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Fascism, this time a religious one
There are many different interpretations of the Iranian regime. Some
believe that the power in hands of the Mullahs is just another model of
dictatorship in the shape of cleric rules. Some think that they are just
another version of a theocracy like the Taliban in Afghanistan.
Some analysts go further and name the Iranian authority as a fascist regime.
But in reality, the Iranian regime is different from all of these models
that have been practiced by different regimes throughout history. In the
21st century, the world is facing fascism, this time a uniquely
religious one.
The Islamic regime in Iran
is different from a customary dictatorship because its function is beyond
a regular totalitarian authority. In addition to suppression, torture
and execution of political prisoners, the accepted methods by which a
dictatorship stays in power, prisoner in their custody must listen to
the blaring sound of the Quran and practice
the Islamic sharia at all times. The psychological torture of these prisoners
by Islamic rules and practices destroy their resistance and in some cases
drives them to permanent mental illness. These aggressions are not just
limited to prisoners. The regime takes caskets and dead bodies to universities
and Government job sites and buries them in order to remind people that
these unknown martyrs were killed for the sake of Islam and nobody should
forget them and have an easy life. The regime tries to enforce the culture
of death in all aspects of people’s lives for the sake of pushing
its own ambitions. In addition to suppressing NGOs like all other dictatorships,
the religious fascism creates its own religious NGO just to change the
concept of NGO and fight other ones. This regime scratches the society’s
nervous system by institutionalizing the culture of death, the Quran
sound and its religious practices in order to push forward their agendas.
This regime is different from a theocracy like the Taliban in Afghanistan
because the clerics utilize a different set of tactics. For many historical
and religious reasons (Shia), the Iranian ruling
system has shown more flexibility than their former counterparts, the
Taliban in Afghanistan
or Ekhvan-a-l- moslemin
in Egypt
and others in the Middle East. Here, flexibility
does not suggest tolerance but pragmatism and deception for the purpose
of reaching its goals. This regime, unlike the Taliban, is willing to
do anything from negotiating with the United
States (“the great Satan”)
to exploding Shias’ holy sites just to
stay in power. The Taliban, in contrast, was a historically conventional
religious dictatorship that did not encompass any surprises. The Taliban
had a predictable theocratic behavior that would implement the Islamic
Sharia, practices such as severing hands and feet, public
hangings, and forcefully putting bags on women’s heads and forcing
men to grow a beard. But in contrast, religious fascism in Iran
is built entirely on the element of surprise. They even carry out practices
that are against their own beliefs and often do not do what that one would
expect, including their political policies or religious verdicts.
The religious fascism in Iran
is different from classic models of fascist regimes. The classic type
of fascism relies heavily on the nationalistic and chauvinistic commotion
of people or the suppressed nostalgic history of the homeland whereas
religious fascism takes advantage of people’s religious beliefs and
passions. Using religious zeal is much more dangerous than patriotic.
In a national and chauvinistic political system, leaders have to use down-to-earth
arguments and logic in order to encourage and provoke their followers
to go beyond what they normally would. But in a religious fascism, there
is no need for logic or scientific empiricism. These so called spiritual
leaders have the simple task of storytelling from their holy books. In
their world of deceptions, shams, and tricking, messages come from a supernatural
force only to religious leaders and disobeying of those messages and decry
sends other believers to hell, side by side with the infidels. The mission
of deploying suicide bombers for religious fascism is much easier than
those in classic type of fascism. Religious fascism needs only a ritualistic
ceremony that influences a believer’s mental balance.
In terms of suppressing the society, religious fascism is much more
challenging than a classic fascist regime. If, for example, a Nazi would
execute dissidents and create a holocaust, religious fascists eliminate
virtually everyone who is on their way. A cleric’s blade does not
slash only a Bahai’s throat but purges
Shia, Christians, Jews, Kurds, Arabs, and Balouch.
There are no exceptions and no insiders. If the classic type of fascism
spies on people at work place, universities, or other public places, religious
fascism makes school kids spy to report on their parents’ bedrooms
to the authorities.
