Omid Memarian

In an exclusive interview with Rooz, former university professor Sohrab Razzaghi speaks about the government’s increasing pressure on civil society under the guise of preventing a velvet revolution. Dr. Sohrab Razzaghi is a director at the Volunteer Actors [Koneshgaran-e Davtalab] organization, and a former professor at the Allameh University’s political science department. Dr. Razzaghi has not been allowed to teach any courses since the election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in 2005. Despite prevalent concerns about ties between Iranian non-governmental organizations [NGO’s] and international agencies, Dr. Razzaghi argues, “I am in favor of civil society organizations receiving financial aid from foreign agencies, and actually regard it as necessary under current circumstances.”

Rooz (R): In the 29 years that have passed since the victory of the Islamic Revolution, Iranian civil society has rarely faced such harsh treatment by the government as it has in the past two years since the coming to power of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Why does the government attempt to not only control, but also weaken and neutralize civil society?

Sohrab Razzaghi (SR): The current administration regards civil society as a Trojan Horse. It views civil society as a Western project, particularly American, aimed at a soft overthrow of the regime or a velvet revolution in Iran. As a result, administration members are very pessimistic when it comes to civil society’s goals and activities. The administration thinks that in the absence of political forces, civil activists will be agents of change in the future Iran.

R: Currently, one of the most fundamental questions facing civil society activists is what is the future of civil society in Iran.

SR: Right now, three options are possible: the first is to strengthen and institutionalize civil society, such that it acts as a powerful actor in the emerging geography of power, and such that other actors in this geography of power are unable to ignore and eliminate it. This possibility is now very dim. The second possibility is the young death of civil society; a situation in which civil society organizations are eliminated from the geography of power. The third possibility is the move towards the direction of a limited and guided civil society, a situation in which civil society is eliminated as a social force and is used only as a tactical tool to carry out charitable and welfare work.

R: Are you in favor of Iranian NGO’s receiving financial aid from foreign organizations? Under what conditions should such aid be accepted?

SR: Yes, I am in favor of it. Actually, I think it is necessary to do so under current circumstances. Just as governments are able to tap into all legal and legitimate international aid, civil society organizations must also be able tap into domestic and international resources. But, like governments, they have to keep some points in mind: they have to be transparent about their contacts and resources; they must be partners in an equal relationship; they must refrain from accepting material help, and so on.