Gouya Roshan From Darkness to Light

The Mouse Wouldn’t Go Into the Hole, Yet It Tied a Broom to Its Tail Sometimes certain words remind me of an old proverb: The mouse wouldn’t go into the hole, yet it tied a broom to its tail. In other words, some people have not even made sure they can get through the hole, yet they have already equipped themselves with flags and loudspeakers! For example, some people say that Reza Pahlavi speaks on behalf of the Iranian people. This is exactly one of those cases. I don’t understand; has a revolution taken place and we somehow missed it? Or has he become king while we are still asleep? What I mean is: On behalf of which people? On behalf of me, as an Iranian? On behalf of the millions of Iranians who do not want him? On behalf of those who oppose the monarchy? On behalf of those who want the Islamic Republic? Or only on behalf of a small section of people outside Iran who support him? Of course, he is completely entitled to say: “This is what my supporters and I want.” There is nothing...

A Republic with a Sultan and a Crown Prince Turkey is still a republic; don’t worry, the crown has not disappeared from the museum! Yet some political practices are so reminiscent of a monarchy that it is as if history has quietly slipped in through the back door. In a republic, power should naturally come from the people and ultimately return to the people. But when a politician remains at the center of power for more than two decades, while the names of his family members repeatedly appear within the same sphere of influence, we are no longer talking about just one politician; we are talking about a culture of power—a culture in which power gradually reproduces itself. Because when power that has been in the hands of one person for more than two decades begins to move closer to his family, or the path for its transfer to the family is gradually paved, an unavoidable question arises: Are we still dealing with the power of a republic, or with power merely wearing the clothes of a repub...

Everyone Can Play Chess Sometimes, you don't need to be an intelligence expert to understand a political spectacle; you only need to look at the contradictions. The problem is that some politicians seem so confident in their own power that they assume everyone else understands nothing. As if people are simply supposed to watch the show, listen to the official narrative, nod their heads, and never ask questions. But the world has not worked that way for a long time. Governments have satellites, intelligence agencies, and thousands of eyes and ears around the world. So when the narratives do not match reality, it is only natural for questions to arise. How is it possible for Turkey not to know where its own forces are stationed? Or for the United States to be unable to examine intelligence concerning Israel? Are we really expected to believe that contradictory reports are merely accidental? That everything is simply a misunderstanding? Or are we supposed to believe that the entire wo...

Homeland; My Red Line When I see others betray their homeland so recklessly, I am left stunned and fall into a deep silence. Because I am ready to sacrifice my life for my country. To me, homeland is not merely a border on a map or a name in history books. My homeland is the land where I was born; the birthplace of my mother and my ancestors. It is the place from which the people dearest to me came, and where a part of my identity was shaped. I love my mother more than my own life; and the land where she was born holds a respect for me that cannot be described in words. That is why homeland is not just a simple word to me. My homeland is my honor and dignity; it is my red line. People can openly speak about what they do not accept and what they believe is wrong. But they cannot shake hands with someone who intends to harm their homeland. How can someone betray the soil in which a part of their very existence has taken root? Anyone who sells the country where the memories of generations...

Madmen Are Not Always in Asylums Sometimes I look at the world and ask myself: perhaps our definition of “madness” is wrong? For years, we have thought that a mad person is someone who talks to themselves in the street, behaves strangely, or is hospitalized in a psychiatric institution. But if we set that definition aside and look at politics, a strange question arises: Could some of the most dangerous madness in the world be taking place precisely behind political desks bearing national flags? Imagine this: a person is sitting behind a desk, wearing a suit and tie, giving a speech, smiling, and speaking in a completely serious tone about “the future of the nation.” Then, with a few signatures, a few orders, and a few decisions, they change the lives of millions of people, start a war, impose sanctions on a country, push an economy to the brink of collapse, displace millions, and sometimes bring the world within a few steps of a major catastrophe. Then they sit there calmly and say: “T...

The Distinction Between Saddam and Other Criminals I am not defending Saddam Hussein in this article. Because Saddam Hussein was a criminal. He was an enemy of the people of Iraq, especially the Kurds; the people of Iraq suffered deep wounds during his rule; wounds that can be seen in their souls, their bodies, and the memory of their history. Therefore, I do not defend Saddam or any other dictator. But I have a question: What role do the criminals who today stand behind the official podiums of the world and speak about peace, freedom, human rights, and the future of humanity play? Is a crime only a crime when it is committed by the other side? Do the same acts suddenly acquire a different nature when they are committed by an allied country? Is a bomb dropped by an allied aircraft a “military operation”? But if the same bomb is dropped by the opposing side, is it considered a crime? Does a child who is killed in a modern country have more value than a child who is killed in a tradition...

Please, Don’t Save Us Sometimes I genuinely don’t know whether I should laugh at the world’s politicians or curse them! Every day, someone in a perfectly pressed suit stands behind a podium and, with an expression as if they have just become the ultimate authority on the entire world, says: “We went to war for the security of our people.” Excellent! Just out of curiosity:  where exactly are the people? Because it is strange; every time a war begins, missiles head toward people’s homes, while the very people who started the war are usually safely tucked away somewhere very secure! They see war on a map; people watch war from the windows of their homes. They talk about “victory”; people are looking for a safe place to stay. They say: “Casualties are inevitable.” Yes, of course! Just one little point: The inevitable casualties are usually not your family! And how interesting that in today’s political culture, our bomb is always called “defense,” while the enemy’s bomb is always called...