"Nusu ya kazi inayofanywa duniani ni kufanya mambo yaonekane kuwa tofauti na yalivyo." -- Elias Root Beadle Kabla hata kura moja haijapigwa, Marekani ilikwisha amua kuupuuza uchaguzi wa rais wa Iran. Bush alisema, "Madaraka yako mikononi mwa watu wachache wasiochaguliwa, ambao wameyashika madaraka kupitia mchakato wa uchaguzi unaopuuza mahitaji ya msingi ya demokrasia."viii Baada ya uchaguzi, Marekani ilikuwa ya haraka kuuelezea mchakato wa uchaguzi kuwa wenye kasoro, na kusema kwamba Iran haiendani na hatua za kuelekea demokrasia katika eneo hilo.

“Half the work that is done in this world is to make things appear what they are not.” -- Elias Root Beadle Even before a single vote had been cast, America had already decided to dismiss the Iranian presidential election. Bush said, “Power is in the hands of an unelected few who have retained power through an electoral process that ignores the basic requirements of democracy.”viii After the election, America was quick to describe the electoral process as flawed and that Iran was out of step with moves towards democracy in the region.

Lakini uchunguzi wa vitendo vya Marekani katika eneo hilo na nje yake unaonyesha kwamba ni Marekani ambayo haiendani na demokrasia. Moja ya misingi mikuu ya demokrasia ni kwamba uchaguzi lazima ufanyike kwa haki na bila kuingiliwa na watu wa ndani au wa nje.

Yet scrutiny of American actions in the region and beyond demonstrates that it is America that is out of step with democracy. One of the basic tenets of democracy is that elections must be held fairly and free from local or foreign interference.

Hata hivyo, hili halikuzingatiwa wakati wa uchaguzi huko Palestina, Iraq na Afghanistan. Uchaguzi huo ulifanyika chini ya ukaliaji wa kigeni, ukosefu wa usalama ulienea kila mahali, wapiga kura waliogopa sana kupiga kura, na idadi ya waliojitokeza kupiga kura ilikuwa ya kutia shaka, kusema kidogo. Licha ya hayo, Marekani iliusifu uchaguzi huo kama ushindi wa demokrasia.

However, this was not observed during the elections in Palestine, Iraq and Afghanistan. These elections were conducted under foreign occupation, insecurity was rampant, voters were too frightened to vote and the turnout was dubious to say the least. Despite this, America hailed the elections as a victory for democracy.

Zaidi ya hayo, uchaguzi wa viongozi, uandaaji wa katiba na kufanyika kwa chaguzi vyote vilifanyika chini ya usimamizi wa Marekani. Marekani ilimchagua kwa mkono wake mwenyewe Abbas, Karzai na Jaffari ili kusimamia utekelezaji wa sera zinazounga mkono Marekani. Kwa upande wa Afghanistan na Iraq, Marekani ilitumia Loya Jirga na Baraza la Utawala la Iraq kuweka kwa nguvu kanuni zilizochochewa na Marekani ambazo zingehakikisha utawala wake juu ya watu wa Afghanistan na Iraq.

Furthermore, the selection of the leaders, the formulating of the constitutions and the convening of elections were all conducted under the guardianship of America. America handpicked Abbas, Karzai and Jaffari to oversee the implementation of pro-American policies. In the case of Afghanistan and Iraq, America used the Loya Jirga and Iraqi Governing Council to enshrine American inspired canons that would ensure her dominance over the people of Afghanistan and Iraq.

Bila kuona haya wala aibu, Marekani bado inaendelea kuingilia mchakato wa uchaguzi wa nchi nyingi za Kiislamu zinazotishwa na Waislamu wenye msimamo mkali wa kisiasa (Islamists). Marekani imechukua hatua ya tahadhari ya kuahirisha uchaguzi wa bunge nchini Afghanistan na Palestina. Kwa upande wa Palestina, Marekani ilimwagiza Abbas kurekebisha sheria ya uchaguzi, ili kuzuia Hamas kushinda viti vingi bungeni.

Undeterred and unashamed, America still continues to interfere in the electoral process of many Muslim countries threatened by Islamists, America has taken the precautionary step of postponing the parliamentarian elections in Afghanistan and Palestine. In the case of Palestine, America ordered Abbas to amend election law, so as to prevent Hamas from winning a majority of the seats in the parliament.

