Why the Mahsa Charter Misses the Mark by a Long Shot

Mahyar Etminan PharmD, Saeed Ganjizadeh MD

March 20th 2023

The recent woman, life freedom movement has injected a fresh dose of energy in the plight of Iranians inside and outside Iran. Sadly, as the protests died down due to the massive government crack down, a beacon of light was seen in a newly formed opposition group that we call the ‘gang of eight’. A group of political activists and celebrities that finally came together and promised to work together to push this movement forward. For starters, they promised to publish a so-called charter or “Manshoor” on what most people expected to be a ‘how to’ document on the best way to conquer the Iranian regime.

The long awaited Mahsa’s Charter is finally here. Approved by only six out of the eight members of the opposition group which mainly included Reza Pahlavi, Shirin Ebadi, Massi Alinejad, Hamed Esmailioun, Abdullah Mohtadi and Nazanin Boniadi. Mysteriously, Golshifteh Farahani and Ali Karimi chose not to have their names on the document.

Since its publication of the so-called Charter has created controversy. Here we outline some of my concerns and those of our colleagues, mostly fellow scientists and physicians. First, the word charter is not the right word to describe this document. A google search on the definition of the word charter states that it is “A written grant by a country’s legislative or sovereign power, by which a body such as a company, college, or city is founded and its rights and privileges defined “. This document is definitely not, by definition, a charter but a collective opinion piece from eight individuals. It appears to read more like a manifesto than a charter.

The document does not start with a clear and cogent statement as to what its objectives really are. Is this document intended to be a blue print on how to overthrow the current Iranian government? or is it intended to paint a picture of what a free, democratic Iran should look like in the perhaps distant future. Unfortunately, and to the surprise of many, it is the latter.

The documents starts with five bullet points mainly with general statements focusing on support from foreign governments for a democratic Iran including expulsion of Iranian ambassadors. Then the document is categorized into the following sections: 1) Democratic governance, 2) Justice, 3) Peace and Security, 4) Peace and Security, 5) Economic Transparency and 6) Environmental Sustainability. Without getting into the nitty gritty, all the preceding sections are described only in minute detail and reads more like hastily put together high school social studies report. For example, the section on Environmental Stability is summarized only in one sentence.

The “Manshoor” document is a positive step that for the very least has set a new precedent on a strong coalition among Iranian dissidents. A coalition that perhaps did not exist before. However, its authors need to go back to the drawing board and produce a document that carries a clearer objective packed with detail-one that gives hope to Iranians both inside and outside Iran. Moreover, the document needs to better focus on guiding Iranians on ways that can help them win this long and arduous fight against the Iranian regime.

One can ask whether young Iranians inside the country are even remotely interested in reading this charter. Probably not, as they are fighting their own battles in the streets of Tehran. But if there is a chance that they do, such a document has to come from a robust and credible group that represents more than eight influential people many of whom are not seasoned activists or strategists. This group should also include political strategists, political scientists and leaders of other political parties that are currently absent from the group. The Mahsa “Charter” is finally here. Although it fires a few shots, it misses the target by a long shot, at least for us.

About the authors: Drs. Etminan and Ganjizadeeh are Professors at the Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. The contents of this article are solely those of the authors.