The discomfort of the mullahs with the Persian language
Rouhani and Khamenei are obviously referring to each other in the context of the struggle for power within the narrow Khomeinist clique of which both are members. Yet neither of them is prepared to adopt a normal political posture that identifies the other side in a debate, spell out any differences and ask for public support for one’s own position. The myth of “Islamic unanimity” must be maintained at the cost of the truth.
Last week, some MPs used the trick to show their unhappiness with the government’s failure or unwillingness to provide a coherent account of the terror attacks that shook Tehran. MP Ahmad Zamani: “Six days after the attacks there is still no account of what really happened.”
MP Muhammad Qassim Zamani said: “The attackers must have had a command and control and support network, about which we know nothing.” MP Muhammad-Reza Tabesh said: “Help must have been there for terrorists, otherwise they wouldn’t have been able to do what they did.”
Like Khamenei and Rouhani, the three MPs wish to please their real or imagined constituency without committing to a clear position. They are not prepared to name the security services, the military and their supposed political masters, or blame them for failure to provide a credible narrative of the tragedy.
Language is a medium for exchanging information, ideas and sentiments in all walks of life, including politics. But in Iran, it is used either to hide things or to relay coded messages that only insiders might understand. Not having the courage of one’s declared convictions may at times be needed for selfprotection in a hostile environment. But what about politicians in an environment they control?
One can understand why critics of the regime might be censored or otherwise silenced. But what about state-owned media censoring the incumbent president, not to mention former presidents who have become non-persons? Rouhani claims he is a moderate and reformist without ever telling us on what issues he seeks moderation and which aspect of current policy he wishes to reform and how.
Khamenei is constantly warning against “plotters and Zionist agents” trying to sabotage the revolution from within, but never tells us who they are and why are they allowed to pursue their misdeeds. Khomeinist grandees do not speak or write Persian the way it is supposed to be. This is why the more they speak, the less people know. The only authentic sound is that of knives they are sharpening behind the scenes.
QAmir Taheri was executive editor in chief of the daily Kayhan in Iran from 1972 to 1979. He has worked at or written for innumerable publications and published 11 books. — Originally published in Asharq Al-Awsat.