Iranian Cultural Revolution

The Cultural Revolution (1980–1983) (Persian: ‫ )اﻧﻘﻼب ﻓﺮﻫﻨﮕﯽ‬was a period following the Iranian Revolution, when the academia
of Iran was purged of Western and non-Islamic influences (even traditionalist unpolitical Islamic doctrines) to bring it in line with the
revolutionary and Political Islam.[1] The official name used by theIslamic Republic is "Cultural Revolution".

Directed by the Cultural Revolutionary Headquarters and later by the Supreme Cultural Revolution Council, the revolution initially
closed universities for three years (1980–1983) and after reopening banned many books and purged thousands of students and
lecturers from the schools.[2] The cultural revolution sometimes involved violence in taking over the university campuses. Higher
education in Iran had many leftist forces who were opposed to Ayatollah Khomeini's Islamic state in Iran. The resistance of
[1][3][4]
Khomeiniist control at many universities was largely unsuccessful. How many students or faculty were killed is not known.

The government's process of censoring foreign influences has not been without conflict. In addition to interrupting the freedom,
education and professional livelihood of many, and striking "a major blow to Iran's cultural and intellectual life and achievement",[5]
it contributed to the emigration of many teachers and technocrats. The loss of job skills and capital has weakened Iran's economy
.

Contents
Officials and founders
Islamization of universities
Influence and sacrifices
Institutions
Current work
Members
See also
References and notes
Further reading
External links

Officials and founders

Numerous political figures, clerics and academics were involved in the cultural revolution between 1980 and 1983. The following
figures are known as main advocates of the movement. They expelled some 700 University professors from Iran's academic
institutions in a short time.[6][7]
 Name Title
Ruhollah Khomeini founder
Ali Khamenei founder and head of the council
Mohammad Javad Bahonar
Ahmad Ahmadi
Jalaleddin Farsi
member of council
Mehdi Golshani
Hassan Habibi
Ali Shariatmadari
Abdolkarim Soroush
Mostafa Moin minister of science
Hassan Arefi mostly involved in expelling medical scientists
Mohammad Ali Najafi minister of science
Asadollah Lajevardi

In 1983, Ali Khamenei was the main figure behind the expansion of the council and its scope of activities. His suggestion was
approved by the Iranian leader.

Islamization of universities
The shutdown of the universities was preceded by attacks on foreign forces on university campuses. On April 18, 1980 after Friday
prayers, Khomeini gave a speech harshly attacking the universities.

We are not afraid of economic sanctions or military intervention. What we are afraid of is Western universities and
the training of our youth in the interests of W
est or East.

His remarks are thought to have "served as a signal for an attack that evening on the Tehran Teachers Training College" by his
supporters, the Hezbollahi. One student was reportedly lynched, and according to a British correspondent, the campus was left
looking like `a combat zone.` The next day, hezbollahis ransacked left-wing student offices at Shiraz University. Some 300 students
required hospital treatment. Attacks on student groups also took place at Mashad and Isfahan Universities."[8] Attacks continued
April 21 and "the next day at the Universities at Ahwaz and Rasht. Over 20 people lost their lives in these university confrontations.
[8]
... The universities closed soon after the April confrontation for Islamization`. They were not to open for another two years."

The main theme of the movement was to purify the universities and education system of foreign influences. In his original letter,
Ayatollah Khomeini wrote: Set yourselves free from any " –ism" and " –ist" belonging to the East and the West. Be self-dependent
and do not expect any help from the foreigners.[9]

[10] Khomeini issued a letter, stating:

After shutting down the universities on 12 June 1980,

The need for Cultural Revolution which is an Islamic issue and demand of the Muslim nation has been recognized for
sometimes but so far no effective effort has been made to respond to this need and the Muslim nation and the devoted
and faithful students in particular are concerned and are worried of the machinations of plotters, which every now and
then become evident and the Muslim nation are worried that God forbidden the opportunity is missed and no positive
action is taken and the culture remains the same as the time of the corrupt regime which the acultured officials put
 these important centers under the disposal of colonialists. Continuation of this disaster which is unfortunately the
objective of some the foreign oriented groups would deal a heavy blow to Islamic Revolution and Islamic Republic
and any indifference towards this vital issue would be great treason against Islam and the Islamic country.

