with yet more cases of the virus.
At the same time, the letter [from the 100 Iranian academics] pointed out, the regime had been actively promoting conspiracy theories about American and “Zionist” responsibility for the pandemic.
The Supreme Leader has been a main source for the conspiracy theory that blames America for deliberately spreading the coronavirus, but he is not the only one; many others in the regime have placed the blame on the Great Satan, and some have also included the Little Satan, Israel, as another source of the coronavirus. Both America and Israel have been hard hit by the disease but that has not changed the minds of the conspiracy theorists; those Iranians don’t want to be confused with facts. The academics who signed the letter, however, will have none of this nonsense; they want the government not to wallow in misleading conspiracy theories, but to help the public understand the outbreak as medical personnel do. Trust in Science, they know, is the only way to come out the other end of this unprecedented health crisis with the fewest victims.
As of Thursday, more than 3,000 people had died from coronavirus in Iran, out of a total of over 50,000 infected. The dissidents’ letter noted, however, that “Iran’s doctors, as well as the heads of the World Health Organization, estimate that the number of officially-recognized deaths [in Iran] is much smaller than the true number.”
Iraq has thousands of confirmed COVID-19 cases, many times more than the 772 it is has publicly reported, according to..
Adopting a defiant tone, the letter observed, “As the crisis is reaching its peak, Leader [Khamenei] adds demons to his list of perpetual enemies, and aid from Doctors Without Borders is turned away. While all citizens are forbidden from performing burial rites, military personnel under the leader’s command held a funeral for the IRGC [Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps] general who died of the coronavirus, calling him a martyr, and misinforming citizens with the utter falsehood that the funeral was a spontaneous event.”
The Supreme Leader first mentioned on March 22 that “demons” (that is, Islamic “djinns”) were working in cahoots with the Americans and Israelis to spread the virus in Iran. The IRGC Cyber Division “confirmed” that “demons” were indeed at work, just as the Supreme Leader had said. And Khamenei also noted that since Israelis are “masters of sorcery,” it is hardly surprising that they should have enlisted the help of these “demons.” This is the bizarre understanding of the coronavirus at the highest levels of the Iranian regime. No wonder the academic signatories – many of them scientists — were appalled by the Supreme Leader’s assertions and those of his echoing epigones, each one crazier than the next.
The letter urged Iranian citizens to heed only the advice of medical professionals.
“Dear people of our homeland!” it said. “In the absence of a responsible, efficient and truthful regime, only doctors and medical professionals are devoted to protecting citizens from this virus. They can be the source for citizens seeking to carry on with life despite all the limitations.”
This letter is astonishing in its full-frontal attack on the regime – lists to medial personnel “in the absence of a responsible, efficient and truthful regime” – and even more, its furious dismissal of the Supreme Leader. For in his deliberate withholding of truthful information about the number of those infected and of the numbers of deaths, he failed to communicate the sense of urgency that the situation demanded, if 80 million Iranians were to practice social distancing, hand-washing, and mask-wearing. The Supreme Leader was also to be faulted for the slowness and inadequacy of his response in not locking down Qom early on, as soon as the first batch of cases in that city were known, and for not shutting down mosques nation-wide, to prevent the virus spreading among worshippers, and finally, in not ending the flights between Iran and China by Mahan Airlines until long after a traveler on one of those flights first brought the coronavirus to Iran. For all this ,and more, Khamenei was described in the letter of those academics as “the No. 1 culprit in the COVID-19 pandemic becoming a national disaster!”
Will those who composed and signed the letter be seized and tried as traitors to the state? It’s doubtful. These are distinguished academics, people of importance in Iranian society. And the truths they wrote are so obvious that the Supreme Leader would be wiser to ignore the letter, rather than making them a cause celebre by answering or, still worse, by punishing them. They are a signpost on the way: the Islamic Republic of Iran is starting to crumble from within.And its mishandling of the coronavirus will only hasten that internal collapse.
