Babak Namdar

During the 1978 revolution there was one slogan which encompassed the ideals of the revolution:

Esteghlal, Azadi, Jomhourie Eslami which translated means “Independence, Freedom, Islamic Republic”.

Therefore, when Iranians use the same slogan and drop the “Islamic Republic” and instead ask for a “Iranian Republic” or more accurately Republic of Iran, this has carries great significance.

What it means is that, it’s now more clear then ever that what MPG has advocated for all these years is finally reaching the masses and the masses have accepted Marze Por Gohar’s message and nationalistic ideology.

Many years ago, when MPG’s branches outside Iran first became active, we said religion and state must be separated people would give us a blank stare, and occasionally laughing at us.

Reformists reiterated over and over that Iranians like the theocracy, they want religion to dictate how Iranians should live their lives.

Monarchists would mock us saying that if Iranians really had their way they would restore the monarchy.

Many said Iranians are too religious to even be able to comprehend separation of state and religion, insinuating that Iranians inside Iran are basically too dump.

And yet they were wrong.

It should be obvious from the thousands of video, images, interviews and other media that Iranians want a non-religious republican form of government.

In the video below which was taken on July 30, 2009 you can hear Iranians shouting:

Esteghlal, Azadi, Jomhourie Irani which translated means Independence, Freedom, Iranian Republic.

Here’s a very informative interview with Faryar Nikbakht, with a brief history of opposition leader Roozbeh Farahanipour.

Here’s a an excerpt: