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The Reformists ( fa, اصلاح‌طلبان, Eslâh-Talabân) are a political faction in Iran. Iran's "reform era" is sometimes said to have lasted from 1997 to 2005—the length of President
Mohammad Khatami Sayyid Mohammad Khatami ( fa, سید محمد خاتمی, ; born 14 October 1943) is an Iranian politician who served as the fifth president of Iran from 3 August 1997 to 3 August 2005. He also served as Iran's Minister of Culture from 1982 ...
's two terms in office. The
Council for Coordinating the Reforms Front The Council for Coordinating the Reforms Front or the Reformist Front Coordination Council ( fa, شورای هماهنگی جبهه اصلاحات) is the umbrella organization, coalition and council of main political groups within the Iranian ...
is the main umbrella organization and coalition within the movement; however, there are reformist groups not aligned with the council, such as the
Reformists Front In 2008 Iranian legislative election, they formed "''Popular Coalition of Reforms''", consisting of 14 groups. Mostafa Kavakebian and Fatemeh Karroubi were key figures of the alliance. Other than Democracy Party, Islamic Assembly of Women and som ...
.


Background


Organizations

The 2nd of Khordad Movement usually refers not only to the coalition of 18 groups and political parties of the reforms front but to anyone else who was a supporter of the 1997 reform programs of Khatami. The ideology of Khatami and the movement is based on Islamic democracy. The reforms front consists of several political parties, some of the most famous including the following : *
Islamic Iran Participation Front The Islamic Iran Participation Front ( fa, جبهه مشارکت ایران اسلامی; ''Jebheye Mosharekate Iran-e Eslaami'') was a reformist political party in Iran. It was sometimes described as the most dominant member within the 2nd of Kho ...
: key figures are Mohammad Reza Khatami, Saeed Hajjarian,
Alireza Alavitabar Alireza Alavitabar ( fa, علیرضا علوی‌تبار; born 1960) is an Iranian political scientist and a leading reformist intellectual and writer. He holds a doctorate in political sciences and is a member of the Institute for Planning and ...
, Abbas Abdi,
Mohsen Safaie-Farahani Mohsen Safaei Farahani ( fa, محسن صفایی فراهانی) is an Iranian reformist politician. Career He is a member of Mosharekat Party, the main reformist party in Iran under President Khatami. He was a Majlis representative from Tehran ...
,
Mohsen Aminzadeh Mohsen Aminzadeh ( fa, محسن امین‌زاده, born 1957) is an Iranian reformist politician and former diplomat. Aminzadeh was a founding member of the largest reformist party, the Islamic Iran Participation Front. He served as the Deputy F ...
, and
Mostafa Tajzadeh Sayyid Mostafa Tajzadeh ( fa, سید مصطفی تاج‌زاده) is an Iranian reformist politician and a senior member of Islamic Iran Participation Front, as well as Mojahedin of the Islamic Revolution of Iran Organization. He was imprisoned ...
. It has been described as the dominant member within the 2nd of Khordad Front, the "main reformist party", and the party most closely associated with President Khatami. *
Association of Combatant Clerics The Association of Combatant Clerics ( fa, مجمع روحانیون مبارز, ''Majma'-e rowhāniyūn-e mobārez'') is an Iranian reformist clerical political party. It is regarded as a left-wing party within the Iranian political spectrum. ...
(''Majma'e Rowhaniyoon-e Mobarez''): key figures are
Mohammad Khatami Sayyid Mohammad Khatami ( fa, سید محمد خاتمی, ; born 14 October 1943) is an Iranian politician who served as the fifth president of Iran from 3 August 1997 to 3 August 2005. He also served as Iran's Minister of Culture from 1982 ...
,
Hadi Khamenei Sayyid Hadi Khamenei ( fa, سید هادی خامنه‌ای; born 26 January 1948) is an Iranian reformist politician, mujtahid and linguist.(14 February 1999Reformist Kin of Iran Leader is Attacked by Militants''The New York Times'' He is a key ...
, Majid Ansari, Mohammad Tavassoli, and
Mohammad Mousavi Khoeiniha Sayyid Mohammad Mousavi Khoeiniha (born 1945) is an Iranian cleric and secretary general of the reformist Association of Combatant Clerics. He was the founder of the now defunct '' Salam'' and was a member of the Expediency Discernment Council. ...
. It has been described as the "main 'reformist' clerical body." *
Mojahedin of the Islamic Revolution Organization Mojahedin of the Islamic Revolution Organization ( fa, سازمان مجاهدین انقلاب اسلامی, Sāzmān-e Mojāhedin-e Enqelāb-e Eslāmi, lit=Holy Warriors of the Islamic Revolution) was an umbrella political organization in I ...
(''Sazman-e Mojahedin-e Enghelab-e Eslami''): key figures are
Behzad Nabavi Behzad Nabavi ( fa, بهزاد نبوی) (born 1941) is an Iranian reformist politician. He served as Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Iran and was one of the founders of the reformist party Mojahedin of the Islamic Revolution Organization. Pr ...
,
Mohsen Armin Mohsen Armin ( fa, محسن آرمین) is an Iranian politician. He was a representative for Tehran and vice speaker of the Majlis during the sixth term of the Majlis. He is also a central committee member and speaker of Mojahedin of the Islamic ...
, Mohammad Salevati, and Feyzollah Arabsorkhi. The mojahedin have been called a "key political group."


