Amil Imani

Saluting the Committee with a Cause
August 31, 2009
 

August 29, 2009 marked the 5th anniversary of the formation of The International Committee to Save the Archeological Sites of Pasargad. The Institute is to be saluted for its outstanding tireless work to safeguard the irreplaceable historical heritage of Iran against the machinations of the Islamists presently ruling the country whose aim is to wipe out any and all pre-Islamic Iranian heritage and artifacts.

Driven by both the Islamic zeal as well as profit motive, the clerical regime poses an existential threat to the precious sites and relics of ancient Iran. It is against this terrible force that the Institute has served as the rallying point for many concerned citizens and organizations to protect the Iran’s archaeological sites and its treasures.

The current clerical regime has demonstrated on numberless occasions its wanton contempt by actions such as flooding the plain which houses Cyrus’s tomb, destroying the archeological sites of Pasargad and Persepolis, and harassing and intimidating those who would gather at the tomb of the enlightened king to commemorate the International Day of Cyrus the Great.

It bears repeating that the Islamic Republic of Iran is staffed by fanatic elements that are determined to wipe out all traces of the pre-Islamic era. They aim to surpass the heinous act of Afghanistan's Taliban who destroyed two irreplaceable Buddha statues. What is enshrined in the Cyrus Cylinder is unconditional respect for the complete rights of all the people of the world, an anathema to the Islamists' credo.

The mullahs’ regime, either willfully driven by greed, or through its incompetence has devastated the natural bounties of the land of Iran which was dotted with green meadows and majestic forests and lakes, once home to the gazelle, fallow deer, Onyx, Snow Leopard, Panther, Asian cheetah, Baluchistan Black Bear, Caspian Tiger, boar, Persian lion. In a mere thirty years of its misrule, the clerical regime has succeeded in squandering the country’s natural resources, fouling its rivers, contaminating its air and leaving little trace of the great land revered by our great Zoroastrian ancestors.

My heart aches for this once great land that has all but vanished under the cast of Islamic selfishness and murderous cultism. I cannot help but hurt so deeply....who will hear the echoes of the Persian gazelle, the Ibex and the tiger above the ranting praises of Hassan and Hussein?

Today, I am honored to join you in this vital venue, The International Committee to Save the Archeological Sites of Pasargad, in recognition of your valiant efforts to preserving Iranian heritage. I wish to express my deep gratitude to you and every one of the decent people who have selflessly dedicated their time, talent, and substance to assist in the monumental task of safeguarding what has not yet been plundered or desecrated by the sworn enemies of Iranian heritage, disguised as Iranians.

A special expression of gratitude is due to our compatriots in Iran who are serving as the on-site guardians of our heritage under severe hardship and retributions of the mullahs. It is propitious on this occasion to extend a particular expression of deep appreciation to a relentless champion of our heritage, Kourosh Zaim  who is presently languishing in the prison of the Islamic Republic and suffered considerable abuse and torture. 

Your Committee must be thanked for ceaselessly working in collaboration with other NGOs to prevent the illegitimate rulers in Iran from intentionally destroying what is in effect humanity’s heritage that belong to the entire world.

Your Committee, The International Committee to Save the Archeological Sites of Pasargad must be further thanked for enabling individuals to coalesce and form an effective force against those in power with means to achieve their dastardly aims.

It is with a sense of hope and optimism that I join you to push forward the lofty aims of your organization, to stem the present wave of destruction, and to reestablish once again the Iranians’ ancient way of life: A way of life based on enlightened appreciation of humanity’s diversity with full recognition of everyone and every peoples’ rights to liberty, justice and equality.

We do not celebrate our past as an easy escape from the challenges of the present and those that lie ahead. Our aim is to duly recognize what our ancestors had achieved and use their examples as inspiration. We, the diverse people of Iran are descendants of an optimistic, enlightened, and positive people. We are descendents of Cyrus the Great and the long line of determined upright people. We meet any challenge and pay any price to defeat tyranny and we will not rest until Iran is completely free of the plague of Islamofascism.