Pluralism Is the Only Way Forward for Iranian Democracy

BY: Halmat Palani

Iran's diversity debunks the myth of Persian exclusivity, including marginalized Kurds, Baloch, Ahwazi, and Azeris.

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Accused of separatism, non-Persian Iranians advocating inclusivity stress democratization and territorial integrity in Iran.

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Reza Pahlavi and Iranian figures like Boniadi, Farahani, Ebadi, Alinejad, and Esmaeilion advocate for this notion.

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Emphasizing territorial integrity undermines democracy, reinforcing forced assimilation against marginalized groups in Iran.

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Iran's forced assimilation policy represses non-Persian identities, yet fuels their resistance and political activism for change.

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Persian nationalists marginalize Kurdish aspirations using rhetoric of Islamic unity and Iranian brotherhood to delegitimize their demands.

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Kurdish nationalists demand equality, rejecting separatist accusations and advocating for democracy and Kurdish autonomy in Iran.

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Deliberations aim to unite democratic opposition forces for toppling the Islamist regime and establishing a diverse, democratic Iran.

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