Ideas

Many Iranian intellectuals were involved in establishing a foundation for the movement. Perhaps the most influential figure was
Abdolkarim Soroush Abdolkarim Soroush ( ; born Hossein Haj Faraj Dabbagh (born 1945; fa, حسين حاج فرج دباغ), is an Iranian Islamic thinker, reformer, Rumi scholar, public intellectual, and a former professor of philo ...
. For many years, he was the only voice publicly criticizing the regime's policies. His regular lectures at Tehran University used to enjoy the attendance of many of the Iranian students who later generated the 2nd of Khordad movement. Many famous figures of the movement belong to the Soroush circle. However, at the rise of 2nd of Khordad movement, Saeed Hajjarian acted as the main theorist behind the movement and the main strategist in
Khatami Sayyid Mohammad Khatami ( fa, سید محمد خاتمی, ; born 14 October 1943) is an Iranian politician who served as the fifth president of Iran from 3 August 1997 to 3 August 2005. He also served as Iran's Minister of Culture from 1982 t ...
's camp. The movement has been described as changing the key terms in public discourse: ''emperialism'' (
imperialism Imperialism is the state policy, practice, or advocacy of extending power and dominion, especially by direct territorial acquisition or by gaining political and economic control of other areas, often through employing hard power (economic powe ...
), ''mostazafen'' (
poor Poverty is the state of having few material possessions or little income. Poverty can have diverse
), ''jehad'' (
jihad Jihad (; ar, جهاد, jihād ) is an Arabic word which literally means "striving" or "struggling", especially with a praiseworthy aim. In an Islamic context, it can refer to almost any effort to make personal and social life conform with G ...
), ''mojahed'' (
mujahideen ''Mujahideen'', or ''Mujahidin'' ( ar, مُجَاهِدِين, mujāhidīn), is the plural form of ''mujahid'' ( ar, مجاهد, mujāhid, strugglers or strivers or justice, right conduct, Godly rule, etc. doers of jihād), an Arabic term t ...
), '' shahed'' (martyrdom), ''khish'' (roots), '' enqelab'' (revolution) and '' Gharbzadegi'' (Western intoxication), to some modern terms and concepts like: ''demokrasi'' (
democracy Democracy (From grc, δημοκρατία, dēmokratía, ''dēmos'' 'people' and ''kratos'' 'rule') is a form of government in which the people have the authority to deliberate and decide legislation (" direct democracy"), or to choose g ...
), ''moderniyat'' (modernity), ''azadi'' (liberty), ''barabari'' (equality), ''jam'eh-e madani'' (
civil society Civil society can be understood as the "third sector" of society, distinct from government and business, and including the family and the private sphere.human rights Human rights are moral principles or normsJames Nickel, with assistance from Thomas Pogge, M.B.E. Smith, and Leif Wenar, 13 December 2013, Stanford Encyclopedia of PhilosophyHuman Rights Retrieved 14 August 2014 for certain standards of hu ...
), ''mosharekat-e siyasi'' (political participation), ''Shahrvandi'' (
citizenship Citizenship is a "relationship between an individual and a state to which the individual owes allegiance and in turn is entitled to its protection". Each state determines the conditions under which it will recognize persons as its citizens, and ...
), etc.Abrahamian, ''History of Modern Iran'', (2008), p.186