The similarity of both types of fascism is the reliance on intimidation
and the conquering other countries. Both types are after nuclear weapons
to gain an upper hand for their future wars. But religious fascism does
not repeat the Nazi regime’s mistake. Unlike under Hitler, this regime
will not commence their expansion of Islamic fundamentalism to other countries
before accessing to atomic bomb. The atomic bomb is a vital element and
a must have for religious fascism in Iran
to move toward its goals. Before that time, this religious fascism only
supports terrorist groups in the region and throughout the world and is
preparing for its ultimate goal.
Dangers and catastrophes that this regime in Iran
can create for humanity are immense. The victims will not only include
the Iranian people who have suffered in the past 27 years. These catastrophes,
compared to what happened in World War II, will be more destructive and
will apply to all nations and all people around the world.
What needs to be done?
After analyzing the actual nature of the Iranian regime, the question
arises: “what needs to be done?” It is vital to recognize its
true nature because Iranian opposition groups are misled into taking the
wrong steps if they see only the surface and not the systematic religious
fascism in power. It is easy to make a mistake and provide the wrong response
by opposition forces. If this regime was a normal dictatorship or regular
type of religious fundamentalism government like the Taliban, perhaps
the opposition groups’ struggle would have lead to a regime change
or at least some reforms in Iran
in the past two decades.
Another problem that might interfere with the answer to the question
of what needs to be done is utilizing the older method of recognizing
the true nature of this regime. Opposition groups that seem to know its
true nature behave so unrealistically, in action, that it is as if they
were ignoring the persons whom they were confronting. Also, the right
answer cannot necessarily be foreseen for the right problem. The right
solution needs the right approach after careful analysis and deliberation.
Now, in order to find a solution, one needs to assume some facts in advance.
To answer the question of what needs to be done, the assumption of dealing
with a religious fascism is already accepted. Not being on the same page
with this issue will not take us anywhere. If one believes that naming
the Iranian regime as a fascistic type of authority is an exaggeration,
there is a huge disparity in views that should be resolved in order to
find the right answer to the question. For example, one of the facts in
our discussion is: if we are facing a religious fascism, then the regime’s
goal is unquestionably that of possessing the atomic bomb through uranium
enrichment. Here, the result, which is reaching the capacity of having
nuclear weaponry, is not concluded by other arguments such as having the
nuclear project kept secret by the regime, or finding the higher percentage
of enrichment on centrifuge equipments by IAEA, or contradictions and
confessions of senior leaders about the issue. These kinds of arguments
are for those who still have doubts about Iranian regime intention in
their nuclear venture. But, here, the fact is simple: if the nature of
the Iranian regime is a religious fascism, therefore, the clerics will
attempt to acquire the atomic bomb in order to extend their Islamic fundamentalism
throughout the region and perhaps the rest of the world, by employing
their nuclear power. So, with this premises, I offer my answer to the
question of what needs to be done.
The anti-religious fascism front
One issue that has been proven the hard way in the past is that it is
impossible to confront religious fascism on an individual basis and without
assistance. History has shown that until all of the anti Nazi forces were
gathered in a coordinated front, they could not defeat the fascists. On
the contrary, this delay in collaboration among anti-Hitler force, gave
Nazis the chance to make such catastrophic events that registered in history.
It is erroneous if an organization, a party, or a group believes that
it alone can confront religious fascism. This is also true for foreign
countries that presume that without any Iranian opposition there can still
be a solution to these problems. It’s not coincidental that most
of the opposition groups were launched due to the necessity of cooperation
and coalition in their efforts in confronting this regime. It is good,
but not good enough. Even full cooperation among Iranian opposition groups,
which is the first step that has not been taken thus far, is not enough.
Since the religious fascism will not be limited to inside Iran’s
boundaries, the problem is both regional and global. Religious fascism
cannot be defeated unless maximum forces, both Iranian and international,
are gathered in a common, united front. The only way to confront religious
fascism is by utilizing all the resources at our disposal, because this
religious model of fascism is more dangerous and menacing than its counterpart,
the classical model of fascism. It is important to note that exaggerations
here are not used to better or prove an argument against the regime. This
is a reality that, if ignored, will produce a catastrophic burden that
would surpass any in past century. Without a doubt, if, in the beginning,
all anti- Nazi forces would not have hesitated confronting Hitler in WWII,
the cost in human life would have been far lower. We are currently witnessing
the same mistake by western countries in dealing with the Iranian regime.
For years, the west has thought that they can modify the Iranian regime’s
behavior or encourage the regime to end supporting terrorist groups in
the Middle East, or give up their nuclear ambitions.
