Rashid kisses a portrait of UAE President in Dubai. Photo: Screengrab
Abu Dhabi: Of all the birthday wishes for the President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan one stands out as the most heart-warming – his grandson kissing his portrait.
The Crown Prince of Dubai Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum shared an Instagram post of his son Rashid kissing the portrait of the president on his 62nd birthday on Saturday.
Sheikh Hamdan is heard saying “Thank you” but for little Rashid, one tap wasn’t enough. He turned to the portrait and gave another kiss.
This adorable video clip was widely shared on social media platforms and garnered over 238,046 likes.
Watch the video below
Sheikh Mohamed was born on March 11, 1961, in Al Ain, the third son of the founding father of the UAE, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
He played an active role in the development of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi for more than three decades which witnessed an accelerated economic and social transformation. He was elected as president in 2022 following the death of his father.
Angry villagers in Begusarai after two minor girls from the Muslim community were raped by a Hindu man and his friend
Begusarai district of Bihar was tensed after reports emerged that two girls, aged 6 and 7 years were allegedly raped by the son of a former Sarpanch while others were playing Holi.
According to the press release, the girls belong to another community, while the accused is a Hindu.
According to Begusarai police, the minors were playing in a school near Panchdir Chowk when they were approached by the accused Rajkumar alias Chhotu Mahato and his friend. Both of them were drunk. They raped the two girls and left.
When the villagers learned of the incident, tension gripped the village. Many angry Muslims, including family members of the victims, demanded the two accused to be arrested immediately.
On information, a team of Begusarai police officials reached the spot and tried to calm the angry villagers down. They promised to conduct a speedy and just inquiry.
Meanwhile, the girls have been admitted to the Sadar Hospital for treatment. Reports suggest that they are in critical condition.
Accused Chhotu Mahato has been arrested under the POCSO Act (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act). The search is on for the second accused.
When Siasat.com tried to speak to the police, they refused to comment on the issue.
Chennai: Music composer and singer A.R. Rahman’s son, A.R. Ameen escaped a freak accident three days ago which still traumatises him. Ameen in a social media post shared that the accident occurred in the set where music was being played.
In the post, Ameen said that chandeliers, lights and other objects fell from the top while he was performing. He posted that he was unharmed and perfectly all right, but traumatised by the incident.
He thanked God for keeping him safe. Ameen wrote: “I am thankful to the Almighty, my parents, my family, well wishers and my spiritual teacher that I am safe and alive today.
“Just three nights ago, I was shooting for a song and I trusted the team to have taken care of the engineering and safety, while I was focusing on performing before the camera.”
The post further read: “… the whole truss and chandeliers that were suspended from a crane came crashing down while I was still in the middle of the spot. If I were a few inches here and there, a few seconds earlier or later, the whole rig would have fallen on our heads. My team and I are shell shocked and not able to recover from the trauma.”
A.R. Ameen is a playback singer and made his debut in the Tamil movie ‘O Kadhal KNmani’. He has sung in several movies since then.
Bengaluru: After Karnataka, BJP MLA Madal Virupakshappa’s son Prashanth Madal was caught taking a bribe of Rs 40 lakh on Thursday, an amount close to Rs 6 crore was recovered from the MLA’s residence on Friday.
Karnataka Special Lokayukta Court remanded the BJP MLA’s son, who was arrested for accepting a bribe of Rs 40 lakh, to 14 days of judicial custody here on Friday.
According to Lokayukta sources, Prashanth Madal has been sent to judicial custody as raids are pending. The officials will seek his custody after the completion of preliminary investigations.
Four other accused in the case have also been handed over to judicial custody. Authorities are also likely to take BJP MLA Madal Virupakshappa into custody and question him, they said.
The sources confirmed that the Lokayukta authorities have found Rs 7.62 crore at Prashant and his aides’ residences.
The authorities had arrested five persons in this connection, including Prashanth. Siddesh, a relative of Prashanth, accountant Surendra, Nicolas and Gangadhar. Nicolas and Gangadhar had come to hand over the cash of Rs 40 lakh, Lokayukta sources said.