Supporters

The core of the reform movement is said to be made up of Islamic leftists disqualified for running for office as they were purged and generally disempowered by Islamic conservatives following the death of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in 1989. Islamic leftists turned reformists include
Abdolkarim Soroush Abdolkarim Soroush ( ; born Hossein Haj Faraj Dabbagh (born 1945; fa, حسين حاج فرج دباغ), is an Iranian Islamic thinker, reformer, Rumi scholar, public intellectual, and a former professor of philo ...
, Saeed Hajjarian,
Akbar Ganji Akbar Ganji ( fa, اکبر گنجی , born 31 January 1960 in Tehran) is an Iranian journalist, writer and a former member of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. He has been described as "Iran's preeminent political dissident", and a "wildly pop ...
,
Ali Akbar Mohtashami-Pur Ali Akbar Mohtashamipur or Mohtashami ( fa, سید علی‌اکبر محتشمی‌پور‎; 30 August 1947 – 7 June 2021) was an Iranian Shia cleric who was active in the 1979 Iranian Revolution and later became interior minister of the ...
,
Ebrahim Asgharzadeh Ebrahim Asgharzadeh ( fa, ابراهیم اصغرزاده) is an Iranian political activist and politician. He served as a member of the 3rd Majlis (Iran's legislature) from 1988–1992 and as a member of the first City Council of Tehran from 19 ...
,
Mohsen Mirdamadi Mohsen Mirdamadi ( fa, محسن میردامادی, born 1955 in Najafabad, Isfahan) is an Iranian academic and politician. He is the Deputy Secretary General of "Ettehad-e Mellat", the largest pro-reform political party in Iran. After the 2009 I ...
,
Mir-Hossein Mousavi Mir-Hossein Mousavi Khameneh ( fa, میرحسین موسوی خامنه, Mīr-Hoseyn Mūsavī Khāmené, ; born 2 March 1942) is an Iranian reformist politician, artist and architect who served as the forty-ninth and last Prime Minister of Ira ...
, and the
Anjoman-e-Eslami Anjoman-e Eslami (Islamic Association, also Anjoman-e Eslami-ye Daneshjouyan Islamic Association of Students) is an Islamic student association in Iran that has backed Iranian reformers such as former President Mohammad Khatami and sponsored lectu ...
(Islamic Association) and
Office for Strengthening Unity The Office for Strengthening Unity (also Office for Consolidating Unity, fa, دفتر تحکیم وحدت, Daftar-e Tahkim-e Vahdat), is an Iranian student organization created in 1979, and has been described as "the country's most well-known stud ...
student groups. Many institutions support the movement of reformation such as organizations like Organization of the Mojahedin of the Islamic Revolution (OMIR) and the Majma’a Rohaneeyoon Mobarez or the Forum of the Militant Clergy, or Office for Fostering Unity and Freedom Movement of
Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkmeni ...
. There were also many media outlets in support like the Iran-e-farda and kian magazinez. Khatami's support is said to have cut across regions and class lines with even some members of the
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC; fa, سپاه پاسداران انقلاب اسلامی, Sepāh-e Pāsdārān-e Enghelāb-e Eslāmi, lit=Army of Guardians of the Islamic Revolution also Sepāh or Pasdaran for short) is a branch o ...
, Qom seminarians and
Basij The Basij ( fa, بسيج, lit. "The Mobilization"), Niru-ye Moghāvemat-e Basij ( fa, نیروی مقاومت بسیج, "Resistance Mobilization Force"), full name Sâzmân-e Basij-e Mostaz'afin ( fa, سازمان بسیج مستضعفین, "The ...
members voting for him. The core of his electoral support, however, came from the modern middle class, college students, women, and urban workers. For example, by 1995, about half of Iran's 60.5 million people were too young to be alive at the time of the Islamic Revolution.


Major events


1997 presidential election

The movement began with the May 23, 1997, surprise victory of
Mohammad Khatami Sayyid Mohammad Khatami ( fa, سید محمد خاتمی, ; born 14 October 1943) is an Iranian politician who served as the fifth president of Iran from 3 August 1997 to 3 August 2005. He also served as Iran's Minister of Culture from 1982 ...
, "a little known cleric", to the presidency on with almost 70% of the vote. Khatami's win was credited largely to the votes of women and youth who voted for him because he promised to improve the status of women and respond to the demands of the younger generation in
Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkmeni ...
. Another reflection of the enthusiasm for reform was that voter turnout was 80%, compared to 50% in the last presidential election in which there had been no reformist candidate. Khatami is regarded as Iran's first
reformist Reformism is a political doctrine advocating the reform of an existing system or institution instead of its abolition and replacement. Within the socialist movement, reformism is the view that gradual changes through existing institutions can ...
president, since the focus of his campaign was on the
rule of law The rule of law is the political philosophy that all citizens and institutions within a country, state, or community are accountable to the same laws, including lawmakers and leaders. The rule of law is defined in the ''Encyclopedia Britannic ...
,
democracy Democracy (From grc, δημοκρατία, dēmokratía, ''dēmos'' 'people' and ''kratos'' 'rule') is a form of government in which the people have the authority to deliberate and decide legislation (" direct democracy"), or to choose g ...
and the inclusion of all Iranians in the political decision-making process.


