Muslim CEO & Christian Pastor Promote Democracy and Regime Change in Iran
Donald Fareed, a former Iranian Shiite Muslim turned evangelical Christian and President of the non-profit organization Persian Ministries International, is partnering with Sattar Deldar, a pro-democracy Muslim television broadcasting executive, to promote democracy and regime change in Iran.
San Jose, CA (PRWEB) February 17, 2005 -- Donald Fareed, a Christian pastor
and founder of the non-profit organization Persian Ministries International
(PMI) (www.PersianMinistries.org), and Sattar Deldar, a Muslim and
CEO/President of Appadana International (www.appadanatv.com), an international global satellite
television station, have joined forces to support the pro-democracy movement in
Iran and encourage regime change in that key Middle Eastern country. Despite
holding dramatically opposed religious beliefs, this Christian and Muslim share
a political agenda to effect major political change in Iran.
Fareed, a
former Shiite Muslim, is now a U.S. citizen and evangelical Christian pastor,
and is preaching a radical message of politics, referendum and religion as he
encourages democracy in Iran and urges its citizens to press the
fundamentalist-controlled government for religious freedom using civil
disobedience and nonviolent, passive resistance. His provocative message is
televised, and reaches up to 30 million Persian-speaking Muslim viewers weekly
in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and Southern Iraq. Fareed’s long-time friend
and associate, Sattar Deldar, a moderate Muslim who is pro-democracy, makes
these broadcasts possible by providing Fareed several timeslots on Appadana
International, his Muslim satellite-linked television station. Today, the two
friends are a one-of-a-kind partnership promoting democracy and religious
freedom in the Middle East, especially in Iran, the only Shiite Muslim country
in the world.
Fareed and Deldar’s goal is to gather support for the
people of Iran in their pro-democracy movement so the Iranian people can topple
the existing Islamic government and create a secular, democratic republic. “Iran
is ready for democracy, and America needs to know that," says Fareed. “We
believe that by supporting the people of Iran in this effort, we will be able to
eliminate the roots of terrorism in the world.”
“Sattar has been a close
friend of mine for nearly 20 years, and I am excited about working together to
bring democracy to Iran,” says Fareed. “He has supported my broadcast at great
cost to himself, because he really believes in freedom of religion and
democracy. Despite our very different religious beliefs, we both support a
national referendum in Iran with oversight by international observers to certify
the integrity and fairness of the referendum. We also support and promote
freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom for all
political parties, equal treatment of all people, and peaceful assembly,
demonstrations and strikes.
“Fareed and I have a great friendship and
partnership,” agrees Deldar. “It is so important to educate the Iranian people,
and Fareed has done great work bringing attention to the atrocities being
committed in Iran by the Islamic-controlled government, and promoting democracy
and religious freedom there.” Deldar says the Iranian government tries to equate
democracy with sex and drugs and the like. “Through television programs like
Fareed’s, we are letting the Iranian people know what true freedom really means.
This is not just a religious freedom issue, but a human rights issue as well,”
he explains.
Iran is the world's only fully theocratic regime. It harshly
suppresses the evangelization of Muslims, and lists apostasy from Islam as a
capital offense. Not surprisingly, preaching against the Islamic-controlled
Iranian government has put Fareed in a precarious position. He has faced severe
political and religious persecution, with associates being tortured and
martyred, and personally being blacklisted by the Iranian government. Iran
National TV also aired his photograph, accusing him of "anti-Islamic activities
with the intent to topple the government of Iran.”
Donald Fareed believes
that in dealing with the Islamic Republic of Iran, he is doing what Jesus would
do. He is dealing with the Muslim religious leaders in Iran the way Jesus dealt
with the Jewish leaders of His time, which is with understanding yet firmness.
Fareed believes that the ruling Iranian Muslim leaders are abusing the Iranian
people by using the name of God and prophets, and manipulating the Islamic
religious law to deceive people and push their own selfish agenda.
There
is an unquestionable timeliness to Fareed and Deldar’s political activities.
President Bush signaled his support for the growing pro-democracy movement in
Iran in his recent State of the Union address, saying, “As you stand for your
own liberty, America stands with you." And, while the State Department opposed
legislation that made regime change in Iran a policy for America last year,
Republican Senator Rick Santorum from Pennsylvania just introduced the Iran
Freedom and Support Act of 2005, which commits America to "actively support a
national referendum in Iran.”
The Iran Freedom and Support Act also
authorizes the president to "provide financial and political assistance
(including the award of grants) to foreign and domestic individuals,
organizations, and entities that support democracy and the promotion of
democracy in Iran. Such assistance may include the award of grants to eligible
independent pro-democracy radio and television broadcasting organizations that
broadcast into Iran."
“One of my biggest goals is to encourage the
people of Iran by showing them that America stands with their pro-democracy
movement,” says Fareed. "If America supports the pro-democracy movement in Iran,
it will lead to the downfall of the current Iranian regime, and that will send
shockwaves throughout the entire Muslim world. One way Americans can support
Iran is by supporting Persian Ministries International and Appadana
International as we work to bring democracy to Iran.”
About Appadana
International
Appadana International is a privately owned secular Muslim
satellite television station that broadcasts over Telstar 5 and 12 into North
America, Europe, and the Middle East. Chief Executive Officer and President
Sattar Deldar established Appadana Enterprises in 1980 with a cable television
station in the San Francisco bay area, and began broadcasting internationally
over satellite in 2002. Appadana International strives to stay culturally,
socially and politically sensitive and relevant as it covers all angles and
brings the best in balanced programming to its viewers. Appadana carries several
pro-democracy programs with a vision of promoting freedom and democracy
worldwide. For more information, please visit www.appadanatv.com
About Persian Ministries International (PMI)
Persian Ministries
International (PMI) is an evangelistic non-profit Christian organization with a
vision of encouraging Muslims around the world to press their governments for
religious freedom and democracy, while reaching over 100 million
Persian-speaking Muslims worldwide with the gospel. PMI encourages
Muslim-Christian dialog, working to bring the Church to an awareness of the
needs and opportunities for ministering to Muslim people, and challenging and
equipping the Church to love Muslims and reach them for Jesus Christ. For more
information, please visit www.PersianMinistries.org.
Donald Fareed and Sattar
Deldar are not affiliated or supported by any political organizations.
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/2/prweb209935.htm