turban jump; what goes around comes around

Recently, in connection with the removal of the turban from the heads of some clerics in Koi and Barzan, which is also referred to as "the removal of the turban", a statement by Khomeini in the pre-revolution era is mentioned. This is also one of the lessons of the times that came out of the Iranian revolution with the title of "Islamic Republic"; A system that was rightly called the "Republic of Rouhani" by Engineer Bazargan.

Now, after more than four decades, this clerical republic is in a situation where the vast majority of people are against it, and a significant part of these people, including the young generation who have grown up under this clerical-oriented system, have protested. And they express their opposition in different ways. And they even consider the only way to get rid of this system as a whole. Meanwhile, one of the ways of opposition is the method of removing the turban of some clerics here and there. However, these clerics often do not have any position or responsibility in the patriarchal clerical system, and they may have been victims themselves, and therefore they are among the opponents and critics.

However, since "Makhund" symbolically represents both religion and the sign of the spiritual republic, they are significantly angered by protesting and angry people. It is in this time and context that it is rightly said that the founder of the spiritual republic called the Islamic Republic himself laid the foundations of such a tradition. In fact, it can be said that something that has change has no problem! At the same time, such an action is condemned in many ways, and at least it is not in the interest of the people's protest movement.

However, it is felt that, considering the historical importance of Khomeini's speech, it is necessary to reflect a little. A part of the text of his speech in 1969, which is included in his book "Province of Jurists", is:

"... These are not Islamic jurists. Many of these have been publicized by Iran's security organization to pray. If they could not force the imams of the congregation to attend during the holidays and other ceremonies, they should have their own to say the glory! These are not jurists! are known! People know these. Our young people should remove these turbans. The turban of these mullahs who create corruption in the Muslim society in the name of Islamic jurists should be removed. . . I'm not saying kill them; These cannot be killed; But take the turban off their heads. People are obliged. . ".

In connection with this paragraph, several points should be mentioned:
First of all, the context of the word shows that the meaning of clerics who should be removed from their heads are those who have been designated by the security organization of the regime to appear in the presence of the king or at government ceremonies and to say, according to his interpretation, "Galma Jallah" and for The king prays. However, the general meaning of the word can include all the scholars who are courtiers and in their interpretation create "corruption" by praying.

Second, in explaining the issue of prayer, it is necessary to say that in the pre-revolution era, in general, the guardians of mosques and hosseiniyehs in cities and villages were obliged by the security institutions to force preachers and pulpits to pray to the king and The entire "Jalil Sultanate family" should pray in the pulpits. Of course, this recommendation was strong and weak, and it was often not implemented, especially in big cities. However, at least as far as I know, in the villages east of Gilan and west of Mazandaran in the forties and fifties, this pressure on the pulpits was intense. Although the demand for prayer was sometimes made by ordinary people and in their name. I have many memories in this field.

Thirdly, in the two decades before the revolution, there were a small number of students who received financial support through endowments, and in fact, the regime used them to pray and preach in government ceremonies for the benefit of the government. These people were known as "Akhund Awqafi".

Fourth, as far as I know, even after Khomeini's strong advice, no one, including students and others, followed it. At least I have not heard that Mammami's turban was removed in the street.
2022 November 7, Monday

Hassan Yousefi Ashkuri