Frank Anderson says
“He doesn’t dare to arrest these signatories; they are not the man-on-the-street protesters, but distinguished academics whom he would do best to ignore rather than try to engage them in debate.”
I wish that were correct. I respectfully doubt that it is. Tyrants running totalitarian regimes do not respond well to criticism and defiance. If anything, Iran has shown every willingness to kill any dissidents regardless of former service or fame.
Any look at the history of Soviet Union and Nazi German experience shows an illustration of the intolerance that is normal, and the common use of deadly force to not just curb, but halt in its tracks all protest and resistance. Bloodbaths are frequent and normal in totalitarian regimes.
Rarely says
Couldn’t agree with you more. The more a totalitarian regime feels threatened the more likely they are to commit despicable acts. Totalitarian regimes do not tend to go quietly into the night. These 100 are far from safe.
Frank Anderson says
Rarely if academic and intellectual accomplishment made any difference in the past it was to single those out for execution. Hitler and Stalin made their first priority in Poland killing all who might resist no matter what value they might otherwise have had. To people who do not have such accomplishment, those who do represent the worst threat of all: exposure. I can think of one man in my personal experience who was not a lawyer, who had spent not one day in law school, much less completed the degree and obtained a license, who hated me with a passion because I had. “In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.” The tyrant’s dual jobs are to keep the people blind and kill all those who can see.
That is the reason I do not sign any of the petitions that flow around like water. They will never change any minds of those whose actions they protest, and serve only to identify their enemies for later action (execution).
Giacomo Latta says
Some member of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards needs to ”take out the trash” before any significant changes are made in Iran.
Frank Anderson says
G.L. I have the honor of a friend with an advanced degree who operates a local homeless shelter. One of her favorite quotes is, “People don’t change: They just get older.” I have friends who started with me in the first grade of a 12 year military school. I don’t think any of us have changed that much in over 60 years.
I propose that psychology does not change “that much” either. You speculate, as is your absolute right, on a member of the IRGC doing something contrary to the leadership. I take notice that in Nazi Germany, my model for many questions, the SS is quite like the IRGC in blind fanatic following of the leaders’ orders. The SS to my knowledge never hosted any of the 40 or so plots to kill Hitler. Only at the end of the war did Heinrich Himmler betray Hitler with unauthorized peace feelers seeking to protect himself.
Look back to see where the plots originated, civilians and regular army. That is where any meaningful resistance will arise, if it does. Then start counting the dead bodies if they are not successful. The death toll arising directly from the failed July 20, 1944 attempt exceeded 5,000 people. Iran’s leadership would be worse, and kill far more because of the “final, perfect, complete and unchangeable” teachings.
Have you had a chance to look at Viktor Frankl’s Man’s Search for Meaning? It is a very brief book and is in 2 sections. Part 1 describes his experience in the death camps. Part 2 explains his theory of Logotherapy (“I can survive any How if I have a Why.”) In Part 1 he explains his observation of the “delusion of reprieve” that inmates used to survive from day to day in horror of the camps. With sadness and respect to all who imagine that someone else is going to do our work for us, I believe such thoughts are well within Frankl’s delusion of reprieve. “If not now, when? If not me, who?” Please consider.
Francis Weber says
What would Muhammad do?
Kill them!
Frank Anderson says
F.W. In a heartbeat, no matter what they had done, no matter what they could do, no matter what value they offered for the future. And he was the Perfect Example for All Time according to the “final, perfect, complete and unchangeable” teachings. These poor misguided (I hate to say it) fools signed their own death warrants. The same would have happened in Nazi Germany or Stalin’s Soviet Union.
Stanton Lore says
The citizens of Iran will suffer because they live in a theocracy, the Ayatollah is the final word on policy and they believe whatever the Ayatollah says. Perhaps the Ayatollah will tell the citizens that he spoke to Allah, who said he should follow the advice of the medical experts. Aside from that eventuality Iran is doomed.