Assassination attempt on Saeed Hajjarian

Very soon after the rise of the 2nd of Khordad movement, there was an attempted
assassination Assassination is the murder of a prominent or important person, such as a head of state, head of government, politician, world leader, member of a royal family or CEO. The murder of a celebrity, activist, or artist, though they may not have ...
of Saeed Hajjarian the main strategist of the reformist camp. In March, 2000, he was shot in the face on the doorstep of
Tehran Tehran (; fa, تهران ) is the largest city in Tehran Province and the capital of Iran. With a population of around 9 million in the city and around 16 million in the larger metropolitan area of Greater Tehran, Tehran is the most popul ...
's city council by a gunman who fled on a motor-cycle with an accomplice. The bullet entered through his left cheek and lodged in his neck. He was not killed but was "badly paralyzed" for some time. During his coma, groups of young Iranians kept a vigil outside Sina hospital, where he was being treated. Due to this injury, Hajjarian now uses a walking frame, and his voice is distorted. His convicted assailant Saeed Asgar, a young man who was reported to be a member of the
Basij The Basij ( fa, بسيج, lit. "The Mobilization"), Niru-ye Moghāvemat-e Basij ( fa, نیروی مقاومت بسیج, "Resistance Mobilization Force"), full name Sâzmân-e Basij-e Mostaz'afin ( fa, سازمان بسیج مستضعفین, "The ...
militia, served only a small part of his 15-year jail sentence.


Ganji and ''Red Eminence and Grey Eminences''

''Red Eminence and Grey Eminences'' ( fa, عالیجناب سرخپوش و عالیجنابان خاکستری ''"Alijenabe Sorkhpoosh, Alijenabane Khakestari"'') is name of series of
newspaper A newspaper is a periodical publication containing written information about current events and is often typed in black ink with a white or gray background. Newspapers can cover a wide variety of fields such as politics, business, spor ...
articles and a book written by
Akbar Ganji Akbar Ganji ( fa, اکبر گنجی , born 31 January 1960 in Tehran) is an Iranian journalist, writer and a former member of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. He has been described as "Iran's preeminent political dissident", and a "wildly pop ...
under the responsibility of Saeed Hajjarian, in which he criticized former President
Rafsanjani Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani ( fa, اکبر هاشمی رفسنجانی, Akbar Hāshemī Rafsanjānī, born Akbar Hashemi Bahramani, 25 August 1934 – 8 January 2017) was an Iranian politician, writer, and one of the founding fathers of the Islami ...
as the "Red Eminence" and the intelligence officers in his government, such as
Ali Fallahian Ali Fallahian ( fa, علی فلاحیان , born 23 October 1949) is an Iranian politician and cleric. He served as intelligence minister from 1989 to 1997 under the presidency of Ali Akbar Rafsanjani. Early life and education Fallahian was b ...
as the "Grey Eminences". His subsequent prosecution and conviction for "anti-Islamic activities" for his role in the publication of the book and articles cost Akbar Ganji six years of imprisonment.


1999 local elections

Reformist candidates did remarkably well in the 1999 local elections and received 75% of the vote.Abrahamian, Ervand, ''History of Modern Iran'', Columbia University Press, 2008, p.188


18th of Tir crisis (1999)

The 18th of Tir (July 9) crisis, refers to a demonstration in Tehran University dormitory in reaction to closing Salam newspaper by the government. Demonstrations continued for a few days in most cities in Iran and in more than ninety-five countries worldwide. The demonstration ended in violence and the death of a young Iranian citizen along with many casualties. At the time, it was Iran's biggest antigovernment demonstrations since the 1979 Islamic revolution. After attacking of the students of Tehran University by hardline vigilante group, Khatami delivered a speech three month later while defending of his reform programme and at the same time he insisted on the foundations of his government. He referred to the reformation of system from within with holding two elements of Islamic and republic.


18th of Tir national day of protest (2003)

In 2003, Iran's leading pro-democracy student group, the Daftar-e Tahkim-e-Vahdat called for a national day of protest on the 18th of Tir to commemorate the original 1999 protest. At least one observer believes it was the failure of this protest that "delivered a fatal blow to the reform movement." According to journalist
Afshin Molavi Afshin Molavi ( fa, افشین مولوی) is an Iranian-American author and expert on global geo-political risk and geo-economics, particularly the Middle East and Asia. He is co-director of the Emerge85 Lab, a joint research initiative between ...
, many Iranians hoped the day would lead to an uprising that would "break the back" of the hardliners, but instead the Islamic Republic "employed violence, intimidation, and sophisticated carrot-and-stick approach to suck the wind out of the demonstrations." In addition to a show of force and numerous checkpoints, the state used sophisticated jamming technology to black out satellite all the television feed and allowed the holding of (rare) outdoor pop concerts to draw young people away from the demonstrations. Dartar-e Tahkim-e-Vahdat also hurt its cause by calling for foreigners, the UN,- to assist it against the government.


6th Parliament (2000)

In the
Iranian parliamentary elections, 2000 Parliamentary elections were held in Iran on 18 February 2000, with a second round on 5 May. The result was a solid victory for 2nd of Khordad Front and its allies, the reformist supporters of President Mohammad Khatami. Campaign A total of 6,083 ...
to elect the 6th parliament, reformist enjoyed a majority (69.25%), or 26.8 million, of the 38.7 million voters who cast ballots in the February 18, 2000 first round. Ultimately reformists won 195 of the 290 Majlis seats in that election.


