After the death of Muhammad, the Arab world followed by an elective process to nominate the next in line successor which started with Abu Bakr. This group is known as ahl alsunnah wa-l-jama'ah, "the people of custom and community," or Sunnis. The imamate or "leadership" -- in non-elective manner would become what we know today as Shiitism. Shiites say that succession must remain within the family of the Prophet, a blood-line -- with Ali the first valid caliph. It should also be noted that this division occurred after the assassination of Imam Ali in Kufa by Ibn Muljim. 

After the assassination of Imam Ali, his older son Imam Hassan became rightful Shiite leader. Not long into his Imamate, Imam Hassan also became victim to Bani Umayyad family. Now here is the defining moment for the entire Shiitism division and especially leading to the Iranian version. After Imam Hussein inherited the Imamate, in a decisive battle with Yazid who was the son of Mu’awiya sealed the everlasting fairly tales of

Shiitism. It has been said that Imam Hussein who was out numbered was beheaded by the

Yazid’s Army in an unfair battle. Imam Hussein, like his father became martyr, hence, the start of a new era of Shiitism. 

Up to this day, Iranians mourn for the first Imam and the third Imam, Ali ibn-e abi Taaleb, and Hussein-ibn-e Ali, (Majaales-e Rozehkhaani va Azaa daari), After Iranians were forced to become Shiite by Shah Ismail, this practice became extremely prevalent and popular in the mosques and “Takaayaa, Huseinieh haa” and in many people homes. Especially in the month of Safar and Ramadan, they were devoted to the ceremonies of (Sineh zani) beating oneself on the chest, (Zanjir zani), beating oneself with metal chain, (Sang zani), beating oneself with rocks, and (Ghameh zani), wounding oneself with poniard. “Ghameh zani or Shah Husseini,” was conducted in what is called on the days of Aashoora and Taasooaa, on the 9th and 10th of Moharam. 

Everyone wears grave-cloths and wounds himself with a poniard (Ghameh) until their heads or their foreheads are cut open, filling their entire head and face with blood. This barbaric practice was abolished during the later reign of the late Mohammed Reza Shah

Pahlavi. It is said this practice has also been banished recently in the Islamic Republic as well.  While abusing their bodies, they were shouting “Yaa Hussein, Yaa Abdullah” and repeating it over and over again, and another group reciting mourning. Each year many people died as a result of self-inflicted wounds to the head. 

Even though 2500 years has passed since Cyrus the Great declared the first Charters of human rights, at the down of the new millennium, Iranians are still struggling for their simple and basic human rights. What went wrong? 

I hope by now you have a clear idea what went wrong and why after two millenniums of supremacy by the Persian Empires over the vast land of the known world, Iranians are at the bottom of the civilized world today. The newly selected president of the Islamic Republic recently spoke at the United Nations, confirming my anxieties of Iran's future are justified. 

Our nation for centuries has struggled valiantly to survive. The history of our nation is all about struggle. Our nation, once again is struggling for its independence from the most vicious and barbaric system known to the history of man. It is one of the most tyrannical and oppressive regimes in the modern time. What makes this era the most sensitive era of the Persian history, is the fact that the Islamic Republic is playing games with people's life, by creating the most devastating bombs, (the nuclear bomb) and opening the doors from outside with a full fledge war on Iran. 

The current rulers in Iran are simply vicious, malicious, and dangerous. They are doing everything in their power to make sure there won't be a new generation, and if there is going to be an Iran, they want to make sure that you become one of them. That means an Islamic terrorist. Being part of party of the Islamic terrorism is prerequisite part of the selection process of being accepted in the Islamic government. 

History is filled with ironies. What the Arabs had come to Persia to eradicate, it made Ferdowsi to recreate.  Hakim Abol-Ghasem Ferdowsi Toosi is one of the greatest heroes of Iran and father of the “Book of Kings,” the Tales of Ancient Persia. He is known in Iran as the father of the Persian language. For more than thirty years, Ferdowsi spent his valuable life to revive, not only the Persian language, but a nation. 

Namiram keh az in pass man zendeh’am,

Keh tokhm-e sokhan raa paraa-kardeham

(I am deathless, from now on I will live for ever,

For I have spread the seed of the Word) 

Ferdowsi is dead. But, his spirit lives in the hearts and minds of all freedom-loving Iranians. 

The volatile situation in Iran now calls for all of you to urgently learn from the mistakes of the past and educate the young people about the plague of Islam on the Persian society and perhaps other societies. 

Let us regain our dignity of a human being 
And to seek out the truth,
Let us enjoy our Persian pride
And to fulfill our destiny.
Let us pursue the true unity and peace on earth
And regain our religious freedom.

****

Let us do it
None will remain hidden from the concealed!
Let us be together!
Let the tenderness of our hands,
Overflow with Persian pride and joy,
Let us merge our eyes,
In each other's eyes
Let us do it 

**** 

Nothing will be hidden from the concealed!
Nothing will grow from absurd values!
Let us eradicate madly,
The roots of prejudice and ignorant beliefs!
And stir the bowl of Love,
Instantly! 

****

Let me say this:
Nothing stays constant,
Nothing will last till eternity,
And for wisdom to soar,
Our eyes,
Tremble for one small minute!
Let us divide the mirrors equally
I can say this:
This is the last event in the transformation of life;
This is the last human promise!
Let me say this:
Blandishment is not my style,
Let me say this:
I conquered the garden,
Without your knowledge!
Let me share it with you!
Let us make a flower happy,
In our exclusive hands! 

****

Let us be a bird,
With two open shinning eyes,
Looking at the world!
Let us have faith in purity!
Let us flee away from impurity
Let me fill the cradle of my poetry,
With your image!
Let us surrender to each other,
And understand each other's pain and suffering
Let us do it!
Let us make another Iran!
Let us promise a better future,
And a loftier!
Let us move away from lowly,
And approach exodus!
Let us turn to light!
And remove the doors from all houses,
And awaken a nation!
Let us do it! 

Amil Imani is a poet, writer, literary translator, essayist, novelist, and a political activist who speaks out for the struggling people of his native land, Iran. 

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