To Yourself Be True

Poor misunderstood Iran. She has no option but to continue on the offensive. In the understandable defence of the authenticity of her Islamist Republicanism, her fervour in guiding Muslims to the way of the light that resides in Islam. That there is so much resistance to the sovereign right of Iran to rule her people in the way seen fit by the clerical-led administration is simply yet another indication of the evil power of Zionist imperialism.

The Islamic Republic of Iran does not disfavour freedom of speech. It regrets the unfortunate loss of life that occurred during the demonstrations urged on by suborned agents of the West, attempting to destroy the credibility of Iran, alleging electoral fraud in Tehran during the June presidential election. Iran's Supreme Leader's appointed representative in Britain, as Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's personal envoy, has explained all of this.

Ayatollah Abdolhossein Moezi, as director of the Islamic Centre of England, emphasizes that he reflects the position of the Iranian Republic in lamenting the necessity of the Republican Guard forcefully responding to the opposition to the legitimacy of the election results. The 30-year-old Islamic Republic has no intention whatever of submitting to the demands of a fifth column paid for by malevolent forces in the West, encouraged by the Zionist imperialists.

Furthermore, in advising Muslim servicemen and women to abandon their places with the armed forces in the West for the criminal assaults on Muslims in Iraq and Afghanistan, he brings them to their senses, for they are engaging in wars forbidden by Islam. And while Ayatollah Moezi condemned the jihadist attack in Texas that took the lives of 13 American soldiers at Fort Hood, he emphasized that event must not be permitted to further blacken the image of the ummah.

The sincerity of Ayatollah Moezi's plea certainly cannot be denied, nor the accuracy of his judgement, in reflection of the true nature of the Islamic Republic of Iran, a peaceful, god-abiding nation which desires only to take its place in the world of power leaders. Also in Britain currently resides another Iranian, Arash Hejazi, trained as a physician, who then turned to journalism, helping to found a publishing house in Iran.

He no longer resides in Iran, but has sought refuge in Britain. Mr. Hejazi takes umbrage and grave issue with all that spills from Ayatollah Moezi's conciliatory mouth. For it was Mr. Hejazi who had come to the aid of stricken Neda Soltan, fatally shot in the chest by a Basiji militiaman on a motorbike, helping the Republican Guard clear away the presence of protesters in Tehran on June 20. Neda Soltan was beyond medical help and died a martyr to freedom.

Fully comprehending the manner in which the regime would pursue the issue, Mr. Hejani fled back to Britain where he had been pursuing a postgraduate course in publishing at Oxford Brookes University during the time of the presidential election. A business meeting had spurred his brief return to Tehran. Back in England with his wife and children, he described to the international press how he had been an onlooker at the demonstration, and had attempted to restore life to Neda Soltan.

Now, Caravan Books, the publishing house in Tehran that he had co-founded has been censored, and banks forbidden from allowing it loans, placing the employment of 22 people in jeopardy. Mr. Hejani's reputation has been slandered, in an attempt to punish and silence him. His friends and family and colleagues in Iran have been intimidated and harassed. "I told the truth. I just did what I had to do, but there were dire consequences", explained Mr. Hejani.

A scholarship in honour of Neda Soltan has been established at an Oxford college. Which has infuriated and scandalized Iran; the regime has forwarded a letter of official protest. She had been killed, the regime insists, by Arash Hejazi himself, spurred on by the dark forces of Zionism, as a result of an international conspiracy to undermine the Republic of Iran's sterling human-rights reputation.

In Iran, criminal proceedings have been initiated against Mr. Hejazi. He is a wanted man. Regime supporters have threatened his life, insist he is a murderer, a spy and had been a pimp for Neda Soltan. The Basiji who shot and killed Neda Soltan did his urgent duty to the country. The young woman whom Iranians, her family and the West mourn as the wasted life of a promising young woman who aspired to be the best that opportunities would allow her, was, in the description of the Iranian regime, a prostitute.

"Totalitarian regimes always want to cover up their violence and terror but evidence always surfaces to show the world what is really happening", said Mr. Hejazi. "In every person's life there are moments of truth that determine the sort of person you are, that test your beliefs and values. For me, Neda's death and speaking out was that moment and I think I've been true to myself."