Kamangir (Archer)

When the Islamists became the mainstream political approach of the revolution, in 1979, they condemned Shah for his “non-Islamic” moves. At that time, they were opposed to a variety of things like banking and stock markets. Also, there were ideas about Islamic Mathematics and Islamic Physics to be taught in the universities. One of the Professors in Sharif once told me that she had to take some courses again, because the administration believed that the old courses were not enough Islamic. However, they slowly returned to the old ways, committing the same “non-Islamic” movements. Though, they never admitted that. Even today, the Iranian administration claims that what happens in Iranian banks is Islamic Banking which is far different from western-style banking. I am no expert in these affairs. But, I have seen how the Iranian heads of the state change their promises. Like when Khomeini stated “…do not be satisfied that we will build houses and that we will make water and electricity and buses free. Do not not be satisfied with this. We will enhance your spiritual affairs. We will reach you to be a human…” at the very first speech that he gave when he returned from the exile (In Persian دلخوش نباشید Ú©Ù‡ مسکن فقط Ù…ÛŒ سازیم. آب Ùˆ برق را مجانی Ù…ÛŒ کنیم. اتوبوس را مجانی Ù…ÛŒ کنیم. دلخوش به این مقدار نباشید.. معنویات شما را روحیات شما را عظمت Ù…ÛŒ دیم. شما را به مقام انسانیت Ù…ÛŒ رسانیم.) (listen). However, these ideas were not really applied. You know, who cares when an old cleric talks about very serious things this loose.
Ahmadniejad’s cabinet members have announced that daylight saving will not be in effect in Iran any more. Remembering Islamist’s old idea that shifting the time is against God’s will, not exact expression, people saw this decision as another step taken by the current government towards total Islamicity of the regime. However, am Iranian traffic expert living in Austria thinks differently (see). Arguing that research has not proven any relationship between daylight saving and electricity consumption, he claims that this decision may even be very helpful. He also mentions the expressed idea to make the starting time of schools and offices different as something he believes may reduce the traffic load in the morning.
It seems that Ahmadinejad has gained a positive mark, though, after a long series of negative ones.