Iran may be losing utopian sheen
12/3/2009 Iran (MNN) – 30 years after the Islamic Revolution, Iran is struggling to retain its image of a utopian society.
Six months after a contested presidential election that divided the country and filled the streets with demonstrators, Iran’s image may be tarnishing.
News leaked out of the regime of enforcers stamping out pro-democracy protests. That, coupled with more allegations of death, torture, and rape in secret prisons, and more saber rattling over nuclear issues, has caused some of Iran’s allies to put a little distance between them.
With Iran under the strain of lost influence, the government seems to have taken steps to stiffen resistance to all things deemed “not Islam.” Harder explains: “The Christians there are suffering. There have been waves of arrests following the revolt.”
Sara Afshari, SAT-7 PARS Executive Director, believes the unrest reflects an even greater disillusionment with life in general. “Some have turned to drugs, immoral lifestyles and even suicide. Others have been seeking hope elsewhere. This factor has led to the unprecedented interest of many to find out more about the Christian faith.”
SAT-7 PARS plays an important role in introducing people to Christ. Harder says, “We are able to broadcast messages of hope and of love. Really, people are thirsty. They’re realizing that some of the things they set up as examples of what they want to have, like an Islamic caliphate, may not be the answer.”
Each day, the channel airs specific blocks of original programming for children, youth, and women, as well as teaching programs for a general audience.