7th Parliament (2004)

In January 2004, shortly before the 2004 Iranian legislative elections (the 7th Parliament), the conservative
Council of Guardians The Guardian Council, (also called Council of Guardians or Constitutional Council, fa, شورای نگهبان, Shourā-ye Negahbān) is an appointed and constitutionally mandated 12-member council that wields considerable power and influence i ...
ended Iranian voters' continued support for reformists by taking the unprecedented step of banning about 2500 candidates, nearly half of the total, including 80 sitting Parliament deputies. More than 100 MPs resigned in protest and critics complained the move "shattered any pretense of Iranian democracy".


27 Khordad presidential election (2005)

In the 27 Khordad presidential election (June 17, 2005),
Mostafa Moin Mostafa Moeen ( fa, مصطفی معین; born 1 April 1951 in Najafabad, Isfahan) is an Iranian politician, professor of pediatrics, and a human rights activist who is currently founder and president of Center for Human Rights and Democracy in ...
and
Mehdi Karroubi Mehdi Karroubi ( fa, مهدی کروبی, Mehdi Karrubi, born 26 September 1937) is an Iranian Shia cleric and reformist politician leading the National Trust Party. Following 2009–2010 Iranian election protests, Karroubi was put under house a ...
were the main candidates of the 2nd of Khordad movement. However, neither made it to the second round of the election (the final runoff): Moin came in fifth and Karroubi third in the first round. As a result, many supporters of the reform movement lost hope and did not participate in the election.


2009 Iranian presidential election

The two leading reformist candidates in the 2009 presidential election were
Mir-Hossein Mousavi Mir-Hossein Mousavi Khameneh ( fa, میرحسین موسوی خامنه, Mīr-Hoseyn Mūsavī Khāmené, ; born 2 March 1942) is an Iranian reformist politician, artist and architect who served as the forty-ninth and last Prime Minister of Ira ...
and
Mehdi Karroubi Mehdi Karroubi ( fa, مهدی کروبی, Mehdi Karrubi, born 26 September 1937) is an Iranian Shia cleric and reformist politician leading the National Trust Party. Following 2009–2010 Iranian election protests, Karroubi was put under house a ...
. Mousavi supporters disbelieved the election results and initiated a series of protests that lasted several days. After many days of protesting against the election results, the protests eventually turned violent as the
Basij The Basij ( fa, بسيج, lit. "The Mobilization"), Niru-ye Moghāvemat-e Basij ( fa, نیروی مقاومت بسیج, "Resistance Mobilization Force"), full name Sâzmân-e Basij-e Mostaz'afin ( fa, سازمان بسیج مستضعفین, "The ...
(loyal militia to the Islamic Republic) started attacking the protesters and vice versa. Some protesters turned their anger to the government itself and tried to overthrow the Islamic Republic. The protests, in general, lasted up to several months.


Aftermath

The ultimate lack of success of the movement is described by ''
The Economist ''The Economist'' is a British weekly newspaper printed in demitab format and published digitally. It focuses on current affairs, international business, politics, technology, and culture. Based in London, the newspaper is owned by The Eco ...
'' magazine:
Dozens of newspapers opened during the Khatami period, only for many to be shut down on one pretext or another by the judiciary. Clerics who took advantage of the new atmosphere to question the doctrine of velayat-e faqih slamic governmentwere imprisoned or otherwise cowed. Even as political debate blossomed, Iran's security services cracked down on religious and ethnic minorities. A number of the government's critics fell victim to
murders Murder is the unlawful killing of another human without justification or valid excuse, especially the unlawful killing of another human with malice aforethought. ("The killing of another person without justification or excuse, especially the c ...
traced later to the interior ministry. In 1999 police reacted to a peaceful demonstration for freer speech by invading Tehran University, beating and arresting hundreds of students and killing at least one. In the majlis (parliament) much of the president's reforming legislation was vetoed by the
Council of Guardians The Guardian Council, (also called Council of Guardians or Constitutional Council, fa, شورای نگهبان, Shourā-ye Negahbān) is an appointed and constitutionally mandated 12-member council that wields considerable power and influence i ...
, a committee of clerics appointed by the supreme leader to ensure that laws conform with Islamic precepts.
Saeed Hajjarian, the main theorist behind the movement, declared in 2003 that "the reform movement is dead. Long live the reform movement". The victory of conservatives in the 2005 presidential election and the 2004 Majlis election can be explained "not so much" by an expansion of "their limited core base as by
heir Inheritance is the practice of receiving private property, titles, debts, entitlements, privileges, rights, and obligations upon the death of an individual. The rules of inheritance differ among societies and have changed over time. Offic ...
dividing of the reformers and
heir Inheritance is the practice of receiving private property, titles, debts, entitlements, privileges, rights, and obligations upon the death of an individual. The rules of inheritance differ among societies and have changed over time. Offic ...
discouraging them from voting," according to political historian
Ervand Abrahamian Ervand Abrahamian; hy, Երուանդ Աբրահամեան (born 1940) is an Iranian-American historian of the Middle East. He is Distinguished Professor of History at Baruch College and the Graduate Center of the City University of New York a ...
.
The conservatives won in part because they retained their 25% base; in part because they recruited war veterans to run as their candidates; in part because they wooed independents on the issue of national security; but in most part because large numbers of women, college students, and other members of the salaried middle class stayed home. Turnout in the Majles elections fell below 51% - one of the worst since the revolution. In Tehran, it fell to 28%.


