The democrats believe that Islam's principal function is to teach the individual how and what questions to ask.

This is the real debate in Iran, not the shadow-boxing in and around a meaningless parliament whose membership is disputed among members of the same politico-ideological tribe.

The Khomeinists, whether so-called "reformist" or "hardliners", deserve little respect because their positions are based on a lie labelled "Islamic Republic", a tyranny that is neither Islamic nor republican.