Ayatollah's Dilemma
It was almost 10 years ago, 1999, in which I was admitted to university. Ayatollah appeared almost frustrated on TV; his fans even more depressed, crying as though they had no other option. Sobbingly speaking, he said, “even if they burn my picture or tear it down, you should keep silent.” And the crowd burst into tears, frantically.
It certainly was a great development. The previously perceived sacredness seemed defenseless, at least temporarily. Whatever the reasons, Supreme Leader decided not to confront people’s angriness which demonstrated itself in publicly disrespecting him.
Perhaps Ayatollah used to think that his tolerance could work as a safety tube, sort of a painkiller that could help relieve some pain and calm down angry demonstrators. He was right in making sense of the role played by those kinds of acts. However, he certainly was not much familiar with Golden Rule of medicines: that painkillers can work no more than a limited period; and if the real cause is not to be cured, the patient shall need a stronger painkiller.
10 years later, 2009. In demonstrations of Student Day, some people burnt a picture of Ayatollah Khomeini, late founder of Islamic Republic. The scene was aired several times on national TV. Many religious lecturers around the nation decried the event. Many demonstrations were arranged in which scores of people demanded heavy-handed response to the perpetrators. Interesting enough was that a poster of Ayatollah Khamenei was also torn down in those demonstrations and its captured scenes were aired along with those of Ayatollah Khomeini. And almost nobody paid a special attention to that. Publicly disrespecting the Supreme Leader had lost its effect, kind of a dead painkiller.
One might argue that IRI strategists are far away from realizing the current world, the age of information, in which basing a political system on sacredness no longer works. Some others might speak of Ayatollah’s dilemma; that neither forgiving the offense nor cracking it down can do him a favor. In my turn to speak, I just silently wonder what the painkiller of 2019 might be.
Join the Conversation
Mohammad
An interesting post. I dont think we should insult people for no reason but I also think we should be free to criticize others and even burn pictures of them. It doesnt hurt anyone to burn a picture. It does hurt someone to beat and rape them as “punishment”. Khameneis punishment is far far too bad for the crime.
Id like my country to be one where leaders earn respect. We respect them if they improve our lives. But if they steal money from our economy and not allow us to criticize them and torture and kill us, we should not respect them. It does not matter if they are an ayatollah. It matters if they make our lives better.
Ehsan (Ghoul Sabz)
Dear Mohammad,
World has changed, our people changed. as you mentioned the sacredness dose not work; and its a great jump. At the same time I’m not happy with this green movement if it end in some another kind of revolution. This situation is also for me a dilemma.
@ Ehsan,
When people perceive (even mistakenly) that they can not enforce their wish through peaceful means, they would resort to other things, least of which is insulting. Insulting, however, less than always helps the insulter. Sometimes we feel sympathetic towards the insulted. The point is that, in my opinion, insult should be tolerated in the age of information.
@ Lord,
I do certainly agree with you that a revolution, whether violent or not, is not in favor of our society. The necessary infrastructures (social, cultural, and so on) are not readily available in our nation and some fundamental changes in terms of socio-cultural contexts should be brought about if we are to achieve a more democratic nation. And such changes can only happen in a politically stable community. I do believe that movements such as 1 Million Signatures Campaign are more effective, more object-oriented than some blind riots. People need to change first to get worthy of a better political system. I think, as I’ve said before, that an immediate, radical change will lead to nothing much better than IRI in 30 years or so.
People are entitled to their opinions. Honestly, based on the system Khomeini created and his anti-Iran rhetoric that he started preaching after the revolution, he is no one to be respected anyway, so I don’t know what all the fuss is about.
@Mohammad
I think we agree. Insult should be tolerated in the age of information and there should be no punishment for it. I only say that we should try not to insult people for no reason at all. But if anyone is suitable to be insulted, it is Khamenei, because he has commited great crimes against his own people and no longer deserves any respect.
Mohammad,
I believe this riots not only are useful but also are dangerous. It is now going to be more radical for nothing. there’s no insights behind. I’m not happy. What should we do, you think?
You believe that politicians become radical to supress these riots or what?
@ Hamid
whether we like it or not, Supreme Leader used to enjoy sort of sacredness, which is apparently gone. It’s all about this… and some other sacred things which may be sacred no longer if everything contunies to be alike…
Mohammad / Hamid
The Supreme Leader used to enjoy a sort of sacredness, but when he does such terrible things through the basiji he no longer deserves that. If we say he is sacred whatever he does, that allows him to do any terrible thing he likes to oppress people who disagree with him.
Ehsan
i m getting a lot of headache these time’s in tehran because of the situation in Iran, but i hope for a free democratic Iran;).. and we all have heard about the death of Ali Montazeri one of the great fathers of the green movement,,, and now Qom has come with the green movement for protesting and that’s great to hear for a better iran..
@ Shervin
The death of Ali Montazeri is a terrible event. The important thing we can do to remember and thank him is to continue the work he began to improve human rights condition for the people of iran.
Ehsan