Dear Iranian friend,
Thankyou very much for your reply to me. As I said before, I am an American and I'm searching for answers to the murders, tortures and imprisionment of innocent people in Iran and in many other countries thru out the world. I believe you are so right when you say Iran and the surrounding countries are rich in oil and gas and powerful countries try to bring leadership into those countries where they can benefit from the oil and gas. I know that the U.S. does not buy any oil from Iran but that doesn't mean that they don't buy it from other countries who do. And, yes, the powerful countries have helped to overthrow gov'ts in oil rich countries and helped replace them with gov'ts more willing to work with these powers..Great Britain and the U.S. in the 1950's in Iran (I think).
Most all Religions for centuries have been involved in wars and killing of the innocent. I choose to believe that we all were created as one. The energy we as individuals send out affects all. Ego, greed,power is the destructive force of mankind. We all have to learn in someway to love and respect one another for our differences as it only enriches each of us. I know there are not any simple answers to making the world we live in a more peaceful place and I don't know if it is even possible but I do believe our voices together are greater than any weapon used to silent us. Thankyou again for taking your time to answer me. Respectfully..An American

Susan,

Thank you for your response and good discourse. Farther into what I write, here, I may appear direct or intense in addressing you; understand that I am grateful for your response and that I appreciate our dialogue.

You are correct that the Milgram Experiment assessed how 'normal, healthy, people' would respond under the given circumstances and this may appear not to apply Mehdi's situation but this does not mean that the Milgram Experiment cannot offer us useful information regarding Mehdi's situation. I propose to you the idea that Milgram's results can likely be applied to particular categories of 'abnormal' and 'unhealthy' people. And, of course, the terms 'normal', 'abnormal' and 'healthy' are being utilized here without substantial definition (as other commenters have pointed out).

Regarding judgment, which I take to mean “to conclude” rather than “to still be active in the process of inquiry without having made a conclusion about a particular issue or question”. As far as I am aware, you are basing your judgments or observations on what I have written within the given context. Addressing what I have written and reflecting on what you have said, I don't know Mehdi's actual situation or whether Mehdi exists at all; there are, however, aspects here that we can actually know or make reasonable assumptions about. In the future I will make an effort to be more cautious in my wording. And as far as any personal judgment or judgments that you have made about me, I don't really know how to respond other than to say, as far as I am aware, you don't know me, what I have been through or what my life experience is. You describe the concept of inaccurate judgment related to detachment from the actual reality or realities involved; this is very important point and a good prompt to utilize some honest self review – thank you.

In the article Mehdi appears to have contradicted his own statements, or at least at one point appears to avoid directly stating that he aimed to kill [and it appears that he likely aimed to kill]. A ricochet from a bullet initially aimed at the feet [of people in the front of the group] would likely only return in manner having a much greater probability being deadly much deeper into the group or much farther down-field.

On one hand Mehdi is stating that he made it a point to aim at the feet protesters and to give orders to aim at the feet of protesters and then later directly he states that he killed. At one point Mehdi says, “I don't remember who I shot, I just tried to shoot at the people's feet.” What does Mehdi mean by “tried to”? How would Mehdi know the results of a deadly ricochet down-field was from his gun? At another point Mehdi says, referring to his dreams, “It's come back several times, and I can see the faces of the people I was ordered to shoot.” Is Mehdi only saying he can see who he was ordered to shoot or is Mehdi, 'fudging words' and actually saying he can see who he shot? What I think what we are seeing here, and I may be incorrect, is a man who is facing immense guilt who is not saying directly “I knowingly aimed to kill and fired” but instead is also utilizing self-deception while in the process of learning about what he has done.

Going a bit far afield: Maybe Mehdi is also saying, “I am feeling sick inside because I am not sure that I did the right thing and I desperately do not want to be wrong.”

Your point, cautioning [if you agree to my assumption here] commenters and readers, about the reality that many cannot directly identify through closely similar experience with Mehdi is very important to be aware of and has wider essential application in life. People often visulize and think they can identify when it is actually not so. To get to feel, to know and understand, the “other side” requires a form of wisdom that a child might be more apt to have.

I read your response, initially with interest which faded within a few lines to dismay. Are you not doing the very same thing that you prescribe others should not be doing? Are you not sitting in judgement of something you so clearly do not know about? You are not a pacifist, your words are loaded with passive aggression.. I could say more but I will refrain! You found it 'interesting'! What does that mean? It translates that you do not approve, later confirmed in your 'violence begets violence' statement. Ahhhh.... you give yourself away.
The Zimbardo experiment to which you and many others refer to is not only flawed, it is not relevent to circumstances in Iran. The 'normal' 'healthy' participants did not exist out a life time of inhumane dictatorship in an violently oppressive society. And 'normal' and 'healthy' are subjective descriptions. The participants of the experiment had not the experience of growing up with fear as people in Iran have, basiji or not. The violence began with the regime.
I suggest you apply your psychological knowledge with a little compassion if you are not able to be empathetic or neutral (non judgemental.