The Iranian crucible: Islam + Democracy = ?

I would agree that much of the impetus for democracy in the West has as its goal as secular democracy. However, your statement "the Western idea that democracy must be secular in nature" could use elaborations, as it could be misconstrued as a characterization that all of the West champions secular democracy.

The notion of secular democracy has flourished in Western societies, but there is not unanimous agreement in the West that democracy must be secular, or that it even springs solely from secular sources (as opposed to religious ones). The plurality of positions for both the West and Islam ought to be duly acknowledged.

It will be interesting to see what possibilities emerge from this combination of Islam and democracy - can they coexist harmoniously?

I agree with Nima.
People of Iran are pretty much done with Islam and especially with Mullahs. Iranians are more secular than they were before 1979 Islamic revolution.
Past 30 years is the first time Iranians live under strict Islamic law since Arab invasion of Iran 1400 years ago. They want to restore Persian culture and values and identify themselves as Iranians or Persians and not Islamic faith Middle Eastern like Arabs.
Reformist protestors use Islamic slogans because they don't want the regime brand them as anti Imam & Islam and be subject to death.

in recent tourmil there is hidden hand of anti-islamic forces. the above article is nothing but propoganda.

the elections conducted in fair atmsphere. the masses elected ahmed nijad. iranian democratic institutions are under process. we indian also in democratic processes.

do u think there is real democracy in pakistan, afghanistan, saudi arab, etc. every day i read articles US vs islam.

To Dan,
Accept that Islam and primitive barbaric Arabs destroyed Iran? (READ THE HIASTORY BOOKS) They forced Iranians to convert to Islam with the power of sword. They killed hundreds of thousands (maybe millions) who resisted to convert and burned Persian books and libraries. They prohibited people to speak Persian and replaced it with Arabic language for 300 years until Iranians took back their country from them. They pretty much destroyed and ruined every thing Iranians had for thousands of years. Look, even our alphabet is Arabic now and %50 of the words we speak today is Arabic. In the history of our country nothing harmed Iran more than Arab invasion did 1400 years ago and still we are paying for it.
Islam is intolerant religion and can not co-exist with democracy. Iranians are fed up with Islamic thugs like you.
Mullahs and Islamic fascists like you stole 1357 revolution from real Iranian people who trusted Khomeini as a Godly person.
For your records: Iranians lost their trust to this religion and becoming atheist or converting to Zoroastrian and Christianity in mass numbers. Check the Internet for your records.