Iran Facing Its ‘Biggest Crisis’ 40 Years After Revolution ► Some Observers Say More Unrest Could Spread and Further Shake the Regime
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UK £2 Issue 192, Year 4 February 10, 2019 EU €2.50 www.thearabweekly.com A murder Debating Pope’s in Karbala Arab visit to migration the UAE Pages 5-6, 21 Page 5 Page 16 Pages 4,6 Iran facing its ‘biggest crisis’ 40 years after revolution ► Some observers say more unrest could spread and further shake the regime. Thomas Seibert leader of the revolution of betray- terror” and a “corrupt dictator- al. He told Reuters that Khomeini ship” in his State of the Union had committed himself to dem- speech February 5. Istanbul ocratic principles and human Tehran’s efforts to cushion the rights during his exile but ignored effects of the US sanctions have s Iran marks the 40th those promises after his return. only been partially successful. anniversary of Ayatol- “For me it was a very, very bitter Suspected Iranian terror plots lah Ruhollah Khomeini’s moment,” Banisadr said, adding against dissidents in Europe un- A revolution, the Islamic that Iran was a “dictatorship” to- dermined efforts by the Iranian Republic is caught in the most day. government to shield its relations serious crisis of its history and Since Trump’s sanctions kicked with EU counties that oppose could face collapse if it avoids in last year, workers, including Trump’s decision but are wary of fundamental reforms, observers truck drivers, farmers and mer- Iranian activities within their bor- said. chants, have carried out sporadic ders. “Today the country is facing the protests against economic hard- As a result, the economic pro- biggest pressure and economic ships. The demonstrations have gress that Rohani had hoped for sanctions in the past 40 years,” occasionally led to confrontations has not materialised. A currency Iranian President Hassan Rohani with security forces. crisis, a private sector stifled by said during a ceremony at the Opposition to the United States, state enterprises or companies shrine of Khomeini. called the “Great Satan” by Irani- with links to the military, a wob- an officials, has been a tenet of the bly banking sector and a scarcity Iran’s vow to export its Islamic Republic since its incep- of foreign investment block de- tion. Many Iranians were wary of velopment. The International dynasty-toppling revolution the Americans because of the US Monetary Fund is expecting the deepened the confrontation coup against Iranian Prime Min- Iranian economy to contract 3.6% with the West and ister Mohammed Mossadegh in this year. adversaries among the 1953 and because of Washington’s Some observers say more un- monarchies and autocratic support for the shah and alleged rest could spread and further governments in the region. US help for a possible counter- shake the regime. “There is a po- revolution that led to the seizing tential for a working-class move- Rohani blamed sanctions re- of the US Embassy in Tehran in ment that could put pressure imposed by US President Donald 1979 and the hostage crisis that on the government in unprec- Trump, who was attempting to lasted until January 1981. Diplo- edented ways,” said Arash Azizi, force Tehran to agree to tighter matic relations remain cut. a New York-based writer on Ira- rules for its nuclear programme, Iran’s vow to export its dynasty- nian affairs. “There is a tradition for the difficulties. “The Islamic toppling revolution deepened the for this: In 1979, the deadly strike system should not be blamed,” he confrontation with the West and against the shah regime came added. adversaries among the monar- from protesting oil workers.” Many Iranians beg to differ. chies and other governments in Farhang Jahanpour, an Iranian When Khomeini returned from the region. Support for Hezbollah academic and member of Kellogg exile in France on February 1, in Lebanon and the Houthi rebels College at the University of Ox- 1979, he vowed to build a just or- in Yemen demonstrated to other ford, said the regime will have to players that Tehran was bent on der based on Islamic values. Ten tackle key underlying problems if Ayatollah’s shadow. Iranian women pray in front of a poster of days later, the government of establishing a “Shia Crescent” it wants to survive. Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini at his mausoleum in Tehran. (AFP) Shah Reza Pahlavi collapsed. from Iran via Iraq and Syria to- “The Iranian political and reli- However, 40 years on, disillu- wards the Mediterranean. gious establishment must make sionment has set in and many Ira- The nuclear deal of 2015 allowed some drastic changes in its ideol- perience of the Soviet Union and that had to change. “Iran’s young nians complain about economic Iran to emerge from international ogy, system of government and other revolutions that collapsed generation does not need clerical mismanagement, corruption and isolation but Trump’s announce- domestic and foreign policies if because they failed to respond to guardians,” he said. an unresponsive political system ment last May withdrawing from it hopes to escape major social the demands of their people,” he in a country of 80 million people the agreement meant that sanc- upheaval leading to the possible added. Thomas Seibert is an that sits on some of the world’s tions designed to cripple Tehran’s collapse of the system,” Jahan- Jahanpour singled out the “ve- Arab Weekly correspondent. richest oil and gas reserves. vital oil exports returned with a pour wrote in an analysis for the layat-e faqih or the guardianship Abolhassan Banisadr, Khomei- vengeance. Trump called Iran the foreign policy blog LobeLog. of the clerics,” a core principle Debating 40th anniversary of ni’s first president, accused the “world’s leading state sponsor of “Iran should learn from the ex- of Khomeini’s system, as an area the Iranian revolution: Page 2 A Beirut cafe that offers coffee, tea and empathy Samar Kadi where they can have direct con- move around the tables carrying tact with people. the trays but, after the training, I “They are usually working be- could do it easily,” said Elie. Beirut hind the scene on artisanal and “Here it is the most friendly handicrafts but we never see them and homely atmosphere. I am so gonist Coffee Shop is a selling their own products directly happy to talk to people daily, take special cafe. Tables do to the public,” he said. care of their order and see that not have numbers but Open since mid-December, Ago- they got what they want,” said A coloured signs. Custom- nist Coffee Shop is gaining popu- Dolore. ers tick their order on the menu larity to the surprise and delight In addition to coffee and em- and mention their table’s colour of its owner. pathy, Agonist serves tea, juice to facilitate identification. Ago- “The reaction of the public is and smoothies along with home- nist is the first in Lebanon run by very positive,” Hage said. made desserts baked by the coffee a team of employees with special Hage collaborated with the Leb- shop’s chef. needs. anese Down Syndrome Associa- The word “agonist” is a medical “I tried to get some funding or tion in recruiting workers. His staff term about parts of the body that sponsorship without success. includes 12 employees. They have work in unity and cause a positive People were sceptical about the participated in a 3-month training reaction. Since the official open- feasibility of the project and did programme to prepare them for ing December 16, the coffee shop Creating opportunities. Wassim el-Hage surrounded by some of his not want to take risks,” said Was- the job. They work 6-hour shifts has been nothing but a true posi- staff at Beirut’s Agonist coffee shop. (Beirut’s Agonist) sim el-Hage, owner of Agonist and there are usually four people tive agonist, Hage said. Cafe. working per shift. A physiotherapist, Hage is fa- “Their disabilities are of differ- and understand what is requested energetic as they welcome guests Samar Kadi is The Arab Weekly miliar with the capacities of peo- ent types and degrees. Some can of them,” Hage said. and show them to their tables. Travel and Society section editor. ple with disabilities and decided interact better than others but Elie and Dolore have Down syn- “I never worked as a waiter. Egypt’s cultural cafes: Page 20 to offer them a place to work they all have the capacity to grasp drome. They are all smiles and At first, it was difficult for me to 2 February 10, 2019 Cover Story Iran’s Revolution Anniversary Nothing to celebrate about Iran’s revolution Dystopian nightmare. A group Ali Alfoneh of Iranian paramilitary Basij forces re-enact a s the regime in Tehran riot situation commemorates the during 40th anniversary of training in the revolution and north-eastern establishment of the Tehran. (AP) Islamic Republic, is thereA really much to celebrate? Rather than realising utopian dreams, the revolution and its af- termath have created a dystopian nightmare. The regime sits atop a system that restricts freedom of expression. It is constantly at odds with adversaries near and far and is economically and ideologically bankrupt. Take the Iranian economy. On February 1, 1979, the day of his return to Iran from exile, Ayatol- lah Ruhollah Khomeini delivered a speech that promised Iranians Compare Iran’s economy with “The Rich Kids of Tehran,” a popu- resources to finance foreign adven- “free water, free electricity and free that of Turkey and South Korea and lar Instagram account, provides a tures in Syria and to prop up the bus service.” He assured the Irani- the poor performance of the Islamic window into the decadent lives of Lebanese Hezbollah as well as Shia an public: “We not only secure your Republic becomes very apparent.