The MLA from Channagiri in the Davanagere district, is the chairman of the state-owned Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Limited (KSDL), which is known for its famous Mysore Sandal Soap.
The MLA has now stepped down from his position at KSDL.
Virupakshappa’s son Prashanth worked as the Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) Chief Accountant.
After arresting Channagiri MLA K Madal Virupakshappa’s son Prashanth Madal, a chief accountant in BWSSB have conducted raids on his residence in Dollars Colony, the Lokayukta police seized around Rs 6 crore in cash from his residence.pic.twitter.com/CX6pW1qgGQ
The raids have also been conducted on the residence and office of BJP MLA from Channagiri constituency Madal Virupakshappa at K.M.V. Mansion in Sanjaynagar locality of Bengaluru. The authorities have seized documents and other evidence from the residences. The raid is still on.
The development is seen as a serious setback to the ruling BJP. The incident has come to light at a time when the opposition is launching attacks of 40 percent commission and kickbacks in government tenders. Congress has stated that the raids proved their allegations of corruption and commission charges.
Prashanth had demanded Rs 80 lakh bribe for a tender process and was caught while accepting Rs 40 lakh at his office.
The complaint was filed regarding the allotment of tender for providing raw materials to the KSDL. Prashath’s father Madal Virupakshappa is the Chairman of KSDL.
The authorities are preparing to question BJP MLA Madal Virupakshappa as the bribe money has been received on behalf of Chairman of KSDL for raw material procurement tender.
The Lokayukta has lodged a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act and taken up the investigation.
Sources explained that Prashanth was an accused in a Rs 55 crore misappropriation case in Karnataka Rural Infrastructure Development Limited (KIRDL).
Prashanth and two others were suspended by the government and the case was handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). The case in this regard was lodged at Surathkal police station.
The United States presented Mexico a formal request for the extradition of Ovidio Guzmán, son of drug trafficker Joaquín ‘El Chapo’ GuzmánMexican government sources reported this Monday.
The United States embassy presented the file with which this man, one of the leaders of the Sinaloa cartel, is accused of drug trafficking to the Foreign Ministry and the Attorney General’s Office, detailed a government spokesman who asked not to be identified because he was not authorized to to declare.
Guzmán Jr., known by the alias ‘El Ratón’, was arrested on January 5 in the city of Culiacán (northwest), in an operation that left 10 soldiers and 19 suspected criminals dead.
Authorities and drug trafficking experts believe that this 32-year-old man, along with three brothers, inherited the leadership of ‘El Chapo’ in the Sinaloa cartel and are known as ‘Los chapitos’.
Guzmán Sr. was extradited to the United States in 2017 to be tried by a Brooklyn court, where He was found guilty of crimes related to drug transfer and money laundering, for which he was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2019.
After his capture, Ovidio Guzmán obtained a judicial suspension to prevent his immediate delivery to US justice, but the judge who granted this appeal gave until March 5 for Washington to present the extradition request.
The US government claims Ovidio Guzmán and his brother Joaquín for conspiracy to export cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana to that country.
For each one he offers a five million dollar reward. Mexico, on its side, accuses Guzmán Jr. of crimes against health and possession of firearms, although there are also investigations linked to organized crime.
New Delhi: A three-and-half-year-old girl was killed after being allegedly hit by a car driven by a senior Indian Air Force officer’s son in southwest Delhi’s Cantonment area, police said on Monday.
The accused is a first year college student in a private college and has been arrested, they said, adding that the accident took place on Sunday.
Police reached the Ram Manohar Lohia hospital after receiving information about the accident of the girl, a resident of Arjun Vihar in Delhi Cantt, a senior police officer said. He added that the girl was declared dead on reaching the health facility.
Prelimiary investigation revealed that the car was travelling at a high speed and hit the girl who came in the middle of the road, an official said.
Police seized the Hyundai Creta and its driver Samark Malik (20), a resident of Arjan Vihar in Delhi Cantt, has been arrested, officials said.
Samark is the son of an IAF group captain, police said.
