Batebi vs. Dabashi: Sanctions Dilemma

by Julie Jigsawnovich


New York--Last night, on Iran University Student Day, the New York Chapter of Where Is My Vote presented a conversation with Columbia Professor Hamid Dabashi, Former Iranian Student Activist Ahmed Batebi and American Student Activist Elizabeth Joynes on the campus of New York University.

 

Batebi was placed in solitary confinement for over a year and condemned to death by the Islamic Republic government for taking part in demonstrations during the Summer 1999 Student Uprising. A photograph of Batebi holding up the bloody shirt of a fellow protester who was assaulted by security forces was published on the cover of The Economist magazine. This photo became an icon of the new Iran. Batebi suffered a brain hemorrhage while in custody, and was temporarily allowed to leave prison. He then managed to escape and flee from the Islamic Republic.


 

During last night's panel discussion, Batebi said that at an earlier time, Iranian Intelligence, Revolutionary Guards, and Judiciary were arresting people and trying people independently--they had no contact with each other. But now each has clearly defined their work regarding domestic security and outside threats. Batebi continued, saying that part of the Intelligence service refused to work with Ahmadinejad. The Revolutionary Guards fired (not sure whether he said 1,200 or 12,000) employees in the Intelligence service, and the Revolutionary Guards created an intelligence service within the Revolutionary Guards. Batebi said that under Khatami, some Intelligence people were fired due to murders--but these people were then hired by the Revolutionary Guards. He said the RG learned in Russia how to put down demonstrations. And he said the way the security apparatus is operating now is unpredictable, and is very dangerous.



Batebi discussed some Islamic Republic laws that he believes should be changed--such as the law that a woman's testimony in court is only worth half that of a man's, and a law that results in hands being cut off. He said that we need to put pressure on the Iranian government to change laws.



Batebi said that the Revolutionary Guards control the Iranian economy, control the infrastructure, and own hundreds of companies inside and outside Iran. He said we should try to suffocate the economic aspect of their power, and that we have to use sanctions against the coup government. Batebi continued, stating that we need to identify the economic branches of the coup government around the world, and suffocate them. That intelligent sanctions could be put in place which target the Revolutionary Guards specifically, not the Iranian population in general.



Professor Dabashi strongly disagreed, stating that he categorically opposes sanctions. He said that sanctions would be a precursor for military strikes on Iran, as they had been in Iraq. And he pointed out that the Revolutionary Guards would benefit from increased sanctions politically and also economically, since, Dabashi said, the Revolutionary Guards profit from black market trade.



Batebi countered that Iran and Iraq are not comparable, and that Iran already blames the West.



During Q and A, Sadra Shahab, an administrator of the New York Chapter of Where Is My Vote, stated that WIMV NY opposes sanctions--and another WIMV NY member confirmed this.



Dabashi seemed somewhat surprised and very disappointed by Batebi's support of any kind of sanctions, but after trying a bit more to persuade Batebi, Dabashi graciously said that they agree to disagree, and perhaps they are there for each other regarding blind spots.




Julie Jigsawnovich is a writer, artist and musician living in New York City. Her articles have been published by Iranian.com, PBS FRONTLINE Tehran Bureau, ArtSlant, and Persianesque Magazine. She is currently studying Persian and hopes to one day be able to read poetry in Persian script.

 This article was also published at http://www.iranian.com/main/blog/jigsawnovich/batebi-versus-dabashi

 

Washington Sq. Park Rally for Iran

Add your name to a green scroll that will be installed on the Eiffel Tower in Paris!

The New York Chapter of Where Is My Vote? activists for democracy encourages supporters of human rights of Iranian students to gather in Washington Square Park on Thursday, July 9th from 7-10pm, and to sign a giant GREEN banner which will sewn together with banners from around the world and dropped from the Eiffel Tower.

Their press release states that, "Iran loves anniversaries. 'The next one, and perhaps most pivotal to the current movement, happens to fall on Thursday of this week: the 18th of Tir (or 9th of July.)'

'On that day in 1999 students protesting the closing of the reformist newspaper Salaam were attacked in their dormitories in Tehran and Tabriz. Six days of protests ensued, which began with several hundred students and blossomed into thousands of people from all walks of life supporting the demonstrations. They were the biggest display of [protest] sentiment in the Islamic Republic’s then twenty-year history, and they were put down by the regime with a mandate by the threatened leadership to stop the unrest “at any cost."'

“Sounds familiar.”

Thursday marks the 10th anniversary of the 18th or Tir. While the date has been marked with numerous protests of the last ten years this anniversary takes on special significances. The chatter is saying this could be a big day in Iran but we also know that authorities will try to lock the cities down ahead of time. Either way let us show the people of Iran, especially the students how comprise most of the dead and imprisoned, that we are watching what the regime is doing. They are not alone especially on a day like the 18th of Tir."