— [10]

The "Committee for Islamization of Universities" carried out the task by ensuring an "Islamic atmosphere" for every subject from
engineering to the humanities.[10][11] The headquarters deleted certain courses such as music as "fake knowledge," and committees
"came to similar conclusions concerning all subjects in the humanities such as law, political sciences, economy, psychology,
education and sociology".[2]

When the institutions reopened, purges continued for five more years with special focus on "Islam’s enemies".[12] Students were
screened by committees and those found unfit were not allowed to continue their studies.[13] Students in the University instructor
program, for example, "were required to be practicing Muslims, to declare their loyalty to ... the doctrine of the vice regency of the
faqih. Non-Muslims were required to refrain from behavior `offensive to Muslims,` and were excluded from all fields of study except
accounting and foreign languages."[14]

Outside of the universities, the Cultural Revolution affected some non-academic cultural and scientific figures who it publicly
of programs.[15]
denounced, and the broadcasts of Iranian radio and television, which were now limited to religious andficial

Influence and sacrifices

The Cultural Revolution united the theological schools in Qom with state universities and brought secular teachers to Qom for a time.
This had the unexpected result of exposing many students in Qom to Western thought, so that it is possible to find "clerics and
teachers of theology who know something of contemporary W
estern thought and philosophy."

Another aspect was that many teachers, engineers, economists, doctors, and technocrats left Iran to escape the Cultural
Revolution.[16] While the revolution achieved its goal of ridding the universities of Western influence, it also greatly weakened Iran
[17]
in the fields of science and technology needed for development.

Institutions
The Cultural Revolution Headquarters was established June 12, 1980 and charged by Ayatollah Khomeini with making sure that the
cultural policy of the universities was based on Islam, that selected professors were "efficient, committed and vigilant," and dealing
[18]
with other issues relevant to the Islamic academic revolution.

It was continued by the Supreme Cultural Revolution Council[19] in December 1984. It is described as "the highest body for
making policies and decisions in connection with cultural, educational and research activities within the framework of the general
policies of the system and considered its approvals indispensable." The body is not stipulated in the Constitution but "was formed
under the special circumstances that were prevailing in the early stages of the revolution. The council took its legitimacy from the 9
[2]
December 1984 decree of the founder of the Islamic Republic."

In fact, this group of seven (in 1980-83) and then 17 (in 1984) that was even expanded to 36 in 1999 was expected to compile all the
cultural policies of the country.[1] Hojjatol-Islam Mohammad Khatami was appointed as a member of the High Council for
Cultural Revolution[20] in 1996[21] and in 1997 became its head. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad became the head of the Council in 2005,
succeeding Khatami; Grand Ayatollah Ali Khameneihas oversight over the Council.

The Council has been active in fighting the student movement of 1983-1989 "banning many books and purging thousands of students
and lecturers." The council controls the affairs of the university and its students through supervising the selection of applicants to the
[2]
university and by controlling the formation of university institutions.
Since 2001, the council has been active in demanding state control or government-imposed filtering of the internet to prevent the
dissemination of blasphemy, insults to Iran's Supreme Leader, opposition to the constitution, the creation of "pessimism and
hopelessness among the people regarding the legitimacy and ef [2]
fectiveness of the [Islamic] system", and similar vices.

Current work
The Cultural Council continues its work ensuring that the education and culture of Iran remain "100% Islamic" as Khomeini directed.
In 2006, there was a talk of universities "bracing" for "tighter state control over student bodies and faculties and perhaps even the
second ‘Cultural Revolution'" [22] This came after Ahmadinejad was elected as Iran's president in 2005 and became the head of the
council. It has resulted in the dismissal or compulsory retirement of veteran university faculties and their replacement with younger
professors espousing the fervor of the Islamic Republic.[23] Many students have been incarcerated and harassed for writing or
speaking out against the government and its policies.[24] The repressive focus on the academia stems from the fact that Iranian
schools and universities emerged as the center of opposition particularly against perceived injustices of the ruling establishment
beginning in the regime ofReza Shah.[25]

The council, or at least institutions under it, has been adopting more progressive policies in the past. For instance, there was the
creation of the Social and Cultural Council of Women in 1987. This agency aggressively defended women's rights and eliminated
restrictions that were previously imposed by theHigh Council of the Cultural Revolution.[26]

Members
The Cultural Council has 41 members,[27] most of whom hold other government posts as well.