Based on the complaint of the girl’s mother, a case under sections 279 (rash driving or riding on a public way) and 304A (causing death by negligence) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) was registered at the Delhi Cantt police station, the officer said.
It was found that Malik first took the injured girl and her family to the Delhi Cantt Hospital from where he took them to the Deen Dayal Upadhyay hospital and later to the RML hospital where the victim girl was declared dead, police said.
The mother of the victim works as a maid in Arjan Vihar area and her father does private jobs, they said.
The 27-year-old boy, not self-sufficient and with multiple disabilities, receives highly complex integrated home care (ADI) care at home, entrusted to external companies
Sara Bonanno takes care of her son, 27 years old, not self-sufficientassisted at home for over ten years with integrated home care (ADI). «I chose not to “lock up” Simone in a nursing home (Rsa) – says the mother, who was widowed at a very young age -. My son won’t live long, I wish his life it was at least dignified and serene as much as possible, at his house, surrounded by the affection of loved ones. now, however, I fear his hospitalization in RSAagainst his (and my) will.
The reason? I have asked only what is rightfully his, that is continuity of care and nursingas required by the Lea (DPCM of 2017 “Definition and update of Essential levels of assistance”, ed. Here we explain what they are). In the last two-three years, however, the continuous alternation of nurses, 58 in less than six months, was causing serious damage to the health of my son, who has complex care needs (is in ADI with a PAI-Individual assistance project of an intensive and complex level, ed. More information here). The ADI service – specifies Bonanno – is not carried out by nurses employed by the ASL, but is entrusted to external companies accredited by the Lazio region (also occurs in other Regions, see below)”.
Complex health needs
Simone lives on a wheeled bed, feeds on artificial nutrition through a tube that connects the stomach directly to an infusion pump, also used to administer medicines; to communicate with others use the Augmentative and alternative communication (CAA); can breathe independently for a few hours, then needs the non-invasive ventilation (NIV) for about 18 hours a day (at night and most of the afternoon). «In the morning he manages to stay without a fan but sometimes “desaturates” due to severe apneas – explains the mother -. His body and brain are no longer oxygenated, he falls into a sleepy condition and, if he is not put on the ventilator, he could be gone in a short time. Recognize carefully everyone the signals related to the beginning of a desaturation is essential to intervene promptly without being forced to reactivate breathing through more invasive resuscitation maneuvers.
« To do this, the nurse must know Simone well – underlines Bonanno -. For example, my son often realizes that he is tired and he asks to be attached to the respirator, but he does it through Alternative Augmentative Communication, squeezing a tube five times. Have a nurse who can recognize crises and intervene immediately independently would allow me – as has always happened when there was a nursing team continuously – to sleep, take care of myself and even go out (I haven’t done it for two years)».
58 nurses in 6 months
The odyssey began with the pandemic. «After the lockdown – says Simone’s mother – the last nurse left to assist my son also left, so I asked for her to be replaced and the chaos began, with the succession of “passing” nurses, with a VAT number, with a collaboration contract, some retired, others waiting to be called for a permanent contract in the public sector. There have also been some nurses who had never seen the artificial feeding pump. Every time I had to explain my son’s health conditions, complex and unstabilised”.
Bonanno protests with the competent ASL (Roma 2) because the continuity of care for her son is not guaranteed. He recounts: «Faced with the documented disservices, the ASL replied that I could choose, among the accredited operators, another company providing the ADI service; I did it but to no avail: in less than 6 months, 58 different nurses have come home – remembers Bonanno -. My son was destroyed: a person with chronic neurological and neuropathic pain, blind and other very serious disabilities, who was manipulated like an inanimate mannequin by always foreign hands and by passing staff who didn’t even waste two minutes talking to him».
