Daily Alert Archives

What Iranians Really Think

[Wall Street Journal] Ken Ballen - Terror Free Tomorrow conducted the first uncensored public opinion survey of Iran since President Ahmadinejad took office. The survey was in Farsi by telephone from June 5 to June 18, 2007, with 1,000 interviews covering all 30 provinces of Iran. Discontent with the current system of government, the economy and isolation from the West is widespread throughout Iran, and nuclear weapons are the lowest priority for the Iranian people. The overwhelming popular will to live in a country open to the West and the U.S., with greater economic opportunity, is a powerful plea from every region and segment of society. Iranians also speak with one voice in rejecting the current autocratic rule of their supreme leader and in courageously asking for democracy instead. Close to 70% of Iranians favor normal relations and trade with the U.S. Indeed, in exchange for normal relations, a majority of Iranians even favor recognizing Israel and Palestine as independent states, ending Iranian support for any armed groups inside Iraq, and giving full transparency by Iran to the U.S. to ensure there are no Iranian endeavors to develop nuclear weapons. Some 61% of Iranians were willing to tell pollsters - over the phone no less - that they oppose the current Iranian system of government. Over 79% support a democratic system in which the supreme leader, along with all leaders, can be chosen and replaced by a free and direct vote of the people.
2007-07-11 01:00:00
Full Article