1. Hassan Rouhani 1. Ahmad Ahmadi

2. Sadeq Larijani 2. Alireza Arafi
3. Ali Larijani 3. Hamid Parsania
4. Ali Jannati 4. Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel
5. Hassan Hashemi 5. Reza Davari Ardakani
6. Ahmad Masjid Jamei 6. Hassan Rahimpour Azghadi
7. Mohammad Farhadi 7. Ali Shariatmadari
8. Ali Asghar Fani 8. Ali Akbar Rashad
9. Mahmoud Goudarzi 9. Seyed Alireza Sadr Hosseini
10. Sorena Sattari 10. Mohammad-Reza Aref
11. Mohammad Bagher Nobakht 11. Mohsen Ghomi
12. Shahindokht Molaverdi 12. Mohammad-Ali Key-Nejad
13. Abdulali Ali-Asgari 13. Mansour Kabganian
14. Mehdi Khamooshi 14. Hossein Kachooyan
15. Mohammad Bagher Khoramshad 15. Mehdi Golshani
16. Mohammad Mohammadian 16. Mahmoud Mohammadi Araghi
17. Hamid Tayyebi 17. Mohammad Reza Mokhber Dezfooli
18. Kobra Khazali 18. Sadegh Vaez-Zadeh
19. Hamid Mirzadeh 19. Ali Akbar Velayati
20. Nasrollah Pejmanfar
21. Ali Abbaspoor
22. Hossein Ali Shahriari

See also
 Cultural Revolution - similar event in the People's Republic of China
Islamic Revolutionary Courtdeals with "treason against Islam" and other matters.
Islamic conquest of Persia
Farrokhroo Parsa