Criticism

The reform movement has been criticized as "too divided to establish its own political authority, too naïve about the tenacity of the authoritarian elite around Khamenei, and too inflexible to circumvent the ban on political parties in Iran by creating and sustaining alternative forms of mobilisation." In addition, leaders of the reform movement lacked a clear and coherent strategy of establishing durable and extensive linkages with the public. Ironically, they became a victim of their electoral successes. The reform movement's "control of both the presidency and parliament from 2000 to 2004 made it look inept and a part of the corrupt system in the eyes of many Iranians."


Secularism

BBC journalist Jonathan Beale reports that since secularism is banned in Iran, it is an ideology that is mostly followed by political organizations among the
Iranian diaspora Iranian diaspora refers to Iranian people or those who are of Iranian ancestry living outside Iran.Iranian Revolutionary Guards The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC; fa, سپاه پاسداران انقلاب اسلامی, Sepāh-e Pāsdārān-e Enghelāb-e Eslāmi, lit=Army of Guardians of the Islamic Revolution also Sepāh or Pasdaran for short) is a branch o ...
,
Mohsen Sazegara Mohsen Sazegara ( fa, محسن سازگارا; born 5 January 1955) calls himself as Iranian journalist and pro-democracy political activist. He was the founder of IRGC (Iran Revolutionary Guard Corps) after the revolution in 1979. He held severa ...
(also one of its founders), as saying, "Don't interfere. Leave these affairs to the Iranian people". Sazegara believes the US should call for democracy and freedom, and let Iranian opposition groups inside Iran, which are Reformists, take the lead, instead of attempting to create an opposition in exile.


Referendum movement

The Referendum movement calls in effect for a rerun of the 1979 referendum that established the Islamic Republic in Iran: "a 'yes or no' vote on whether today's Iranians still want the authoritarian Islamic Republic that another generation's revolution brought them." It is said to have been born out of "the ashes of the failures of Khatami's Islamic democracy movement" and reflected in one-word
graffiti Graffiti (plural; singular ''graffiti'' or ''graffito'', the latter rarely used except in archeology) is art that is written, painted or drawn on a wall or other surface, usually without permission and within public view. Graffiti ranges from s ...
on walls in Tehran saying "no". It has been criticized as calling for complete system change without "building the political and organisational network to back it up" and inviting a brutal crackdown, with "no means on the ground to resist it".


Election results


President


Coalition organizations


Reformists' Supreme Council for Policymaking

On 8 November 2015, the establishment of the council was announced. It oversees the
Council for Coordinating the Reforms Front The Council for Coordinating the Reforms Front or the Reformist Front Coordination Council ( fa, شورای هماهنگی جبهه اصلاحات) is the umbrella organization, coalition and council of main political groups within the Iranian ...
, which its rotating head serves as the deputy head of the council for policymaking.
Moderation and Development Party Moderation and Development Party ( fa, حزب اعتدال و توسعه, Hezb-e E'tedāl va Towse'eh) is a political party in Iran. It is a pragmatic-centrist political party which held its first congress in 2002. Platform The party is part of t ...
joined the council in April 2017. Some members of the council include: *
Mohammad-Reza Aref Mohammad Reza Aref ( fa, محمدرضا عارف, born 19 December 1951) is an Iranian engineer, academic and reformist politician who was the parliamentary leader of reformists' Hope fraction in the Iranian Parliament, representing Tehran, Rey, ...
(Head) *
Abdolvahed Mousavi Lari , image =Moosavi_Lari_02.jpg , imagesize = , smallimage = , caption = Moosavi Lari in the 13th congress of Democracy Party. , office = Minister of Interior , term_start = 22 ...
(Deputy) *
Mahmoud Sadeghi Mahmoud Sadeghi ( fa, محمود صادقی) is an Iranian lawyer, jurist, academic and reformist politician who was a member of the Parliament of Iran representing Tehran, Rey, Shemiranat and Eslamshahr electoral district from May 2016 to May 2 ...
(''ex-officio'' deputy as head of the Coordinating Council) *
Elaheh Koulaei Elaheh Koulaei ( fa, الهه کولایی; born 17 December 1956) is an Iranian political scientist, reformist intellectual. Dr Koulaei is a professor of political science at Tehran University, and a member of the Islamic Iran Participation Fro ...
(Secretary) *
Elham Fakhari Elham Fakhari (born in Isfahan, 1994) is a psychologist, painter, poet and former member of the Islamic Council of Tehran, Ray Cities and Tajrish and the head of the Islamic Council of Tehran Province. She also serves as a secretary in the 'Supre ...
(Secretary) * Hassan Rasouli *
Mohsen Rohami Mohsen Rohami ( fa, محسن رهامی, also spelt Rahami) is an Iranian lawyer, Shia cleric and reformist politician. He is an associate professor at University of Tehran's department of criminal crime. He enrolled as a candidate in the 2017 Ir ...
*
Seyed Mahmoud Mirlohi Sayyid Mahmoud Mirlohi ( fa, سید محمود میرلوحی) is an Iranian reformist politician who is a member of the City Council of Tehran. Mirlohi was formerly a governor and deputy Interior Minister An interior minister (sometimes called ...
*
Ali Soufi Ali Soufi ( fa, علی صوفی) is an Iranian reformist politician. He held various offices as governors and ministers for three decades during the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s. He is a member of the 'Reformists' Supreme Council for Policymaking'. ...


