The Islamic Revolution of Iran (2)

By: Hamid Amidi

In these conditions foreign powers were able to increase their scope of influence over the governments in Islamic countries. Nations were put under more severe forms of oppression than ever before. The only thing that was left of Islam was its name. The Islam that fights oppression was transformed into an Islam that accepted to be oppressed; an Islam that was accepted by the Eastern and Western blocs. The victory of the Islamic revolution and the presentation of a role model of the true form of Islam was able to revive the Islamic world and Islamic movements throughout the region.

Islamic movements in the region were revived. Before the Islamic revolution the role model that was used was a reformation of the caliphate in the Ottoman dynasty with a Shia flavor. This role model was not very practical and did not have much effect on the society. The theory of walayatul-faqih was presented with the advent of the Islamic revolution. The general public played a pivotal role in this role model and it was only through the people that oppressive leaders were able to be overthrown.

One of the subjects that is always given attention to by various political and intellectual movements is Palestine. These movements tried to solve the political situation in Palestine which would result in something that they wanted. But, with the victory of the Islamic revolution the impracticality of their solutions became apparent. The new tactic was to be resistance; a people’s revolution against the Zionist regime.

Imam Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic, stated that there was no political solution to the Palestinian issue. He said that the only way to save Palestine was through jihad against the Zionists. He rebuked those who sought a solution through diplomacy and said: “I advise leaders of Palestine to rely on Allah and the people of Palestine and to use your weapons to the brink of death against Israel. Be sure that the Eastern bloc and the Western bloc are not in your best interests.”

Imam Khomeini’s words opened up the region almost immediately. The intifada started shortly thereafter and Islamic movements such as Hizbollah and Hamas were formed.