References and notes

1. Shahrzad Mojab (Summer 2004),"State-University Power Struggle at Times of Revolution and War in Iran" (https://w
eb.archive.org/web/20040622202130/http://www .bc.edu/bc_org/avp/soe/cihe/newsletter/News36/text006.htm) ,
International Higher Education, archived from the original (http://www.bc.edu/bc_org/avp/soe/cihe/newsletter/News3
6/text006.htm) on 2004-06-22
2. Supreme Cultural Revolution Council(http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/iran/scrc.htm)GlobalSecurity.org
3. Shahrzad Mojab (Summer 2004),"State-University Power Struggle at Times of Revolution and War in Iran" (https://w
eb.archive.org/web/20040622202130/http://www .bc.edu/bc_org/avp/soe/cihe/newsletter/News36/text006.htm) ,
International Higher Education, archived from the original (http://www.bc.edu/bc_org/avp/soe/cihe/newsletter/News3
6/text006.htm) on 2004-06-22, "the gangs wounded hundreds of students and killed at least 24 "
4. Dr. Younus Shaikh, Islam and the Woman (http://www.mukto-mona.com/Articles/Younus_Sheikh/IslamWoman3.htm),
Part 3, ""There were 5,195 political and religious executions only in 1983 alone!
"
5. Keddie, Modern Iran, (2006), p.250
6. "Hammihan Newspaper"(https://web.archive.org/web/20070626055359/http://www .ham-mihan.org/Released/86-04-
02/339.htm). Archived from the original (http://www.ham-mihan.org/Released/86-04-02/339.htm) on 2007-06-26.
7. ":: FARHANGSHAHR ::" (https://web.archive.org/web/20070709102315/http://archives.farhangshahr .com/standpoint
s/issue_344062007/). Archived from the original (http://archives.farhangshahr.com/standpoints/issue_344062007/)
on 2007-07-09.
8. Bakhash, Shaul (1984).The Reign of the Ayatollahs. Basic Books. p. 122.
9. http://www.irib.ir/occasions/Enghelab-farhangi/En.htm
10. "History of SCCR" (https://web.archive.org/web/20071015122930/http://iranculture.org/en/about/tarikh.php)
.
Archived from the original (http://iranculture.org/en/about/tarikh.php)on 2007-10-15.
11. "Philosophy in Tehran | Dissent Magazine"(https://www.dissentmagazine.org/online_articles/philosophy-in-tehran).
Dissent Magazine. Retrieved 2017-06-08.
12. Foundation anniversary of the Islamic Propagation Organization (I.O.P) by Khomeini's order
(http://www.irib.ir/occasi
ons/Tablighat%20Eslami%5CEn.HTM)Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting
13. Kimia Sanati. " "Students Brace for Second 'Cultural Revolution'""(https://web.archive.org/web/20070225130515/htt
p://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=34793). ipsnews.net. Archived from the original (http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idne
ws=34793) on 2007-02-25.
14. source: advertisement inEttelaat (2 August 1982), Bakhash, ShaulThe Reign of the Ayatollahs, Basic Books, (1984)
p.226
15. Keddie, Modern Iran (2003), p,290
16. M.ibrahimn, Youssef. "INSIDE IRAN'S CULTURAL REVOLUTION"(https://www.nytimes.com/1979/10/14/archives/in
side-irans-cultural-revolution-iran.html). Retrieved 2018-07-20.
17. Keddie, Modern Iran, (2003), p.290
18. John Pike. "Supreme Cultural Revolution Council (SCRC)"
(http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/iran/scrc.htm). globalsecurity.org.
19. "Objectives of the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution"(https://web.archive.org/web/20071219123128/http://
www.iranculture.org/en/about/ahdaf.php). Archived from the original (http://www.iranculture.org/en/about/ahdaf.php)
on 2007-12-19.
20. Another name for the Supreme Cultural Revolution Council.
21. "President of I.R.Iran,Mohammad Khatami"(https://web.archive.org/web/20030716204902/http://www .irib.ir/Ouriran/
mashahir/siasi/khatami/html/en/president.htm)
. Archived from the original (http://www.irib.ir/Ouriran/mashahir/siasi/kh
atami/html/en/president.htm)on 2003-07-16.
22. "Students Brace for Second 'Cultural Revolution
' " (https://web.archive.org/web/20070225130515/http://ipsnews.net/
news.asp?idnews=34793). ipsnews.net. Archived from the original (http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=34793)on
2007-02-25.
23. Ahmadinejad seeks purge of liberal profs(https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060905/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iran_university_
purge)AP via Yahoo! News 5 September 2006
24. " 'Cultural Revolution' Redux"(https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/tehranbureau/2010/05/cultural-revolution-re
dux.html). FRONTLINE - Tehran Bureau. Retrieved 2018-07-20.
25. Razavi, Reza (2009). "The Cultural Revolution in Iran, with Close Regard to the Universities, and Its Impact on the
Student Movement" (https://www.jstor.org/stable/40262639). Middle Eastern Studies. 45 (1): 1–17.
26. Povey, Tara (2016). Women, Power and Politics in 21st Century Iran
. Oxon: Routledge. p. 41.
ISBN 9781409402046.
27. "Members of SCCR -" (https://web.archive.org/web/20070422152241/http://www .iranculture.org/en/about/members.p
hp). Archived from the original (http://www.iranculture.org/en/about/members.php?) on 2007-04-22.

Further reading
A Century of Revolution: Social Movements in IranISBN 978-0-8166-2487-4
Iranian Revolution of 1978–79
The Culture of revolution: Revolutionary transformation in Iran

External links
Supreme Cultural Revolution Council
Supreme Council of Cultural Revolution, in a Lecture in Demark: Christian Morality Dissolved in the Acid of
Capitalism and Secularism
Supreme Council for Cultural Revolution: We Are Stronger Than America and the West
Ayatollah Khamenei’s responses the president & the chairman of SCCR to the questions osed
p by experts of public
relation department of the SCCR in June, 1985.

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