Uungaji wa Marekani usio na aibu kwa uchaguzi wa manispaa nchini Saudi Arabia, uchaguzi wa urais unaokuja nchini Misri, na ukimya wake kuhusu idadi ndogo ya wapiga kura katika uchaguzi wa Lebanon (idadi ya wapiga kura ilikuwa kubwa zaidi wakati wa uvamizi wa Syria).

America’ s unabashed support for the municipal elections in Saudi Arabia, the upcoming presidential elections in Egypt and her silence over the low turnout in the Lebanese election (the turnout was higher during Syrian occupation)

Inanuka unafiki na haifikii kiwango cha demokrasia kinachofundishwa katika shule za upili za Marekani.

stinks of hypocrisy and falls way short of the democracy standards that are taught in American high schools.

Ikilinganishwa na hayo, uchaguzi wa urais nchini Iran una uaminifu zaidi kwa kiasi kikubwa. Uchaguzi ulifanyika kwa usalama wa kiasi, na asilimia 62 ya wapiga kura walishiriki. Hii ilikuwa asilimia 2 zaidi ya ile ya mwaka 2004.

In comparison, the presidential elections in Iran are much more credible. Elections were conducted in relative safety with a 62% voter turnout. This was 2% higher than the 2004

Uchaguzi wa urais wa Marekani. Huenda kulikuwa na kasoro kama alivyosema Rafsanjani, lakini hizi zinakuwa ndogo sana zikilinganishwa na mchezo wa kuigiza wa uchaguzi wa urais wa Marekani wa mwaka 2000.

US presidential election. There may have been irregularities as voiced by Rafsanjani but these pale into insignificance when compared to the farce of the 2000 US presidential race.

Badala ya kuzihubiri nchi za Kiislamu kuhusu fadhila za demokrasia, Marekani inapaswa kuchunguza kazi yake yenyewe ya kuidhoofisha demokrasia katika eneo hilo. Hakika ni Marekani ndiyo isiyoendana na demokrasia.

Rather than preaching to Muslim countries about the virtues of democracy, America should examine its own handiwork at subverting democracy in the region. Surely it is America that is out of step with democracy.

Wale wanaodai kwamba kuchaguliwa kwa Ahmadinejad kutaleta serikali ya msimamo mkali wa kidini pia wamekosea vivyo hivyo.

Those who argue that the election of Ahmadinejad will usher in a fundamentalist government are equally mistaken.

Tangu mapinduzi ya Iran, Iran haijawahi kuwa ngome ya Uislamu. Uchunguzi wa juu juu wa katiba ya Iran, iliyochochewa na Ayatollah Khomeini, unaonyesha kwamba ni dola ya kiimla isiyo ya kidini, ambayo inapunguza nafasi ya Uislamu katika mambo ya kijamii, elimu, uchumi, na mambo ya nje. Sheria chache za Kiislamu zinazotekelezwa zimebuniwa ili kutuliza hisia za Kiislamu za wananchi.

Since the Iranian revolution, Iran has never been the bastion of Islam. A cursory study of Iran’ s constitution inspired by Ayatollah Khomeini shows that it is a secular autocratic state which limits the role of Islam in social, educational, economic, and foreign affairs. The few laws of Islam that are implemented are designed to mollify the Islamic sentiments of the people.

Hii inaipa Iran sura ya Kiislamu, sawa na Saudi Arabia na Pakistan ambazo pia hujifanya kuwa za Kiislamu.

This gives Iran an Islamic appearance, similar to Saudi Arabia and Pakistan which also pretend to be Islamic.

Kuidai Iran kuwa ya Kiislamu, huku ikitekeleza kanuni zisizo za Kiislamu, hufanya utawala wa Iran usiendane na Uislamu.

Professing Iran to be Islamic, while implementing non- Islamic rules makes the Iranian regime out of step with Islam.

Uislamu unaelekeza kwamba Waislamu lazima wamchague mtawala atakayetawala kila nyanja ya maisha yao kwa mujibu wa kanuni zinazotokana na Qur'an na Sunnah. Hili linaweza kutimizwa tu kwa kumchagua Khalifa na kurejesha Dola ya Ukhalifa. Ukhalifa unahakikisha uwakilishi halali kwa Ummah pamoja na kuhakikisha kwamba mamlaka ni ya Mungu.

Islam stipulates that Muslims must choose a ruler who will govern all aspects of their lives according to the rules derived from the Quran and the Sunnah. This can only be accomplished by electing a Caliph and re-establishing the Caliphate State. The Caliphate guarantees legitimate representation for the Ummah as well as ensuring that sovereignty belongs to God.

Juni 27, 2005

June 27, 2005