Council for Coordinating the Reforms Front


Reformists Front


Parliamentary leaders


Parties

* Assembly of the Forces of Imam's Line *
Association of Combatant Clerics The Association of Combatant Clerics ( fa, مجمع روحانیون مبارز, ''Majma'-e rowhāniyūn-e mobārez'') is an Iranian reformist clerical political party. It is regarded as a left-wing party within the Iranian political spectrum. ...
* Democracy Party *
Executives of Construction Party The Executives of Construction of Iran Party ( fa, حزب کارگزاران سازندگی ایران, Hezb-e Kārgozārān-e Sāzandegi-ye Irān) is a reformist political party in Iran, founded by 16 members of the cabinet of the then Presiden ...
* Islamic Iran Solidarity Party *
Islamic Labour Party The Islamic Labor Party ( fa, حزب اسلامی کار, Hezb-e Eslâmi-ye Kâr) is a reformist party in Iran and splinter group to the trade union Worker House. A supporter of Mohammad Khatami’s reform program, it is reportedly based on a ...
* National Trust Party *
NEDA Party Nedaye Iranian Party ( fa, حزب ندای ایرانیان, lit=Voice of Iranians, ''Hezb-e Nuday-e 'Iranian'') —NEDA is the official acronym standing for 'Second Generation of Reforms' ( fa, نسل دوم اصلاحات, Nasl-e Dovom-e Esla ...
*
Popular Party of Reforms The Popular Party of Reforms ( fa, حزب مردمی اصلاحات, Ḥezb-e Mardomī-e Eṣlāḥāṭ‎) is a political party in Iran. It is led by the cleric Mohammad Zare Foumani, who was fired by Mehdi Karroubi from his presidential campai ...
*
Union of Islamic Iran People Party Union of Islamic Iran People Party ( fa, حزب اتحاد ملت ایران اسلامی, ''Hezb-e Ettehad-e Mellat-e Iran-e Eslami'') is an Iranian reformist political party founded in 2015. Establishment In January 2015, it was confirmed by t ...
* Will of the Iranian Nation Party *
Association of the Women of the Islamic Republic The Association of the Women of the Islamic Republic ( fa, جمعیت زنان جمهوری اسلامی, ''Jam’iat-e Zanan-e Jomhouri-e Islami'') is an Iranian Iranian Reformists, reformist political party. It was the first officially registered ...
*
Islamic Assembly of Ladies Islamic Assembly of Ladies ( fa, مجمع اسلامی بانوان, ''Mijim'-e 'Islâmi-ye Banuan'') is an Iranian reformist all-female political party. The party is an ally of National Trust Party. See also * Association of the Women of the I ...
*
Islamic Iran Participation Front The Islamic Iran Participation Front ( fa, جبهه مشارکت ایران اسلامی; ''Jebheye Mosharekate Iran-e Eslaami'') was a reformist political party in Iran. It was sometimes described as the most dominant member within the 2nd of Kho ...
(banned)


