There was no expression of free speech in Iran during the 38-year regime of the pro-West Shah. Sadly there is almost as little now. However, never mind. Free speech by itself is not the end all and be all of life, particularly considering how much the ideology of freedom of voice has been manipulated by the Western establishment. But this is not where the commonality ends between pre and post revolution Iranians four decades after the very impressive homegrown revolution. Tragically, 40 years down the road, some or many young Iranians are thinking on the lines that could derail the revolution at some point.
The prime reason the parents and grandparents of the young Iranians of present times whole-heartedly supported the Islamic Revolution was their disgust of the Shah and his family. Apart from massive monetary corruption and U.S. puppetism, the Pahlavis had ceased to identify themselves as Muslims. The despotic and corrupt monarchy not only robbed the country blind with their Western partners, they were also an extremist-secular lot who claimed the lineage of Iranians from ignorant bullies like Darius, Cyrus, Ardashir etc. Observing the birthday of the beloved Final Messenger (pbuh) in the Islamic month of Rabi-ul-Awal was banned by the Shah, but the so-called birthdates of Cyrus and Darius were celebrated with Tehran glittering with lights like diamonds. The Shah's regime did everything to make Iran look like a Zoroastrian state, not an Islamic state. The common people of Iran that were grounded in the Islamic Faith found this attitude of the monarchy galling.
Those Iranian dissidents (a small handful) who still support the Shah's family have the same attitude, most of them residing in the West in self-exile. While discussing Persian (Iranian) history, they speak and show of nothing other than the era of the fire worshippers, the Achaemenids and the Sassanids, largely erasing the truth of the coming of Islam in Persia and the rich Islamic history of Persia that includes the Persian Renaissance. Unfortunately this approach does not stop here.
It's been widely observed that many young Iranians currently residing in Iran and despite supporting the Islamic Revolution, define Iran's heritage only by linking the Persian culture with the Achaemenids and the Sassanids. Their attitude is far more bitter towards the Muslim Ottomans than those ancient fire worshippers. Consequently, orthodox Christian Armenia, has taken a special place in the heart of Iran's Islamic Republic, Tehran offering far greater favors to Yerevan (capital and largest city of Armenia) compared to Baku (Azerbaijan) which follows Shiia Islam. Though officially Azerbaijan is secular, that is the policy of the government. By far the majority of Azerbaijanis practice Shiia Islam yet Iranian public and officials don't see that as relevant when it comes to strange politics. The standard excuse from these young Iranians is that Azerbaijan has cordial relations with Israel, but they are funnily oblivious of the fact that Armenia has a history of being far cozier with Israel compared to Azerbaijan.
Furthermore, four decades later, Iran's continued ostracization by the West namely the United States of America has led many post revolutionary Iranians living in Iran, yearning for Western admiration and recognition of their country and culture. As the Westerners know very little about the rule and progress in Persia during the Rashdun, the Ommayads, Abbasids, Safavids and Zands, the bait used by modern Iranians despite their love for the revolution is the glorification of the ancient pre-Islamic Iranian culture during the Achaemenids and Sassanids whose pagan values are more appreciated by Europeans and Americans. It's an aspect that somehow brings pre and post revolution Iranians under the same classification of values.
With the unstoppable rise of sectarianism across most parts of the pan-Islamic world in the 21st century, Iran is unfortunately no big exception and is eager to downplay the fact that Shiia Islam spread in Persia as late as the 1500s. Prior to that, starting from 640 CE, Persia followed Sunni Islam. Currently Iran is a bit sensitive about that part of its history, and in comparison a lot more comfortable highlighting its cultural heritage ensuing from the fire worshippers of pre-Islamic era. Blatantly pathetic!
