Februrary 1st , 2021
Open Letter to the Honorable Joseph R. Biden
President of the United States of America
Dear President Biden:
We extend our congratulations on your election as the 46th President of the United States of America. Best wishes for the success of your Administration.
We, the signatories of the Coalition of Committed for a Secular Democratic Constitution in Iran, would like to take this opportunity to bring to your attention the vital necessity of the alignment of people of Iran’s interest in their relationship with the United States in particular, people of Greater Middle East and the international community at large.
Since 2015, the aspirations of the Iranian people for a Secular and Democratic Constitution have appreciated, significantly. Following the JCPOA agreement, when Iran received substantial financial benefits, the Islamic Republic lost a major opportunity to implement meaningful welfare reforms for its people, to stop its malign behavior, and pursue a policy of harmony and peaceful coexistence with the regional countries. Instead, the regime spent billions of dollars gained from the Iran nuclear deal on exporting its totalitarian ideology by providing funds to terrorist networks, developing missile technology as offensive leverage to dominate the Persian Gulf and beyond, and causing chaos in the Middle East.
As you may know, Iranian people for a long time have been expressing their discontentment with Islamic Republic Government and their determination for a fundamental change. The nationwide protests in the Winter of 2017-2018 and in November 2019 are the latest affirmation of the Iranians resolve in establishing a democratic rule of law. The regime’s brutal security forces confronted the non-violent protestors, silenced their voices, killed more than 1500 Iranians, and arrested more than ten thousand innocent people.
In June 2019, the Declaration of 14+14 was drafted and signed in Iran. The signatories represent a sample of the cross-section of Iranians. The Declaration has the support of millions of Iranians demanding the resignation of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (under the Islamic Republic Theocratic Constitution) and the elimination of the Islamic Republic Constitution in favor of a non-violent transition to a Secular Democratic Constitution through an organized referendum under the supervision of the United Nations and other appropriate international organizations.
Today, despite the regime’s brutal confrontation against protesters and the lack of proper medical planning against the COVID-19 crisis, Iranians continue their protests and strikes against the Islamic Republic and Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, nationwide. The theocracy in Iran has lost its legitimacy with its people. In March 2020, the absolute majority of people in Iran demonstrated the lack of legitimacy of the Islamic Republic by boycotting the parliamentary elections.
The events in Iran in conjunction with the signing of the Abraham Accords signals a significant geopolitical shift in the Middle East. Indeed, the Islamic Republic is experiencing a decline in its influence in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, and throughout the Greater Middle East. As a result of this momentous reality, the Islamic Republic Theocracy is on the verge of collapse.
Mr. President, we firmly believe that the new political reality in Iran and the Middle East has provided the Iranian people with a historic opportunity to achieve a peaceful transition to secular democracy. Therefore, we respectfully request your Administration to take the following factors under advisement in your Iran policy:
- Recognition of the majority of the Iranian people’s aspiration and interest for a Secular Democratic Constitution over the survival of the Islamic Republic Theocracy;
- Maintaining maximum political, diplomatic, and financial pressure on the regime;
- Advocacy for human rights in Iran and release of all political prisoners and those imprisoned for their personal views;
- Supporting the Iranian’s determination in seeking a secular democratic government through a non-violent, free, and fair referendum.
