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 to ...

's two terms in office. The Council for Coordinating the Reforms Front 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.

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: 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 Tehra ...

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. 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 (''Majma'e Rowhaniyoon-e Mobarez''): key figures are

, Hadi Khamenei, Majid Ansari, Mohammad Tavassoli, and Mohammad Mousavi Khoeiniha. It has been described as the "main 'reformist' clerical body." * Mojahedin of the Islamic Revolution Organization (''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, 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. 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'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 and ...

), ''mostazafen'' (

poor Poverty is the state of having few material possessions or little

income< ...

), ''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 Go ...

), ''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 th ...

), '' shahed'' (martyrdom), ''khish'' (roots), '' enqelab'' (revolution) and '' Gharbzadegi'' (Western intoxication), to some modern terms and concepts like: ''demokrasi'' ( democracy), ''moderniyat'' (modernity), ''azadi'' (liberty), ''barabari'' (equality), ''jam'eh-e madani'' ( civil society), ''hoquq-e beshar'' ( human rights), ''mosharekat-e siyasi'' (political participation), ''Shahrvandi'' ( citizenship), 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, Saeed Hajjarian, Akbar Ganji,

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 I ...

, Ebrahim Asgharzadeh, Mohsen Mirdamadi, Mir-Hossein Mousavi, 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 lectur ...

(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. 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, 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

, "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. 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 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 Britannica ...

, democracy 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'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

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 articles and a book written by Akbar Ganji under the responsibility of Saeed Hajjarian, in which he criticized former President Rafsanjani as the "Red Eminence" and the intelligence officers in his government, such as Ali Fallahian 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, 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 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 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 Ir ...

and Mehdi Karroubi 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 9 (nine) is the natural number following and preceding . Evolution of the Arabic digit In the beginning, various Indians wrote a digit 9 similar in shape to the modern closing question mark without the bottom dot. The Kshatrapa, Andhra a ...

were Mir-Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi. 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

(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'' 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 The Guardianship or Governance/''Wilāyat'' of/by an Islamic Jurist/''Faqīh'' ( fa, , Velâyat-e Faqih; ar, وِلاَيَةُ ٱلْفَقِيهِ, Wilāyat al-Faqīh), is a concept in Twelver Shia Islamic law which holds that until the re ...
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 traced later to the interior ministry. In 1999 police reacted to a
peaceful demonstration A political demonstration is an action by a mass group or collection of groups of people in favor of a political or other cause or people partaking in a protest against a cause of concern; it often consists of walking in a mass march formati ...
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, 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. Officiall ...

dividing of the reformers and

discouraging them from voting," according to political historian Ervand Abrahamian.

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 or by many of the anti-sharia political parties in exile that are secular. These parties promote regime change, most often with foreign aid and military intervention (particularity from the United States). He quotes a former leader of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards,

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 several ...

(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 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, which its rotating head serves as the deputy head of the council for policymaking. Moderation and Development Party joined the council in April 2017. Some members of the council include: * Mohammad-Reza Aref (Head) * Abdolvahed Mousavi Lari (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 ...

(''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 Sayyid Hassan Rasouli ( fa, سید حسن رسولی) is an Iranian reformist politician who is currently a member of the City Council of Tehran. He served as a governor under President Mohammad Khatami. Rasouli is considered close to Mohammad- ...

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 201 ...

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 cal ...

Ali Soufi Ali Soufi ( fa, علی صوفی) is an Iranian Iranian Reformists, 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 ...

Council for Coordinating the Reforms Front

Reformists Front

Parliamentary leaders

Parties

* Assembly of the Forces of Imam's Line * Association of Combatant Clerics * 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 President ...

* Islamic Iran Solidarity Party * Islamic Labour Party * National Trust Party * NEDA Party * Popular Party of Reforms * Union of Islamic Iran People Party * Will of the Iranian Nation Party * Association of the Women of the Islamic Republic * Islamic Assembly of Ladies * Islamic Iran Participation Front (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 The Islamic Association of Teachers of Iran ( fa, انجمن اسلامی معلمان ایران) is an Iranian reformist teacher's political organization/labor union. Most members of the association are employees of Ministry of Education. Me ...

Islamic Association of Engineers The Islamic Association of Engineers ( fa, انجمن اسلامی مهندسین, anǰoman-e eslāmī-ye mohandesīn) is a civic and professional association in Iran founded in 1957. The organization is a platform for Islamic modernist activist ...

* Islamic Association of University Instructors * Islamic Association of Iranian Medical Society *

Worker House “Human is entitled to nothing but his own efforts”. , founded = , legalised = as political organization , headquarters = Tehran, Iran , wing1_title = Political branch , wing1 = Islamic Labour Party , wing2_title = Former political af ...

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'' *'' 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 period ...

'' *''

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 Bahar may refer to: Places Armenia * Bahar, the former name of Arpunk, a village in the Gegharkunik Province of Armenia * Bahar, the former name of Kakhakn, a town in the Gegharkunik Province of Armenia Northeast Africa * Bahir Dar or Bahar D ...

'' *'' Ebtekar'' *''

Ham-Mihan ''Ham-Mihan'' ( fa, هم‌میهن, lit=Compatriot) was a reformist daily newspaper in Tehran, Iran. It was in circulation between 2000 and 2009. History and profile In January 2000 Gholamhossein Karbaschi, former mayor of Tehran, established ' ...

'' *''

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 an ...

'' *'' Hambastegi'' *'' Khordad'' *''

Yas-e No ''Yas-e No'' ( fa, یاس نو, lit=New Yasmine) was a reformist newspaper in Iran, unofficially an outlet of the Islamic Iran Participation Front. The paper was in circulation between 2002 and 2009 with long interruptions. History and profile ' ...

'' *'' Zan'' *'' Mosharekat''

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

Background

Organizations

Ideas

Supporters

Major events

1997 presidential election

Assassination attempt on Saeed Hajjarian

Ganji and ''Red Eminence and Grey Eminences''

1999 local elections

18th of Tir crisis (1999)

18th of Tir national day of protest (2003)

6th Parliament (2000)

7th Parliament (2004)

27 Khordad presidential election (2005)

2009 Iranian presidential election

Aftermath

Criticism

Secularism

Referendum movement

Election results

President

Coalition organizations

Reformists' Supreme Council for Policymaking

Council for Coordinating the Reforms Front

Reformists Front

Parliamentary leaders

Parties

Organizations

Media

See also

References