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 Abdousاحترام 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-Raghebزرتشت احمدی راغب | Civil and Human Rights Activist – Fire fighter, Signatory of the Declaration 14 + 14 |
| Rouzbeh Akradi
روزبه اکرادی |
Civil Activist |
| Mehran Bakhtiarمهران بختیار | Iran National Front – Central Council |
| Manouchehr Bakhtiariمنوچهر بختیاری | Political, Civil and Human Rights Activits |
| Mehrdad Bakhtiariمهرداد بختیاری | Political, Civil and Human Rights Activits |
| Shahla Entesariشهلا انتصاری | Union and Women Rights Activist – Signatory of the Declaration 14 + 14 |
| Hoorieh Farajzadehحوریه فرج زاده | Civil Activist – Signatory of the Declaration 14 + 14 |
| Mohamad Farhadpourمحمد فرهادپور | Civil and Human Rights Activist – Journalist |
| Mohammad Ghaem-Maghamiمحمد قائم مقامی | Iran National Front |
| Morteza Ghassemiمرتضی قاسمی | Political Prisoner – Veteran of Iran-Iraq War |
| Majid Ghazipourمجید قاضی پور | Civil and Human Rights Activist – Journalist |
| Yasamin Hanifeh-Tabataeiیاسمین حنیفه طباطبایی | Political Prisoner – Iran Democratic Front |
| Issa Khan Hatami
عیسی خان حاتمی |
Iran National Front – Central Council |
| Dr. Kamal Jafari-Yazdiدکتر کمال جعفری یزدی | Political Prisonner – Signatory of the Declaration 14 + 14 |
| Pouya Jegarvandپویا جگروند | Civil and Human Rights Activist – Author and Poet |
| Mohammad-Reza Khosraviمحمدرضا خسروی | Democratic Front of Iran |
| Amin Kordامین کرد | Iran National Front – Central Council |
| Javad Laal-Mohammadiجواد لعل محمدی | Union Activist – Signatory of the Declaration 14 + 14 – Teacher |
| Behfar Lalehzariبهفر لاله زاری | Civil Rights Activist – Student |
| Hajieh Malek-Mohammadiحاجیه ملک محمدی | Human Rights Activist |
| Narges Mansouriنرگس منصوری | Union and Women Rights Activist – Signatory of the Declaration 14 + 14 |
| Rada Mardaniردا مردانی | Political Activist – Teacher |
| Farangis Mazloumفرنگیس مظلوم | Human Rights Activist – Mother of Soheil Arabi |
| Pouran Nazemiپوران ناظمی | Civil Activist – Signatory of the Declaration 14 + 14 – Author and Poet |
| Dr. Ali Nazeriدکترعلی ناظری | Civil Rights Activist – Dentist |
| Mohammad Noorizadمحمد نوری زاد | Political Prisonner – Signatory of the Declaration 14 + 14 – Filmmaker, Journalist |
| Kambiz Norouzzadehکامبیز نوروززاده | Political Prisonner |
| Hojatollah Rafeiحجت الله رافعی | Political Activist – Teacher |
| Zahra Rafeiiزهرا رفیعی | Civil Rights Activist |
| Amir Rezaieeامیر رضایی | Iran National Front – Central Council |
| Parviz Safariپرویز سفری | Democratic Front of Iran – Journalist |
| Fatemeh Sepehriفاطمه سپهری | Civil Activist – Signatory of the Declaration 14 + 14 – Religious Teacher |
| MohammadHossein Sepehriمحمدحسین سپهری | Political Prisonner – Signatory of the Declaration 14 + 14 – Teacher |
| Heshmatollah Tabarzadiحشمت الله طبرزدی | General Secretary of the Democratic Front of Iran – Engineer |
| Abbas Vahedian-Shahroudiعباس واحدیان شاهرودی | Signatory of the Declaration 14 + 14 – Teacher and Author |
| Mehriar Zafarmehrمهریار ظفرمهر | Human Rights Activist |
| Kourosh Zaiemکوروش 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