With kindest regards,
Signatories from Iran:
Ms. Ehteram Abdous
احترام عبدوس |
Human Rights Activist – “The mothers of the Laleh Park”, a group of mothers that their children have been killed or detained since 2009 protests
|
Zartosht Ahmadi-Ragheb
زرتشت احمدی راغب |
Civil and Human Rights Activist – Fire fighter, Signatory of the Declaration 14 + 14 |
Rouzbeh Akradi روزبه اکرادی
|
Civil Activist |
Mehran Bakhtiar
مهران بختیار
|
Iran National Front – Central Council
|
Manouchehr Bakhtiari
منوچهر بختیاری
|
Political, Civil and Human Rights Activits
|
Mehrdad Bakhtiari
مهرداد بختیاری
|
Political, Civil and Human Rights Activits
|
Shahla Entesari
شهلا انتصاری
|
Union and Women Rights Activist – Signatory of the Declaration 14 + 14
|
Hoorieh Farajzadeh
حوریه فرج زاده
|
Civil Activist – Signatory of the Declaration 14 + 14
|
Mohamad Farhadpour
محمد فرهادپور
|
Civil and Human Rights Activist – Journalist
|
Mohammad Ghaem-Maghami
محمد قائم مقامی
|
Iran National Front
|
Morteza Ghassemi
مرتضی قاسمی |
Political Prisoner – Veteran of Iran-Iraq War |
Majid Ghazipour
مجید قاضی پور
|
Civil and Human Rights Activist – Journalist
|
Yasamin Hanifeh-Tabataei
یاسمین حنیفه طباطبایی |
Political Prisoner – Iran Democratic Front |
Issa Khan Hatami عیسی خان حاتمی
|
Iran National Front – Central Council
|
Dr. Kamal Jafari-Yazdi
دکتر کمال جعفری یزدی
|
Political Prisonner – Signatory of the Declaration 14 + 14
|
Pouya Jegarvand
پویا جگروند
|
Civil and Human Rights Activist – Author and Poet
|
Mohammad-Reza Khosravi
محمدرضا خسروی
|
Democratic Front of Iran
|
Amin Kord
امین کرد
|
Iran National Front – Central Council |
Javad Laal-Mohammadi
جواد لعل محمدی
|
Union Activist – Signatory of the Declaration 14 + 14 – Teacher
|
Behfar Lalehzari
بهفر لاله زاری
|
Civil Rights Activist – Student
|
Hajieh Malek-Mohammadi
حاجیه ملک محمدی
|
Human Rights Activist
|
Narges Mansouri
نرگس منصوری
|
Union and Women Rights Activist – Signatory of the Declaration 14 + 14
|
Rada Mardani
ردا مردانی
|
Political Activist – Teacher
|
Farangis Mazloum
فرنگیس مظلوم
|
Human Rights Activist – Mother of Soheil Arabi
|
Pouran Nazemi
پوران ناظمی
|
Civil Activist – Signatory of the Declaration 14 + 14 – Author and Poet
|
Dr. Ali Nazeri
دکترعلی ناظری
|
Civil Rights Activist – Dentist
|
Mohammad Noorizad
محمد نوری زاد
|
Political Prisonner – Signatory of the Declaration 14 + 14 – Filmmaker, Journalist |
Kambiz Norouzzadeh
کامبیز نوروززاده
|
Political Prisonner
|
Hojatollah Rafei
حجت الله رافعی
|
Political Activist – Teacher
|
Zahra Rafeii
زهرا رفیعی
|
Civil Rights Activist
|
Amir Rezaiee
امیر رضایی
|
Iran National Front – Central Council
|
Parviz Safari
پرویز سفری
|
Democratic Front of Iran – Journalist |
Fatemeh Sepehri
فاطمه سپهری
|
Civil Activist – Signatory of the Declaration 14 + 14 – Religious Teacher
|
MohammadHossein Sepehri
محمدحسین سپهری
|
Political Prisonner – Signatory of the Declaration 14 + 14 – Teacher
|
Heshmatollah Tabarzadi
حشمت الله طبرزدی
|
General Secretary of the Democratic Front of Iran – Engineer
|
Abbas Vahedian-Shahroudi
عباس واحدیان شاهرودی
|
Signatory of the Declaration 14 + 14 – Teacher and Author
|
Mehriar Zafarmehr
مهریار ظفرمهر
|
Human Rights Activist
|
Kourosh Zaiem
کوروش زعیم
|
Secretary to the Leadership Committee of the Iran National Front – Engineer and author
|
Contact Information
+33 7 88 80 62 30
CC :
- Honorable Antony Blinken
The United States Secretary of State
- Honorable Lloyd Austin,
The United States Secretary of Defense
- Honorable Janet Yellen
The United States Secretary of the Treasury
- Honnorable Jake Sullivan
The United States National Security Advisor
- Honorable Nancy Pelosi
Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
- Honorable Chuck Schumer
Senate Democratic Majority Leader
- Honorable Mitch McConnell
Senate Republican Minority Leader
- Honorable Kevin McCarthy
Republican Minority Leader of the House of Representatives