Hamid Yazdan panah, 23 December 2013

Nelson Mandela was a hero for many throughout the world. I find him to be inspirational for the people of Iran for several reasons in particular.

For one, he served as a symbol of patience and perseverance against brutality and injustice, something which those who have struggled for three decades against the current autocracy in Iran can identify with. Those who are now in the dungeons of Evin are following the same path as Mandela, without the international recognition or support.

Mandela and the African National Congress were also unjustly labeled as a terrorist organization during their struggle for freedom against the apartheid government in South Africa. Today, the Iran regime labels its opponents as terrorists, whether they are Kurd, Baloch or members of ethnic or religious minorities in Iran. The use of the terror label has long been a tool used to demonize the Iranian opposition just like it was used against Mandela.

The third and most telling point I’d like to make in relation to Mandela and South Africa is on the issue of sanctions and international solidarity. During the fight to end Apartheid activists throughout the world pushed for a united front against the South African government in order to isolate the regime, push for divestment and call for economic and diplomatic sanctions.

This global push was successful in weakening the regime, and supporting the opposition. Today, lobbyists for the regime have claimed that sanctions would somehow help the regime and hurt the opposition. History tells us differently; particularly when the regime relies on foreign backing in order to survive.

The Iranians inhumane policies predicated on public executions, and the institutionalizing of discrimination against women as well as ethnic and religious minorities, serves as a very real parallel to apartheid South Africa. In fact the Mafia style of governance in the regime, and the brutality in which they target dissidents is enough to make the comparison.

Today Iranians who are serious about democratic change have echoed the call for sanctions and isolation throughout the world. I have no doubt that like Mandela; Iranian dissidents will one day be free to live in their country as equal citizens under the law. Those who claim to look to Mandela as a hero should think very hard on their current positions and platforms, and ask themselves, would they have supported the removal of sanctions from the South African regime? Would they push for diplomacy and trade?

We stand on the same side of history as Mandela, and ask the world to join us in boycotting the despotic regime in Tehran. Those who call for the removal of sanctions and push for diplomatic engagement with the Iranian regime surely know what their legacy will be when the history books are written.