Westman says
Remarkably, no one has spoken to Allah in 1400 years, not even Muhammad, who claims only to have communiicated with an angel. Replace the name of Allah with “Stone” and nothing changes if everything is declared, Inshullah. Inshustone? Very convenient, that Inshullah, which frees Islam and its clerics from accountability for failure.
Quazgaa says
I always thought allah and sh!t are interchangeable.
peter says
I hasten add Mohamed
Francis Weber says
All religions dietys are mute.
YYCAlberta says
If you are looking for positives that come out of a pandemic, this could be the biggest one of all.
“There are none so blind as those who will not see.”
I wonder what steps the Ayatollah is taking to ward of his “martyrdom”?
CogitoErgoSum says
Probably going to Qom and licking a shrine there would be a helpful step toward attaining his goal of martyrdom.
Francis Weber says
+1
Westman says
It’s surprising that Iran still has 100 clear-thinking academics who have not left Iran for freedom and opportunity. Will their criticism of the incompetent regime see any widespread dissemination or simply be squeezed out of circulation? Are the citizens as zombified as the IRGC?
Who will hang from the cranes, academics or religion-clinging politicians and mullahs?
Khamenei may be on the way to forced retirement and one would hope for the citizens sake, that Islam as a ruling entity, goes with him. Simply replacing him with another Ayatollah will accomplish nothing for Iran’s repressed citizens. The parasite infection, preying upon the body of Iran since 1979, must be removed.
Boromir's Horn says
This regime appears it may be in it’s final throes. Many of their “respected” leaders have been sickened by the coronovirus, which further lends itself to conspiracies. In an attempt to supply cover for their incompetence, they’re desperately blaming witchcraft, sorcery and of course, the West. The fact that their academics are starting to call them out is a very encouraging sign.
Isn’t it telling that we now have ex Obama admin, Biden and Sanders all trying to throw them a lifeline?
Quazgaa says
Gotta say this, reading Hugh Fitzgerald over morning coffee is priceless.
For everything else, there’s MSN..
Relic says
“The letter urged Iranian citizens to heed only the advice of medical professionals.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STKA1vHG8ds
gravenimage says
Defiance In Iran Over Mishandling of Coronavirus Pandemic
…………….
*Good*. I just hope these brave critics are not persecuted for daring to speak up.
Frank Anderson says
GI, these people are walking dead. It may take weeks or months; but I doubt it will take years.
Look how easily both Hitler and Stalin murdered anyone who failed to tow the line. For people who do not have intellect, those who do have no value or respect. My nemesis told me at one point, “I bought you; I own you.” When I showed him otherwise, he and his “friends” destroyed my life, after threatening it for months.
Islam has taught and practiced the death penalty for any form of apostasy or reform. The people who signed this letter will be seen exactly that way.
If there is a way to keep track of the signatories, we will see what happens. But I would expect them to disappear from our view very soon.
gravenimage says
I fear you are right, Frank.
Frank Anderson says
GI, be certain that I take no pleasure. Resistance to corporate tyranny, whether in private or public (government) corporate bodies is a clear example of self destructive, suicidal, conduct. I made that choice because I saw no other. Now I have found another that does not demand such unreasonable sacrifice.
gravenimage says
Yes–we need to stand up for what is right wherever we can.
OLD GUY says
Iran leadership it’s all about control of the population. Defiance will always be punished in a dictatorship, that’s how a dictator maintains control.
Frank Anderson says
O.G. We agree. I think there is a graphic illustration of what happens when a dictatorship allows displays of dissent. When the Shah allowed riots to run uncontrolled, he was forced out of power and his family has been hunted ever since. With that experience, is there any reason to expect the mullahs to show any similar weakness or lack of resolve to maintain their control? I think they would use their nuclear bombs on their own people instead of allowing themselves to be removed.
OLD GUY says
YEP!!!!
Francis Weber says
Governments can’t handle the truth when it goes against their ideology!