Iranian revolution and Palestinian struggle
THE religious struggles of the Iranian nation against all symbols of oppression and inequity in principle and in practice from the very beginning supported the struggles of the Palestinian nation.
Imam Khomeini considered support of the rights of the oppressed Palestinian people as a fundamental principle of his struggles.
In fact from the very beginning of his political struggles against domination, Imam Khomeini launched his struggles against the Zionist regime and extended his support to the struggles of the Palestinian nation.
In the early stages of his struggles, he openly warned against the threat posed by Israel against Iran and the Islamic world.
The victory of the Islamic Revolution of Iran and the establishment of the Islamic government is the strongest proof for the disinherited masses, particularly the Muslims, to have faith in the capabilities of Islam and ability of the Muslim leaders to bring about profound socio-political changes and guide the society towards felicity and perfection in the light of the Islamic ideology and culture.
In order to bring changes in the socio-political governmental structures and establishment of a popular revolution and government, the Imam Khamenei said that the great change emerged in the nation was a change that did not aim only to eliminate the regime. The nation wanted an Islamic government.
It was the fundamental issue, that is, they wanted the Quran to rule supreme. They removed the hurdles in the country to establish an Islamic government.
The victory of the Islamic Revolution, which occurred after protracted struggles against all symbols of oppression, inequity, infidelity, paganism, and arrogance, was achieved by paying high human and material costs.
In a short period it could introduce fundamental changes in the thought and culture of the Iranian people.
The idea of return to the indigenous-religious culture and revival of the Islamic values as the only source for responding to the needs and questions and the only certain path of guidance became evidently clear.
Such a fundamental change, which became possible under the sagacious leadership and guidance of the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, was so amazing that astonished all thinkers and scholars of the world.
Micheal Foucault a renowned Western thinker, visited Iran after the victory of the Islamic Revolution.
Upon his return from Iran, he wrote that one of the significant aspects of the revolutionary event was the reality that it demonstrated the absolute collective will – a very few people had such an opportunity in the history.
The collective will is not a political myth with the help of which the lawyers and philosophers try to analyze or justify the institutions.
The collective will is a theoretical instrument. No one has ever seen the collective will of this instant during the last century better than this.
Perhaps Iranians came across the collective will of a nation. Well, it should be respected, as this does not happen frequently.
Obviously, this great event in the contemporary world enjoyed diverse communication possibilities and has had a widespread repercussion in the entire world particularly among the Muslims and the deprived, oppressed peoples of the world.
Its profound impact on the culture and political thought and language of the liberation struggles, particularly those of the Muslims, is quite palpable.
The Palestinian crisis, both with regard to its nature (the transgression of the Zionists against the Islamic homeland and its occupation and application of suppressive policies, torture and trampling upon the rights of the Muslims) and in terms of its historical power, has become the main concern of the Islamic world.
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, calls it as the first Islamic international problem.
Hence the Zionist regime can be considered an embodiment of invasion, occupation and usurper of other’s land.
On the other hand, the struggle of Palestinian people can be considered practical example of resistance by reliance on martyrdom, self-sacrifice.
The all-out support of Iran extended to the liberation struggles of the Palestinians was one of reasons of the transformation in the culture of struggle of the Palestinian nation and fighters.
The victory of the Islamic Revolution and the collapse of the dictatorial monarchy and establishment of the Islamic government in Iran as well as the glorious resistance against all plots of the global arrogance are the best practical example for the Muslim fighters of the occupied territories to practically demonstrate the unlimited power of Islam in giving incentive to them and boosting their fighting power.
In the light of these changes in the struggle culture, the language and method of struggle underwent a change and such concepts as pan-Arabism, which is based on extremist nationalism and has its roots in the Western materialistic culture, was replaced by Islamism and holy war in the way of revival of the splendour and glory of the Islamic world.
Instead of transient materialistic incentives for struggle in the way of motherland, the sublime idea of holy struggle in the way of Nature was institutionalized which is based on the clear spring of divine knowledge.
In the light of the rich Islamic culture, the Palestinian fighters, in order to continue their struggles, while welcoming material and moral support of other countries, particularly the Islamic countries, never depend upon any nation or any power.
—The writer, based in Islamabad, is book ambassador, columnist and author of several books.