Khatami's brother calls for Secular Iran

[democratic]

http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=8944
Middle East Online 2/18/04

Khatami's brother backs secular state in Iran

Reza Khatami tells El Pais time has come for Iran to have secular
government in place of Islamic regime.

MADRID - The time has come for Iran to have a secular state in place of the Islamic regime in place since the 1979 overthrow of the Shah, Spanish daily El Pais on Wednesday quoted the brother of Iranian President Mohammad Khatami as saying.

Asked by an El Pais correspondent if the time had come for a government non-religious in composition Reza Khatami, parliamentary vice-president and leader of the main reformist party as well as the president's younger brother, responded simply: "Yes."

Reza Khatami is one of 80 sitting MPs whom the conservative and
unelected Guardians Council watchdog have barred from standing in Friday's poll.

[Kagemusha]

1. I pray for his soul.

Since his body isn't going to last long in this world.

[mac2]

2. All those countries in the ME..need to be secular.

to prevent blood shed and civil war..tyranny. Nothing new under the sun is it?

The original revolutionaries of Iran admit, they made a mistake putting a religious leader in power. It has lead to the same tyranny as they had under the King. They are calling for a secular government. This way government can function, civil rights not a problem, and all have freedom to worship/or not. It is a better society that is tolerant and progressive.

Civil War is about to break out in Iraq. There are three different areas with clergy/ethnic groups completing for control of the government.

How do we solve that?

-1st. No clergy allowed to represent the people. God's work is not government. Caesar is Cesar's etc. There would be religious influence with any religious leader for their own.

-2nd. Two Houses of the government. One leader from each town or district chosen by the people. The other House should be two elected leaders to represent the whole area (like Senators from different states). Iraq divided up ethnically and each area having representation. The whole country gets to pick the President of Iran in the same election.

-3rd Election process. All paper ballots with exit polling by government...counted in public and locally. Campaigns should be three months long with free media exposure...all government (or publicly supported). Majority vote wins.

Wish we had this ourselves. Others can learn from our mistakes.

-Constitution and Bill of Rights chosen later and passed by the people in an election.

This country will remain in turmoil until all parties have representation. It's obvious that religious leaders want control. Ethnic/religious groups should be allowed to worship as they please but not force it on others.