Mom, caregiver and also “nurse”
Simone’s mother continues: «Un example of the result of a continuous turnover? Granulomas, lesions or nodules that can grow around the ostomy that Simone has, create discomfort and pain especially when they become infected. My child she often had infections with pus oozing and, in the long run, a large keloid (fibrotic lesion) had formed which it would have to be surgically incised. When I stopped taking medication ostomy by the many “passing” nurses and I started to do it myself, thanks to the constancy of a regular medication, the keloid deflated, until it disappeared completely. Since then my son has had no more granulomas, infections and pain. It is all documented by the medical reports »underlines Bonanno, who decides not to let the nurses into the house anymore. He explains: «I sent an email to the ADI manager to inform him of my decision, which it wasn’t the “oddity” of a caregiver momgiven that the company providing the service had rejected Simone (even if the agreement does not provide for it) and myself I have to protect my son’s health. The World Health Organization has been saying it for decades: an exasperated turnover of professionals so invalidates every health intervention that it represents a health risk for the patient”.
Bonanno resorts to legal action but also makes a proposal. He tells: “I opened a dispute with the ASL for inadequate assistance, asking the judge that the integrated home care service was no longer entrusted to external companies, given that the outsourcing did not work, but to nurses employed by the ASL, specialized in my son’s health conditions. I’m awaiting the verdict.”
Who is responsible for it and how does ADI work?
The National Health Service guarantees integrated home assistance to non-self-sufficient people and in conditions of fragility. The Adi is part of the Essential Levels of Assistance, therefore it belongs, at least on paper, to anyone who has the requisites to access it, regardless of where they reside. The goal is avoid, as far as possible, the patient’s hospitalization in a residential facility, to ensure a better quality of life but also to contain the high costs of hospitalization in RSA. The Regions can decide to entrust the Adi service to external subjects, accredited on the basis of specific criteria.
“It is currently one Babel since each Region is using different criteria for accrediting providers – says Giuseppe Milanese, president of Confcooperative Sanità and of the Osa cooperative which operates in Rome with 75% of the staff hired -. The accreditation system is undoubtedly positive compared to the mechanism of competitive tenders, but it needs precise rules all the more in an area like theHouse assistance That it requires, in addition to skills, also a vocation: to enter the house of a person who is ill you need to have aptitude, empathy, know how to communicate – underlines Dr. Milanese -. Otherwise the risk is that they are created, as is already happening, companies with an exclusively profit purpose which certainly do not guarantee continuity of care. It is one thing to perform a service such as changing the catheter or drip, another is to assist patients with complex needs at home in Adi. For years – reiterates the president of Confcooperative Sanità – we have been asking for a single direction at national level with clear and homogeneous rules for accreditation, including the organizational plan with competent and trained personnel as is already the case for the accreditation of hospitals, and then rigor in measuring health outcomes».
The response of the ASL
Who monitors compliance with the requirements? For its part, the Asl Roma 2, consulted by Health Courier, specifies that the providers accredited by the Region «organize the services on the basis of the Individual Care Plan (PAI). The relationships between the patient and the accredited subjects are guaranteed by the Asl Case Management. In the specific case – explains the ASL – the situation has been repeatedly evaluated also in consideration of the fact that since February 2022 nurses have not been allowed access, even if they go to their homes ».
Support administrator
For over nine years, Bonanno has also been «support administrator” of his son. The legal institute, introduced with the law n. 6 of 2004, has the aim of protecting “people who are wholly or partially deprived of autonomy in carrying out the functions of daily life, through temporary or permanent support interventions”. Bonanno says: «I learned by chancea few days before the second hearing scheduled for early February, that the procedure for my replacement as support administrator had been initiatedwithout even being summoned. But why? I have always looked after my son’s interests, it was enough to read the annual reports where, in addition to the detailed account of the network of professionals, friends and associations that have always surrounded and supported Simone and me, it is documented that all the money that enters, including mine survivor’s pension (minimal, because my husband died very young), they are employed entirely for my son, and they are not enough, so much so that charities help me to pay for the medicines that the public health service does not pass».