During the Azerbaijan-Armenia crisis in the fall of 2020, a lot of Muslims around the world could not fathom Iran's political logic. The buzzword swirling around was "Shiia Iran supporting orthodox Christian Armenia while Sunni Turkey supporting Shiia-Islam Azerbaijan ?? What the heck ?!" Well, history of Turkey is one of the reasons for Iran's steady support for hardcore Christian Armenia despite claims of Iran's concern over the pan-Islamic state and its unity as was the focus of the as was the focus of the founder of Iran's Islamic Revolution whose path was undoubtedly far more principled and incorruptible compared to the post-revolutionary Iranians of the 2000s. Needless to mention, one of the chief causes of Iran's support for Armenia is its dislike for the Ottomans. Persia, from the 1500s until the late 1800s, saw itself as a rival of the ever-expanding Ottoman Empire. There was a series of conflicts between the Ottomans and the Safavids, Zands and Qajars. However the major and last Ottoman-Safavid war was from the year 1623 to 1639. Advancing half way into Iraq, the Safavids were unable to press on. After some heavy losses, the Ottomans took back Baghdad. The conflict ended with Ottoman victory and signing of a peace treaty. The Ottomans retained Azer Baijan, western Armenia and western Georgia while the Safavids kept Dagestan, eastern Armenia and eastern Georgia. It's primarily this piece of history that left Iran grinding its teeth at the Ottomans, a grievance that still hasn't fizzled away from the hearts and minds of many Iranians. As the phrase goes "enemy's enemy is my friend," it explains Iran's crazy love affair with Armenia and support for Armenian aggression in Nagorno Karabakh. Yet another aspect in which pre and post revolution Iran are on the same track.
All in all and over the years, Iran has made a messy contradiction of its revolutionary values on this front. Modern Turkey hasn't helped much either. Both Islamic nations, instead of regretting their series of confrontations back in history, are deepening the incongruity of their claims as protectors and unifiers of the pan-Islamic world, and consequently deepening the political crisis in several spheres.
Recapping in chronological order the rulers of Persia (Iran):
Here, you will observe the long stretch of history which the Islamic Republic of Iran, similar to Shah's secular Iran, has been downplaying which includes the remarkable Persian Renaissance starting in Persia (as in the Arab world) from the time of the Rashdun onward .. and how addictively the Iranian nation (both pre and post revolution) has been adorning and elevating the ancient stone-carved, lackluster and tyrannical warriors of pre-Islamic Persia, presenting them as the face of "Iranian culture" that displays little or not intellect nor civilization other than annexation of land based on brute might is right.
- The Achaemenid dynasty from 550 to 330 BC (pronunciation of this damn difficult word is a struggle; it's pronounced "ak-e-men-id"). These tyrannical fire worshippers (Zoroastrians) occupied many regions. Take a look at the map below. Cyrus and Darius were their most infamous and despotic rulers.
- Smaller polytheist or heathen dynasties came between Achaemenids and Sassanids, one of them was that of Alexander (330-247 BC) for 83 years and after his death started the Hellinistic period which spanned from the time of Alexander's to the defeat of Cleopatra in 31 BC. The word Hellinistic refers to Greek history. From 247 BC to 224 CE was the Arsacid dynasty known as parthian period. They ruled Persia for 23 years. Most likely their rule was across Persia and Babylon (currently Iran and Iraq).
- Sassanid dynasty from 224 CE to 651 CE
Zoroastrian Sassanids were not a whole lot different from the Achaemenids, autocratic and occupied similar regions. Names like Ardashir, Shapur, Bahram
MUSLIM DYNASTIES OF PERSIA From 820 CE to 1432 CE
~ Rashidun Caliphate: Umar bin Khattab 634–644), Usman bin Affan (644–656), Imam Ali (656–661)
~ Umayyad Caliphate, 661–750
~ Abbasid Caliphate, 750–1258 (ruling since 820)
~ Timurid dynasty 1370–1506
~ Turkmans 1375–1508
~ Safavid dynasty, 1502–1736
~ Afghan interlude 1723-36
~ Nader Shah 1736–47
~ Afsharid dynasty, 1736–1796
~ Zand dynasty, 1750–1794
~ Qajar dynasty, 1794–1925
~ Pahlavi dynasty, 1925–1979
I hope, Insh'Allah, the readers found this informative.
Below is a painting of a Safavid ruler of Islamic Persia receiving envoys from around the world in his court.
Related posts:
- Ottomans not guilty of "genocide" in Armenia
- Tracing history of Nagorno Karabakh
- Armenia, Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan. More to the story than meets the eye
- Nagorno Karabakh Conflict as on the Fall of 2020
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