The European countries disappeared after economic deals and ignored consistent
human rights violations. It is understandable from their point of view,
but there is no justification for the big swing from the Warren Christopher
policy to the Madeline Albright policy of appeasement during the second
period of Clinton administration.
As a result now, the entire world is anxiously looking for a solution
to an emergency situation.
The characteristic of an anti-religious fascism front
One of the most prominent characteristics of an anti-religious fascism
front is the lack of limitation in which maximum expansion is possible.
There should be no restraint on anyone or any group, Iranian or international,
that opposes religious fascism for any reason. For the Iranian opposition
groups, the issue of an alternative government should be deferred until
after the collapse of the current regime. Any issue other than how to
overthrow the current regime of Iran,
must be avoided. Of course, those forces and groups enter into the front
that desires the expulsion of the current regime. At this moment, the
discussion about the different proposals that can be suited for the type
of a true Republic cannot yet solve the problem of the existence of the
current regime. The religious fascism gets its support from certain countries
and utilizes that support to their fullest advantage. There are some neo-fascists
and ultra-right wing racist groups among these supporters. The anti-religious
fascism front can also employ all internal resources and support around
the world to confront its opponents.
It is impossible to desire the expulsion of the Iranian regime and take
no position or a soft position on the current issue of Iranian nuclear
stand off with the west. If we are on the side that wants the regime to
stop its uranium enrichment, there is no middle position. These positions
give a mixed message to the Iranian people and strengthen the regime’s
argument that uranium enrichment is, in fact, in Iran’s
national interest. There is no center position on the issue of the enrichment
of uranium. Either we, as Iranian opposition groups, are against uranium
enrichment, or for it. Saying that there exists a right for the regime
to enrich uranium, only encourages religious
fascism to pursue its goals.
Anti- religious fascism front position on religion and Islam
Since Islam is the main tool for religious fascism to spread in Islamic
societies, it is very important to see how an anti-religious fascism front
takes its position on religion and Islam in particular. The position should
be neither anti religion, nor religious. Secularism is the best stand.
Assuming that the majority of people in Iran are Muslim, and at the same
time, are against the regime, we can assume that much of the population
has reached this conclusion: that although the majority of the people
still believe in Islam, the interference of religion with government policies
are dangerous. There is no official consensus or scientific statistics
through ballet or real election, but the rough consensus in totalitarian
societies is measured by the quantity and intensity of public protests
by the people, the level and intensity of suppression by the regime, and
the number of political prisoners and those who are executed for their
beliefs. So far, this regime rejects all calls by opposition forces to
hold a free election under the supervision of the United Nations.
In the case of participating religious groups that oppose the Iranian
regime in the front (no matter how large or popular they are), there should
be no sign of religious campaign in order to contest with the regime to
win Muslim attention. These messages imply confusion within the front
and, therefore, confuse people. On the other hand, any anti- Islam misinformation
only gives fuel to the religious fascism’s propaganda machine to
alarm its believers. Those who think that they are fighting the Islamic
Republic by insulting the prophet and the Shias’
Imams are, in fact, only serving religious fascism.
Conclusion:
The Islamic Republic as a religious fascism regime is an immediate threat
to the Iranian people, Middle East, and the world
as a whole. This regime is not a simple dictatorship or theocracy. This
regime has proven its capability and superiority over other totalitarian
regimes by overcoming many crises. By using religion and Islam, it gives
religious fascism better and more effective ammunition to reach its goals
compare to classic type of fascism. The regime needs the atomic bomb in
order to expand its influence. There will be no hesitation to use the
bomb as a threat or for psychological war, if they reach the capability
to develop nuclear weapons. The attainment of nuclear power is when the
blatant aggression begins. The anti-religious fascism front must be created
in order to confront this threat. All Iranian and international forces
should take part in this front. There should be no limitation for any
participation in the front. Secularism is the best position with having
religious groups taking part in the front. It is a task for Iranian opposition
groups to be placed in the leadership of a harmonized international effort
for regime change in Iran
to prevent more catastrophic situations like military intervention. Let’s
puts our differences and doubts aside and start creating a front against
religious fascism in Iran.
Kayvan Kaboli
Green Party of Iran
Spokesperson
3/20/2006
kayvan@iran-e-sabz.org
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