Cultural Revolution in Iran

This article is about the Iranian Cultural Revolution, 1980–1983. For Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution, see Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution.

The Cultural Revolution (1980–1983; Persian: انقلاب فرهنگی: Enqelābe Farhangi) was a period following the Iranian Revolution, when the academia of Iran was purged of Western and non-Islamic influences, (including traditionalist unpolitical Islamic doctrines) to align them with the revolutionary and political Islam. The cultural revolution sometimes involved violence in taking over the university campuses, as higher education in Iran had many secularist and leftist forces who were opposed to Ayatollah Khomeini's Islamic state in Iran.[1][clarification needed] The official name used by the Islamic 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 Khomeiniist control at many universities was largely unsuccessful. How many students or faculty were killed is not known.[1][3][4]

The government's process of censoring foreign influences has not been without consequences. 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. This loss of job skills and capital weakened Iran's economy.

  1. ^ a b Shahrzad Mojab (Summer 2004), "State-University Power Struggle at Times of Revolution and War in Iran", International Higher Education, archived from the original on 2004-06-22
  2. ^ Supreme Cultural Revolution Council GlobalSecurity.org
  3. ^ Shahrzad Mojab (Summer 2004), "State-University Power Struggle at Times of Revolution and War in Iran", International Higher Education, archived from the original on 2004-06-22, the gangs wounded hundreds of students and killed at least 24
  4. ^ Dr. Younus Shaikh, Islam and the Woman, Part 3, archived from the original on 2006-11-23, retrieved 2006-11-23, "There were 5,195 political and religious executions only in 1983 alone!
  5. ^ Keddie, Modern Iran, (2006), p.250