6. Everyday, millions of Iranians lack basic human rights.
This lack of human rights affects the desire to leave the
country and undercuts the intellectual capital of the
country.
7. In an interview with Stanford Professor, Abbas Milani, I asked
about what toll the emigration had on socioeconomic status of
Iran
Main points:
Many educational elite left in 1979 and never came back
Some of the brightest young Iranians left in the last three years
and never came back
It’s an enormous economic loss when they leave
Iran suffers accordingly
8. 1979 January - As the political situation deteriorates,
the Shah and his family are forced into exile.
9. 1979 November - Islamic militants take 52 Americans
hostage inside the US embassy in Tehran. They
demand the extradition of the Shah, in the US at the
time for medical treatment, to face trial in Iran.
10. 1979 February - The Islamic fundamentalist, Ayatollah
Ruhollah Khomeini, returns to Iran following 14 years
of exile in Iraq and France for opposing the regime.
11. 1979 April - The Islamic Republic of Iran is proclaimed
following a referendum.
This marks the end of 2500 years of monarchic rule in
the country
It is the beginning of an Iran led by one organized
force --- the clergy
12. Vast emigration of educated people to the West
Corruption of government
Poor standing with other countries
Lack of economic, social, and industrial development
Absence of basic human rights and opportunities for all
13. I’ve spent the last two years studying the Iranian
diaspora. I looked at several factors of the vast
emigration and how it affected the socioeconomic
status of the country.
This year, I primarily looked at how the lack of human
rights and opportunities in Iran leads to a great exodus
of citizens.
14. Dr. Karimi-Hakkak is a Professor of Persian Language,
Literature and Culture and Chair of Middle Eastern
Studies at the University of Maryland.
Professor Karimi-Hakkak is the author of 19 books and
over 100 major scholarly articles.
15. As the Iranian populace started fighting for more
freedom, the regime had to strengthen their power
over the people.
This power struggle resulted in a rise in executions and
fear within the people.
16. The U.N. Special Reporter, Ahmed Shaheed, assessed the human
rights condition in Iran and warned the United Nations of
systematic violations of rights in the country.
In the 18 month period beginning in January 2012, Shaheed
proclaims that 724 executions occurred.
17. He explained to the committee that if Iran
complied with human rights laws,
“Many of the issues the international community
has with its rights record would disappear”
18. For the most part, people who emigrated were Western
educated.
The aspects of the whole face of a religious
government scared many Iranians.
Especially those who thought that they can make a
better life for their children.
19. In January 2006, the International Monetary Fund
claimed that Iran ranks highest in brain drain among
91 developing and developed countries.
There is an estimated 150,000 to 180,000 educated
people exiting per year.
20. The inability of the home country to respond to its
citizens' needs,
high unemployment rates, and
a general lack of intellectual and social security
all contribute to the brain drain
21. The Iranian story is tragic because its rich history and
culture is being tainted by corruption.
With more and more people leaving Iran, the “empire”
is collapsing.
However, with every tragedy there is opportunity.
22. Given that the current Iranian regime has been so
hostile to the country’s history, it is the Iranian people
who must fill the void and create understanding.
In an interview with my advisor, Dr. Karimi-Hakkak, he
asserted:
“If there is a way for Iran to escape this deep hole,
it would be through reform. It would be by
allowing the various governmental leaders to lead
the country.”