What protections? The “reasons” of the ASL and a mother
says the Asl to Health Courier: «In August 2022, for the sole purpose of protecting the patient’s health, the head of the UOC Home Care presented a exposed to the Public Prosecutor’s Office reporting the problem. Following this report, in December 2022, the Public Prosecutor deemed it appropriate to ask the Guardianship Judge to proceed; the judge has summoned the parties and we are waiting to know the decision to resume continuity of home assistance ». Simone’s mother feels oppressed. She recounts: «In the complaint it is written that in extrema ratio one must resort to the forced hospitalization at an appropriate facility, i.e. in an RSA. But institutionalize Simondistancing him from his loved ones, from his friends, from his world, it would mean his end. The lawyer requested and obtained a new home hearing (my son cannot be transported to court) scheduled for mid-March. As a mother, caregiver and also as a support administrator, all I ask is that my child receives adequate and dignified assistance at home» concludes Bonanno.
February 27, 2023 (change February 27, 2023 | 10:06)
Gurugram: A 33-year-old woman, who had locked herself and her minor son for three years in their rented house in Chakkarpur area here to avoid COVID-19, was brought out of confinement on Tuesday by a team of officials, police said.
A team of police, health department officials and members of the child welfare department broke open the main door of the house and rescued Munmun Majhi and her 10-year-old son, they said.
The mother-son duo was rushed to the civil hospital here.
“The woman has some psychological issues. Both of them are referred to PGI, Rohtak where they are admitted to psychiatric ward for treatment,” said Dr Virender Yadav, Civil Surgeon, Gurugram.
The matter came to light on February 17 when Munmun’s husband Sujan Majhi, who is an engineer with a private company, approached assistant sub-inspector Praveen Kumar deployed at Chakkarpur police post.
During the three years of confinement with her son, the woman did not allow even her husband into the house after he stepped out to go to office when restrictions eased after the first lockdown in 2020, police said.
Sujan spent the first few days with friends and relatives and after failing to persuade his wife, he started to stay in another rented accommodation in the same locality.
Sujan said that video calls were the only way to stay in touch with his wife and son. He would pay the monthly rent of the house, clear the electricity bills, deposit his son’s school fees, buy groceries and vegetables and even leave the bags of ration outside the main door.
“Initially, I didn’t believe Sujan’s claims, but when he made me talk to his wife and son over a video call, I intervened in the matter. The house where the woman was living had accumulated so much filth and garbage that if a few more days had passed, anything untoward could have happened,” ASI Kumar told PTI.
The woman’s son had not even seen the sun in the last three years, Kumar said, adding that she did not even use cooking gas and storage water during these three years in fear of Covid.
Sujan was overwhelmed to have his wife and son after three years, and thanked the police.
“Now they are being treated and I hope my life will be back on track soon,” he said. PTI CORR
A shocking incident occurred during a recent musical concert in Mumbai’s Chembur area, as famous singer Sonu Nigam was attacked by the son of an MLA. A video of the incident has since surfaced online, causing widespread outrage among fans of the acclaimed artist.
The incident took place while Nigam was performing on stage, with the MLA’s son allegedly hurling abuses and attacking the singer with his hands. The video shows Nigam being pulled down from the stage and pushed around by the assailant, who is seen trying to punch him.
Singer Sonu Nigam who raised his voice about Azan Loudspeakers attacked by Janab Uddhav Thackeray MLA Prakash Phaterpekar and his goons in music event at Chembur. Sonu has been taken to the hospital nearby. pic.twitter.com/32eIPQtdyM
The incident has raised concerns about the safety of artists performing in public, as such incidents are becoming increasingly common in India. Fans of Nigam have expressed their support and solidarity with the singer, condemning the MLA’s son’s actions and calling for strict action to be taken against him.
Nigam himself has not yet commented on the incident, but it is hoped that he will soon be able to address the matter and provide his side of the story. The incident has sparked a much-needed conversation about the importance of protecting artists and performers from violence and harassment.
We are very happy that after 43 years, this is the first time that the world is really engaging with the people who represent an alternative to this regime. The paradigm has changed — and the way we see governments taking action — including Germany. For the oppressed, this is incredibly empowering. We want to explain that everything is tied to this regime: whether it’s the nuclear threat, terrorism, Iranian-made drones attacking Ukraine or more and more refugees coming to an already saturated Europe. Not to mention that Iran could be the exporter of gas for your energy needs, so you wouldn’t have to worry every winter what Putin is going to do next. But that depends on us winning this fight.
