Ahmad Ghabel is a religious reformist who has not been wearing a clerical garb for some time. We have discussed with him the upcoming presidential elections, the condition of his brother Hadi Ghabel, who is currently in prison, and himself. Ghabel recently wrote an open letter protesting the government's decision to bar him from existing Iran.
Ghabel says he intends to leave Iran not because of the ruling system's injustice, but because he cannot tolerate the corrupt culture that is ruling under the name of religion. Read on for the conversation.
Rooz: Mr. Ghabel, you recently published a letter revealing some of things that recently happened to you. Given that you have written similar letters in the past, the question is whether you have received a response yet?
Ahmad Ghabel (Ghabel): Let me first explain that the piece which I recently published was not a letter. Even the piece that I published in spring of 1384 about my brother was not a letter. Those pieces explained how I felt inside. Once in 1384 I wrote a letter addressed to Mr. Khamenei. But none of those pieces were letters; they were expositions on how I felt inside.
Rooz: Well, have they had any impact or no?
Ghabel: No. Many before me wrote letters to Mr. Khamenei too. He is not interested in making changes. Maybe he receives these letters through certain channels, or maybe he is given the letters to read - maybe he doesn't read them. In any case, they haven't had an impact.
Rooz: Why would you like to leave the country? Is it to research and teach, or because of the government?
Ghabel: No. I ask you to please reflect this issue. I can tolerate the regime's injustice, even if it is multiplied by ten. My problem is with the corrupt culture that is ruling our nation under the name of religion. For instance, it has now been two months since they turned the country black and deprived people of happiness and the life's offerings. Where in religion do we have something like that? Imam Ali - to whom we subscribe as the first Shia Imam - never observed the anniversary of the Prophet's passing when he was in power. These are superstitions that were infused into religion later on. We don't have a problem with Mr. Khamenei personally; our problem is with the wrong ruling policies. I want to move to Tajikistan because the cost of living is lower there and I can rent a house there with money from renting my house [in Iran]. In addition, my wife and children will not be under stress there, and I will resume my research and academic projects.
Rooz: The hot issue right now is the issue of elections. What is your opinion about the elections?
Ghabel: If we assume that elections are held tomorrow and the positions of the regime and reformists are the same as they are now, I personally would not vote under any circumstances. You and I don't live in Switzerland or America or England. In our country nothing is established and decisions are made on the basis of emotions and passion, not logic and reason. If there is a person who would work to restore the nation's rights, not as some friends suggest, for one percent, but for at least 20 to 30 percent of the nation's rights, and who is able to bring respect, not humiliation, on the international stage, I would vote. However, I would never vote under present conditions. I have the right to self-determination in my own house at least, and I intend to use it!
