Pan-Iranist Party
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The Pan-Iranist Party (PIP) is a small far-right extremist, paramilitary terrorist organization and party from Iran advocating for Pan-Iranism.
However, the party is not registered in Iran and has been banned since 1970, though it continues to clandestinely operate inside Iran and outside Iran as well, mostly in the West.[1][2]
Despite being nationalistic, the party is overwhemingly secular (echoing Mustafa Kemal Atatürk's ideology of nationalism and secularism), and state that they want the unification of Iranian people via irredentism and imperialism. The party has aped many features from European fascist movements, such as the Nazi Party and Italian Fascists.
The party was represented in the parliament during the Pahlavi dynasty. It was considered somewhat of an opposition group in the regime, but was allowed to operate until they criticized Iran's agreement to Bahraini independence in 1970. This event was the catalyst that resulted in their ban within Iran, but this did little to halt the group's activity as they would continue their activity in exile from the West.[3]
Ideology[edit]
The party generally adheres to far-right nationalism, as it was founded during a time of national identity when colonial superpowers occupied the country. As its name states, the party advocates for Pan-Iranism and Iranian ultranationalism[4], and additionally adhere to chauvinism[5], irredentism[6], and expansionism[7]
However, after Pezeshkpour's return to Iran, he and other former party leaders denounced the fascist structure and symbolism of the organization, claiming their commitment to plurality and democracy, and their willingness to cooperate with other opposition groups. However, their current activity does not reflect their claim.
The PIP has also engaged in violence against dissidents from time to time, specifically the communist Tudeh party.[8] Some members in Iran and abroad have been arrested for their involvement in political activity.[9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18].
History[edit]
The party was founded in 1951 by Mohsen Pezeshkpour and Dariush Forouhar several years after the Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran during World War II. During this time, many Iranians felt insecure about their national safety and saw the Shah as a puppet and a traitor. In response to this, several students banded together into groups and founded a small far-right organization that would later grow into the Pan-Iranist Party.[19]
The party was somewhat influential within the country before its ban. However, alliances with other nationalist groups were rare or non-existent as most were officially banned. Most male and female members wore uniforms not unlike those of European fascists. Forouhar strongly opposed this, though the paramilitary nature of the party was largely symbolic, and members did not carry weapons. However, some members were not required to wear uniforms.
Present day[edit]
Many hardline conservative Iranian politicians today have adopted the general attitude of the party in regards to the tensions and conflict with Saudi Arabia, seeing them through a somewhat racialized lens.[20] In addition, online youth groups have helped to spread the popularity of the party and its movement and ideology across the internet to Iranian diaspora worldwide (similar to Indian nationalist/Hindutva movements for Indian diaspora worldwide).[21]
The current leadership, headed by Zahra Gholamipour (a right wing leader), believes in a more democratic style of government and cooperating with parties and politicians across the political spectrum. However, there are currently no known/public instances of these alliances yet.
Due to Iran's changing religious demographics, Islam is no longer the dominant religion, which may possibly affect the Pan-Iranist Party's treatment and view towards Islam and muslims in future events, especially with the increase of Christians, Zoroastrians, and atheists and growing hatred and hostility against Islam.[22] And given the country's rising secularism (which the party also adheres to), they could easily gain wider support in online circles.[23][24][25][26]
See also[edit]
External links[edit]
References[edit]
- ↑ About: Pan-Iranist Party DBpedia
- ↑ Banned political parties in Iran FamousFix
- ↑ Dariush Foruhar Abdorrahman Boroumand Center for Human Rights in Iran
- ↑ Boroujerdi, Mehrzad; Rahimkhani, Kourosh (2018). Postrevolutionary Iran: A Political Handbook. Syracuse University Press. p. 344.
- ↑ Azimi, Fakhreddin (2008). Quest for Democracy in Iran: A Century of Struggle Against Authoritarian Rule. Harvard University Press. p. 253. ISBN 978-0674027787.
- ↑ Weinbaum, Marvin (1973). Iran finds a party system: the institutionalization of Iran Novin. 27. pp. 439–455. JSTOR 4325140.
- ↑ Chubin, Shahram; Zabih, Sepehr (1974). The Foreign Relations of Iran: A Developing State in a Zone of Great-power Conflict. University of California Press. p. 15. ISBN 978-0520026834.
- ↑ Mark J. Gasiorowski (1987). "Disintegration of Iranian National Front: Causes and Motives". The 1953 Coup d'Etat in Iran (Cambridge University Press) 19 (3): 261–286. doi:10.1017/s0020743800056737.
- ↑ Elderly Iranian party member arrested UNHCR
- ↑ Iran: Ten Members of Pan-Iranist Party Arrested Global Voices
- ↑ Eight Members Of The Pan-Iranist Party Arrested Persia Banoo
- ↑ HRANA: Political Activist, Hojat Kalashi Arrested The Pan Iranist Party
- ↑ Milad Dehghan, political activist arrested HRANA December 11, 2012
- ↑ Hojat Kalashi and Eight Political Activists Arrested HRANA June 24, 2011
- ↑ Pan Iranist Party members released after being arrested for ‘national security breaches’ The Pan Iranist Party
- ↑ Elderly Iranian Party Member Arrested RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberity August 30, 2011 21:59 GMT
- ↑ Milad Dehghan is released on the bail HRANA April 29, 2013
- ↑ Iran: Ten Members of Pan-Iranist Party Arrested Global Voices 23 November 2012
- ↑ 192. Memorandum From the Chief of the Iran Branch, Near East and Africa Division (Waller) to the Chief of the Near East and Africa Division, Directorate of Plans, Central Intelligence Agency (Roosevelt)1 Office of the Historian
- ↑ https://intpolicydigest.org/pan-iranism-new-tactics-of-conservatives-in-iran/
- ↑ Online Hindutva as a global right-wing counterpublic The Immanent Frame
- ↑ Iran’s secular shift: new survey reveals huge changes in religious beliefs The Conversation September 10, 2020 7:14am EDT
- ↑ Iranians have lost their faith according to survey Iran International Tuesday, 25 Aug 2020 01:25
- ↑ Iranians’ Attitudes Toward Religion: A 2020 Survey Report GAMAAN August 25, 2020
- ↑ Iran’s Islamic Leaders Face a Crisis of Faith as Protests Swell By Sune Engel Rasmussen Dec. 11, 2022 8:00 am ET
- ↑ Alt-right and authoritarian memetic alliances: global mediations of hate within the rising Farsi manosphere on Iranian social media SageJournals January 12, 2023