Organizations

*
Assembly of Qom Seminary Scholars and Researchers The Assembly of Qom Seminary Scholars and Researchers (also Association of Researchers and Teachers of Qom)Islamic Association of Teachers * Islamic Association of Engineers * Islamic Association of University Instructors *
Islamic Association of Iranian Medical Society Islamic Association of Iranian Medical Society ( fa, انجمن اسلامی جامعه پزشکی ایران) is an Iranian reformist political party affiliated with the Council for Coordinating the Reforms Front. Members * Mohammad Farhadi * ...
*
Office for Strengthening Unity The Office for Strengthening Unity (also Office for Consolidating Unity, fa, دفتر تحکیم وحدت, Daftar-e Tahkim-e Vahdat), is an Iranian student organization created in 1979, and has been described as "the country's most well-known stud ...
* Worker House *
Mojahedin of the Islamic Revolution of Iran Organization Mojahedin of the Islamic Revolution of Iran Organization (MIRO; fa, سازمان مجاهدین انقلاب اسلامی ایران, Sāzmān-e Mojāhedin-e Enqelāb-e Eslāmi-e Irān) is a reformist political organization in Iran. It is a small ...
(banned)


Media

*''
Aftab Yazd ''Aftab-e Yazd'' (آفتاب یزد lit. "The Yazd Sun") is a Persian-language daily reformist newspaper published in Tehran, Iran. The title of the paper means “the sun of Yazd” in Persian. History and profile ''Aftab Yazd'' was started in ...
'' *'' Etemaad'' *''
Shargh ''Shargh'' ( fa, شرق, lit=East) is one of the most popular Reformist newspapers in Iran. History and profile ''Shargh'' was founded in 2003. The daily is managed by Mehdi Rahmanian. Its chief editor was Mohammad Ghouchani in its first perio ...
'' *''
Asr-e Maa ''Asr-e Maa'' ( fa, عصر ما, lit=Our Times) is a Persian language biweekly publication published in Iran.Asrar ''Asrar'' ( fa, اسرار, lit=The Mysteries) is a Persian-language reformist daily newspaper published in Tehran, Iran. Profile ''Asrar'' has a reformist political leaning.
'' *''
Ayande-ye No Ayande-No (Persian: آینده نو; ''The New Future'' in English) is an independent Persian-language newspaper published in Iran. History and profile ''Ayande-ye No'' was established in August 2006. The paper has a reformist stance. In February 2 ...
'' *'' Bahar'' *'' Ebtekar'' *'' Ham-Mihan'' *''
Hayat-e-No ''Hayat-e-No'' ( fa, حیات نو meaning ''New Life'' in English) was a Persian reformist newspaper published in Tehran, Iran. The paper was in circulation from 2000 to December 2009 when it was closed by the Iranian authorities. History and p ...
'' *''
Hambastegi ''Hambastegi'' (in Persian ''همبستگی'' lit. ''Correlation'') is an Iranian daily newspaper, published in Tehran as the official mouthpiece for Islamic Iran Solidarity Party. Profile ''Hambastegi'' was started in 2000. It had a reformist st ...
'' *''
Khordad Khordad ( fa, خرداد, ) is the third month of the Solar Hijri calendar. Khordad has thirty-one days. It begins in May and ends in June by the Gregorian calendar. Khordad is the third month of the spring season ( Bahar). It is followed by Tir ...
'' *'' Yas-e No'' *''
Zan Zan or ZAN, may refer to: Geography * Zhan, Kurdistan, Iran, also known as Zān * Zhan, Lorestan, Iran, also known as Žān * Zan, Tehran, a village in Tehran Province, Iran Ethnicity and language * Zans, the Zan People, people who speak the Za ...
'' *''
Mosharekat ''Mosharekat'' ( fa, مشاركت; meaning ''Participation'') was a former pro-reform newspaper of the Islamic Iran Participation Front which was one of 13 reformist newspapers banned in Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of I ...
''


See also

*
Human rights in Islamic Republic of Iran Humans (''Homo sapiens'') are the most abundant and widespread species of primate, characterized by bipedalism and exceptional cognitive skills due to a large and complex brain. This has enabled the development of advanced tools, culture, an ...
*
History of principle-ism in Iran The history of Islamic fundamentalism in Iran covers the historical development of Islamic fundamentalism, Islamism, Islamic revivalism, and the rise of Political aspects of Islam, political Islam in modern Iran. Today, there are basically three ...
*
Chain murders of Iran The chain murders of Iran ( fa, قتل‌های زنجیره‌ای ایران) were a series of 1988–98 murders and disappearances of certain Iranian dissident intellectuals who had been critical of the Islamic Republic system. The murders a ...
*
Iranian Economic Reform Plan The economy of Iran is a mixed economy with a large state-owned sector and is the largest in the Middle East in terms of nominal GDP. It is the world's 21st largest by purchasing power parity (PPP). Some 60% of Iran's economy is centrally pl ...


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Iranian Reform Movement History of the Islamic Republic of Iran History of civil rights and liberties in Iran Iranian democracy movements Islamic democracy Liberal and progressive movements within Islam Political factions in Iran Reform in Iran Republicanism in Iran