Europe, and especially the U.S., are already putting sanctions on Iran. Should they continue the strategy of maximum pressure or what else could they do to support the opposition?
The next level would be to target the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to go after specific individuals and their assets abroad. However, you should also start building a policy of maximum support. For instance, one of the most vital elements for Iranians is access to internet to bypass the censorship of the regime. That kind of technological assistance must be sent in. Another idea is creating a strike fund to compensate Iranian workers who go on strike, because this is the quickest way to paralyze the system.
How would you send the money to Iran in times of U.S. sanctions against financial transfer?
Frozen assets of the regime can be used, which is the Iranian people’s money. That money can be repurposed. We’re not asking for Germans to put money in the Iranian people’s pocket. It’s just a matter of making the decision to use the assets which are already there. I’m sure there should be some options of making exceptions to the sanctions to bring the money to the people, not to the dictator.
Are you disappointed that Europe didn’t list the Revolutionary Guards as a terror organization yet?
Well, our Spanish friend [Josep Borrell, the European Union’s foreign policy chief] is not helping too much, is he? There must be a legal way to do that. Whatever it takes, but that’s our expectation. The IRGC is a legalized mafia. It not only has the control of the economy, but it is also a paramilitary instrument, the backbone of the regime’s leader, [Ayatollah Ali] Khamenei. The Islamic Republic deploys troops, tanks, and artillery, not to fight a foreign invader, but to kill its own people. The EU cannot say that they stand for freedom and human rights and at the same time does not sanction the biggest instrument of repression.
How crucial is the listing for the success of a revolution?
It is necessary in order for defections to occur. We would like to reduce the level of human losses by showing the military that they can be part of the future, especially those who haven’t committed heinous crimes. The more they see that they are also targeted, it will give them more incentive to switch sides.
How likely is it that they will do so?
The top echelon of the IRGC is like the top of the Politburo during the Soviet Union. They are benefiting from their financial control and corruption. But that doesn’t trickle down to the lower ranks. The average guy is working two jobs to make ends meet. In the hearts the military is prepared to come towards the people. But to do so they need to have a clear sense of the alternative and understand the crucial role that they could play during the transition to maintain law and order. We need them for that. But for this, they must see that the world is supportive of that change.
Do you see cracks within the Islamic regime?
The cohesion of the regime is Khamenei himself. He has been desperately trying to promote his son as his successor, which is very difficult to achieve once he’s gone. There are already many splinters within what we call the tent of the leader. There’s a rift and it affects the IRGC as well. Meanwhile, there’s a large number of what we refer to as the gray layer — people who are undecided. Former reformists are now coming to the scene saying we have to move beyond reform.
You and other prominent figures of the opposition in exile lately presented the idea of a common charter for transition. Is it written yet?
It’s been 95 percent finalized. We are very close to announcing it. But first we want to make sure that it passes the approval of the people back in Iran. The charter is addressing the minimal conditions that the biggest width of the secular democratic forces can agree upon. The instrument that will make the final decision should be the Constituent Assembly. There might be some differences of opinion, which we leave for a new parliament to decide. Important now is: What do we do when the regime collapses? We have groups that are focusing, for instance, on the economy, judicial issues, and transitional justice.
Can you tell us the first sentence of the charter?
I don’t have a sentence for you, but a concept of what I’ve learned having traveled to so many different countries. There are three fundamentals — demands that any human being on this planet, regardless of nationality or culture, will have. The first one is freedom and a true sense of liberty. The second is participation. And the third, which, I think is even more important than the first two, is dignity. These principles are embedded in the Declaration of Human Rights, which is the reference text that hopefully Iran’s future constitution will be based on.
How many people in Iran are you approaching for signature?
It’s a very broad approach. The messaging is mostly through social media. We have constant Zoom calls or Google Meets with people inside, activists, political prisoners. It’s a direct dialogue. Then it gets dispersed among their own networks in universities, among teachers. The student movement is very important.
Why did it take more than 40 years for the opposition to work together?
