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With the death of Gaddafi, another despotic leader has been brought down. Another clear sign the Arab Spring Uprisings continue to barrel through the Middle East. No where are these uprisings more evident than in Syria. While Assad still clings to power, revolts have spread across the country. With the revolts have come the violence and bloodshed. Over 3000 Syrians have been killed since March and another 15,000 have been arrested or "disappeared".
However, the most outspoken critic of Syria's repression of its people has come from Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Ironic since Iran has some of the highest corruption rates and human rights abuses in the world. In criticizing Syria's violent crackdown on dissent in the country, President Ahmadinejad said, "Nobody has the right to kill others, neither the government nor its opponents." This is surprising since Iran was much criticized for its crackdown of the green movement that formed due to what many called a skewed re-election of Ahmadinejad in 2009. Additionally, Iran has suppressed many of its own uprisings since the Arab Spring movements began.
It is also shocking because Syria and Iran hold close ties; Syria is Iran's biggest ally in the region. The Iranian President has even gone so far to suggest that Syrian President Al-Assad listen to the protesters and "be accountable to his people's legitimate demands".
Iran's stance on Syria's problems are almost comical. The exact solution Ahmadinejad is suggesting is one he has completely disregarded in his own country. Mr. Ahmadinejad should take his own advice and limit his commentary on abuses he is guilty of himself.
Gabrielle Melton
With the death of Gaddafi, another despotic leader has been brought down. Another clear sign the Arab Spring Uprisings continue to barrel through the Middle East. No where are these uprisings more evident than in Syria. While Assad still clings to power, revolts have spread across the country. With the revolts have come the violence and bloodshed. Over 3000 Syrians have been killed since March and another 15,000 have been arrested or "disappeared".
However, the most outspoken critic of Syria's repression of its people has come from Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Ironic since Iran has some of the highest corruption rates and human rights abuses in the world. In criticizing Syria's violent crackdown on dissent in the country, President Ahmadinejad said, "Nobody has the right to kill others, neither the government nor its opponents." This is surprising since Iran was much criticized for its crackdown of the green movement that formed due to what many called a skewed re-election of Ahmadinejad in 2009. Additionally, Iran has suppressed many of its own uprisings since the Arab Spring movements began.
It is also shocking because Syria and Iran hold close ties; Syria is Iran's biggest ally in the region. The Iranian President has even gone so far to suggest that Syrian President Al-Assad listen to the protesters and "be accountable to his people's legitimate demands".
Iran's stance on Syria's problems are almost comical. The exact solution Ahmadinejad is suggesting is one he has completely disregarded in his own country. Mr. Ahmadinejad should take his own advice and limit his commentary on abuses he is guilty of himself.
Gabrielle Melton
Perhaps it is ironic that Iran has lately been so vocal in its criticism about the Syrian government despite them being close allies, especially because the criticism that Iran raises, has long been raised against Iran itself by the global community, but nevertheless, in Ahmadinejad’s ‘liberal’ politics there is nothing shocking about it.
ReplyDeleteActually, it should be expected that Ahmadinejad will comment on the Syrian case, precisely to illustrate how ‘democratic’ Iran is in comparison, that despite its close ties to Syria, Iran ‘the all-knowing about what is best for humanity’ can act independently of its allies and take a completely opposite course than that of Syria.
It is all about relative gains. Iran is simply taking advantage of Syria while it is possible. The current situation in Syria is at its worst, thus, Ahmadinejad sees it as an opportunity to erase the “misconceptions” that other countries have of Iran and to raise the profile of Iran as a “prophetic” nation. This is a dangerously flawed argument, and therefore, it is even more important that world’s leaders do recognize that among them are also those who preach of justice and freedom but that themselves, never intend to provide this to their own people.
- Inga