Happy New Year 2016

I wish a happy New Year of 2016 for all Christian Iranians and Christian friends of Iranians all over the world; and hope that the New Year will herald changes toward freedom and deliverance of the Iranian nation from tyranny, so we the Iranians can consider this New Year a new beginning.

The trend of cleansing the world of tyrannical and colonial governments during the past seven decades, and bringing to the surface fanaticism and terrorism shows that the world community is preparing for a new civilization. Globalization will never be achieved unless all countries of the world democratize and human rights become institutionalized.

Resurgence of the ugly disease of religious fanaticism and barbaric violence, or resurgence of political intrigue for the purpose of achieving outdated expansionist and neocolonial dreams, promises their total uproot and annihilation. This is the will of human society in order to achieve a world order of political unity; an ideal Cyrus the Great established in Iran some twenty six centuries ago.

Tyrannical, corrupt and unpopular governments that governed majority of the countries of the world until some hundred years ago are now but a few, unfortunately mostly in the Middle East where Iran is situated. Those still remaining must take hint from what happened to the likes of Milosevic, Saddam Hussein and Muammar Gaddafi, and now Bashar Assad whose country is devastated and his people slaughtered or uprooted.

Religious regimes, which have always ruled by discrimination and violence amidst corruption, must make way for secularism where all citizens are treated as equals, and where the country is managed by professionals rather than men of the robe. Corruption and violence to its extreme are what govern most Islamic states in this region.

Christianity also had its trying days. It took centuries for the Church to come to the realization that church ruling a state can only end in corruption, brutality and backwardness. Christianity finally found its right place, and gradually gained respect among all people. For Islam it is taking longer. This is mostly due to the fact that there are now superpowers that meddle in smaller countries affairs keeping them occupied with imposed hardline religious regimes and existential threats while they rob them of their natural assets and wealth.

On this occasion of the Christian New Year, I must tribute Pope Francis XVI who has been a model of how a religious leader must be. While fanatical religious leaders such as the Mufti of Mecca calls for murder of all Shiites, ISIL brutally murder, rob, rape or enslave anyone they consider infidel; and Islamic regime in Iran discriminates among its citizens based of religion and sex, Pope preaches peace and tolerance: “The time has come to abandon all intolerance,” and respect of women: “Women in the church are more important than bishops and priests.” All religions are true, because they are true in the hearts of all those who believe them.

Catholic Church has truly gone through a welcome evolution. Pope Francis, and before him Pope John, are responsible for this coming of age. Catholic Church should become a model for Sunni and Shiite sects of Islam. Until that happens, I believe that the way we Muslims define the word Muslim, Pope Francis is the only Muslim in the world; where he preaches peace, tolerance and equality. I propose that he be nominated for the next Nobel Peace Prize.

Kourosh Zaim

Political Secretary of SDHIR

Teheran-December 31, 2016