I wish it happened 40 years ago. That was the first time I mentioned in an article that we must have a referendum and a constituent assembly to decide the future. But sometimes it takes time, and there is the factor of religion. Today, clerics have lost complete respect, mosques are empty and that’s because of those who have used religion as a pretext to commit crimes. A lot of people that are devoted Muslims in Iran don’t want that. They had to learn it the hard way.
And why was there no unified opposition in exile earlier?
It’s not that we didn’t want to come together. The dynamics of political change in Iran today are far more geared to the demand of the street as opposed to some groups who were lined up based on ideological preferences. The opposition had to reinvent itself — in the sense that what we do or say today must be relevant to the people on the street.
One of the groups not represented in the unified opposition is one that calls itself the biggest Iranian opposition group in exile — the Mujahedeen-e-Khalq. What role, if any, do they play? Do you and other opposition figures talk with them as well?
To me, the biggest problem is that they have their own internal limitations of having an open dialogue with any other democratic forces. It’s a little bit of a cult mentality that prohibits its members from free dialogue. As such, participating in an open process is almost impossible for them, because the minute they commit to that, they will collapse internally. Political inclusion is based on accepting democratic rules. If these principles that will be in the charter are something they are willing to sign up for, why not? But that’s up to them. To this day, they have never wanted to actually accept that.
Your family was part of the monarchy. How can people trust that you will be part of a democratic process?
First, because they know that I’m my own man and that no son or daughter could be held accountable for whatever their parents did. I was 17 years old when I left my country. And all I’ve been saying since is “Hey, I’m not running for any office here.” I’m simply trying to see a transition where people get to decide. This is a much more valuable role that I can play without being entangled in the patterns of state or governance.
We also need a cultural change, and democratic culture is not impregnated in the nation. I can contribute more to that direction because I lived 40 years of my life in free countries, in America, in France, visiting countries like Germany. Helping with the educational process is much more my interest than to be sitting at the table with a bunch of ministers and deciding policies of the day, or even being stuck in the palace as a symbolic leader, muzzled and not free to speak my mind. I’m not fighting for your freedom to be the first victim of it myself.
Several hundred thousand people signed an online petition to give you the power of attorney. What do you make of that?
A lot of people understand how crucial my role can be in a transition. But that has nothing to do with whether we have a republic or a monarchy in the future. People automatically assume that I’m the candidate for the monarchy. Not necessarily. If my choice is between a secular republic elected by the people versus an institution that is still based on hereditary transition, I cannot reconcile that with democratic norms.
The negotiations for a new nuclear deal are stalled but Iran is enriching uranium as we speak. Is there any advice you’re giving foreign leaders on how to deal with this?
Our argument is: The best way for you to eliminate the danger once and for all is to eliminate the regime. Because how trustworthy was the regime before, even after signing some agreement? During the Obama administration, we saw the released funds going to the various brigades in Lebanon or Syria instead of serving the country’s interests. Time is running out. And we have an opportunity now with the Iranian people themselves to put an end to the problem once and for all.
In Israel, there was lately a very large military exercise together with the U.S. People are talking about the so-called military option to end Iran’s nuclear program …
… which is a nightmare. Particularly at a point when the people of that nation say, “Hey, we are in the streets, help us get rid of the regime.“ How did we put an end to apartheid? At some point, we came to the defense of those who wanted an end to it. How did we put an end to [Gen. Wojciech] Jaruzelski in Poland? By helping Lech Walesa and company in their Solidarity movement.
Why shouldn’t Iran be part of the same rationale? We are already putting our lives on the line and losing people every day. Work with us. You have the best army in place: the people. The minute this regime goes, we’ll be working hard to achieve stability. We need to work with the Israelis, with the Arab neighbors. We need to work with the Europeans on energy matters and security matters.
Can you imagine going back to Iran?
I see myself in a trailer traveling the four corners of the country, camping out just to interact with people. That’s how you can feel what people really want and then show them ways to be more impactful in decision-making. I think the secret to established democracies is that their citizens are proactive. It’s very hard to insert a mentality of proactiveness in a very traditional Middle Eastern culture which always sits back and says, “somebody do something for me.” But this generation is not waiting anymore.
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( With inputs from : www.politico.com )
