The Iranian elite should be in no illusion that identity politics is isolated

Will the Iranian recognize and accommodate diverse ethnicities religions, language, and values, which are an inescapable feature of politics in the 21thst century?

 Modernity and enlightened political leaders and most political theorist of all persuasions have argued against explicit recognition of cultural identities, ethnic, religious, linguistic, racial. Pursue of one state one language and superior religion, in Iran has been that cultural identities of Great majority have been suppressed brutally, as the state policy, through religion persecutions and ethnic cleansing, also through everyday exclusion and political and economic, and social and political discrimination.

In different ways and different context people are mobilizing along ethnic, religious, racial and cultural lines, that their identities be acknowledged, appreciated and accommodated by wide society. They also demand social justice. It is new today that rise of identity politics.

The Iranian elite should be in no illusion that identity politics is isolated. Identities politics are part of a historic process of social changes, struggle for freedom, the advance of human freedoms and democracy. They shape around the world by the spread of democracy and advance globalization that is creating new networks and alliances.

People want the freedom to practice their religion openly, to speak their language, to celebrate their ethnic or religion without fear of punishment or losing the opportunity. People must be free to participate in society without having to lose the balance of their chosen culture anchor. Cultural liberty is an important part of human development because one chooses one's identity without losing the respect of others.

Iran is facing an urgent challenge to these demands. If these challenges handled well, recognition of identities will bring greater diversity in society, enriching Iranian lives. Struggle over identities if unmanaged can become one of the greatest sources of instability it is, not a source of instability in Iran. Identity politic will polarize Iranian ethnic and religious groups create a faulty line between them. Distrust and hatred will grow between "us" and "them". Just last year's religion and ethnic violence between ethnic Baloch and Iranian security forces destroyed many lives on both sides of that old conflict. Baloch's language, culture, religion, and economics is different from the rest of Iran population.

No country is entirely homogeneous. Cultural, language, religious diversity will stay and grow. Iran needs to find ways to cope with this phenomenon. The world interdependent economically, cannot function unless people respect diversity and build unity through common bonds of humanity. The demands for cultural, religion, language recognition no longer be ignored by any state or by the international community. The confrontation over cultural and identity likely to grow, unless Iranian elite suspends inherent right of Persian culture, language, religion on the nation Persian population, and accommodate other ethnics growing demands for their inclusion in society, respect their ethnicity, religion, and language these demands takes more than democracy. Iranian elite needed to promote multicultural, multilingual, policies, champion diversity and promote cultural freedoms so all people can choose to speak their language practice their religion and participate in shaping their culture so that all people can choose who they are.

M.Sarjov