Afshin Ellian working on plan for a new Iran
In the media image: Ollie Barker-Jones on Unsplash
Iran is experiencing severe unrest with millions of people protesting against the strict regime. Opponents of the regime are now working on a blueprint for a new Iran, including Afshin Ellian, Professor of Jurisprudence, who appeared on ‘Sven op 1’.
In recent weeks, millions of people have taken to the streets to protest against the strict Islamic regime of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Thousands of protesters have been killed or imprisoned. Opponents of the regime are now working on a blueprint for a new Iran. One of them is Professor Afshin Ellian: 'After the women's demonstrations in 2022, there’s been a feeling that we cannot accept that women are shot in the eye, blinded, just because they don't want to wear a headscarf.'
In the same year, the social liberal movement the 7 Aban Front was established by a group of professors, top surgeons and young activists. Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, the son of the Shah who was ousted in 1979, was put forward as leader. 'From that moment on, it was also decided to foster solidarity between Iranians,' says the professor. 'The success of the regime was that Iranians always quarrelled amongst each other about a country that did not yet exist. That's now changing. We’ve opted for a concept with the leadership of Pahlavi.'
The movement has recently been working on a plan for a new Iran after the era of the Ayatollah regime. 'Last summer in Munich, more than 500 people were invited and I was one of them. We talked to each other, speeches were given.' Pahlavi spoke about the Iran prosperity project: a project for the future of Iran, with economic and legal ideals and plans for the transition period. According to Ellian, a unifying figure like Pahlavi is crucial: 'There’s no other option. Afghanistan has collapsed, Syria has collapsed, Iraq has collapsed. They had no central figure who could united the entire people.'
More information?
Listen to the full radio item on Sven op 1 (in Dutch)