Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani has reported to his nation tonight on his first 100 days in office.
Part of his report is this music video of many voices — “Let space and opportunity be given to all Iranians devoted to this land”…
In it, Rouhani says [as part of his inauguration speech?]: “For to our goal, the path is long, and I’m a new voyager”… UPDATE: Thomas Erdbrink has just written in the New York Times, here, that this line, too, is from the Persian poet Hafez, just is as another line immediately preceeding it, and indentified in the video. Erdbrink also notes that in the video, Rouhani is shown “alongside musical instruments — which are banned on state television — and women singing…The video was released only on Iranian social media and YouTube, where it got around 400,000 views in 24 hours, said its director, Hossein Dehbashi”.
It is wonderful…
Erdbrink reports that the video :shows Mr. Rouhani addressing the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, at his inauguration in August, with Iranians in a split screen speaking and singing the president’s words…The video has yet to be shown on state-run television, which is controlled by Mr. Rouhani’s hard-line opponents, but can be seen on Mr. Rouhani’s personal website, Rouhani.ir”.
RFERL journalist in Washington Golnaz Esfandiari explained here that:
“The beautifully made black-and-white clip, which includes segments of the Iranian president’s August 3 inauguration speech mixed with music, singing, and sign language, has been released to mark the first 100 days of his presidency… Rohani’s video was posted on his website and shared on Twitter by the unverified account of the Iranian president, which is said to be maintained by his media team…The clip, which features a well-known singer and actor, Amir Hossein Modaress, was produced by Iranian documentary-maker Hossein Dehbashi, who also worked on Rohani’s election campaign videos. Dehbashi has been quoted by Iranian media as saying that the video was created ‘spontaneously'”
In the clip, unprecedented for an Iranian president, people of all ages play musical instruments and sing to Rohani’s words in Persian, but also in the languages of Iran’s minorities, including Kurdish and Arabic. The clip also includes sound bites from prominent figures in Iran’s modern history including Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh and the founder of the Islamic Republic Ruhollah Khomeini.
The main takeaway of the clip seems to be unity:
“Let space and opportunity be given to all Iranians who are devoted to this land. Let those who are competent serve the nation. Let their hearts be cleansed from hatred. Let reconciliation replace anger and friendship replace enmity”.Rohani said his government wants happiness to return to the Iranian people’s lives and calls on God to guide him”…
Esfandiari wrote that Rohani’s music video “seems to have been inspired by U.S. President Barack Obama’s [October 2008] ‘Yes We Can’ music video” — which can be watched here.
During Rouhani’s speech to his nation tonight, reporting on his first 100 days in office, his staff Tweeted exerpts from his remarks:
Hassan Rouhani @HassanRouhani —
We have a long road ahead. Whatever we seek to achieve must and can only come via national unity. We must join hands.Hassan Rouhani @HassanRouhani —
We have opened one lock in regards to the nuclear issue, but many locks remain.Hassan Rouhani @HassanRouhani —
Enrichment, which is part of our rights, will continue. It continues today and will continue tomorrow. #100DayReportHassan Rouhani @HassanRouhani —
At the same time, the inhuman & illegal oppression our people face must be removed. We must get rid of threat and break the sanctions.Hassan Rouhani @HassanRouhani —
Some think Iran seeks an atomic bomb. We have never sought any WMDs, incl nuclear bombs. We only seek peaceful development.Hassan Rouhani @HassanRouhani —
i.e. we’ll have enrichment on our soil & will end sanctions in a comprehensive accord; Iran will be treated as any other member of the NPT.Hassan Rouhani @HassanRouhani —
A draft of the Civil Rights Charter I had promised to all citizens will be available on our website tonight. #100DayReportHassan Rouhani @HassanRouhani —
I invite our people & legal experts in particular, to review this draft & propose improvements and provide feedback on the Charter of RightsHassan Rouhani @HassanRouhani —
You have witnessed how books which were banned in the past have been published in the past #100Days.Hassan Rouhani @HassanRouhani —
“House of Cinema” was re-opened. Hopefully, with the key people hold, other houses & locks can also be opened. #Prudence #HopeHassan Rouhani @HassanRouhani —
To conclude, I want to express my gratitude to our dear people. We have begun walking down this path together. We saw the epic in June…Hassan Rouhani @HassanRouhani —
and the joy and hope in the streets. and the joy and hope in the streets. We are a great and rich nation. I see a bright future…Hassan Rouhani @HassanRouhani —
…and great development before us. We have all natural and human resources to prosper and flourish.Hassan Rouhani @HassanRouhani —
Our people have said “Thank you Rouhani”, tonight I want to say, “Thank you, my dear people” #Peace #Prudence #Love #Hope #100DayReport
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Some comments from Iranian media:
Tintin Media @tintinmedia —
Iran prez releases draft charter of citizenship rights, as Amnesty International urges Iran to consider human rights situation
And Journalist Abas Aslani @abasinfo of Iran’s Fars News Agency Tweeted:
#Iran prez #Rouhani’s speech on State TV about his first 100 day tenure is being broadcast live on @bbcpersian as well
For years, it was the policy of the Islamic Republic that its officials must avoid giving any comments directly to the BBC, so this, too, was one more sign of a big change…
Erdbrink, in his NYTimes piece, notes that “There is a thriving music video clip industry in Iran, where pop singers tape songs the state television’s censors will never play. Instead the videos are broadcast in Iran by foreign Persian-language music channels”.