Modern Intellectuals as Conspirators?
On Saffar Harandi’s speech in Islamic Unity international conference
In an international conference with a title of ’Islamic unity’, Minister of Islamic Guidance and Culture, Mohammad Hosein Saffar Harandi referred to internet and presence of ’others’ among Muslim nations as the culprit for Muslims’ problems and once again accused modern Muslims thinkers and those who try to reconcile tradition and modernity as agents of Zionism and the United States.
Of course Saffar Harandi possesses a remarkable record in attacking modern Islamic thinkers and advocators of unorthodox Islamic interpretations. He believes any non-conformist understanding of religion, or any criticism of politicized religion originates in conspiratorial thoughts.
Such remarks may not be surprising, even by a person who bears the responsibility of the Ministry of Islamic Guidance and Culture, in private sessions where no media can infiltrate according to Saffar Harandi. However, in a conference on ’Islamic unity’ that seeks convergence between Islamic sects, such statements are astounding. As Mr. Minister claims, unity requires a broad information system and capable individuals that aren’t deluded by Israel and West
. Speaking in the birthday of Prophet Mohammad and in the 22nd international conference of Islamic unity, Saffar revealed West’s new modern of intervention in Islamic countries affairs and said: the imperialist and colonialist world is acting more intricately nowadays. The real manifestation of these interventions is not in form direct interference and dispatching troops.
Imperialist countries are acting clandestinely; hiring individuals who are intellectually dependent on the, but unlike previous years, these individuals are serving them unconsciously.
Prior to this, conservatives’ most vitriolic attacks to cultural and political movements claimed that these currents are financially supported by West, with suitcases full of dollars. However, Minister of Culture believes that Islamic thinkers aren’t supported financially by West, but they’re intellectually spellbound by the enemy. University professors, artists, the press and even ’clerics’ are categorized as ’conspirators’ and according to Saffar those trained by American and Zionist intellectual schools are much more dangerous, since they are fascinated by foreigners and West.
Since taking office in Ahmadinejad’s administration, Saffar has been criticized by artists and intellectuals due to his strict policies, sometimes aimed to sideline culturati.
Meanwhile, in his speech in the Islamic unity conference Saffar Harandi also voiced concern over the growth of internet users and information networks and dubbed it one of the present calamities of the Muslim world. Saffar Harandi has linked those spellbound by Western schools and internet to add to the gravity, calling for further restrictions on entering ’unchaste’ spheres.
In the closing session of the conference Saffar Harandi again criticized those defending different interpretations of Islam, calling them as ’others’ who are the most significant problem of Muslims. According to Saffar ever some disputes between Islamic sects are caused by interventions made by conspirators. Although United States and Israel mastermind the crises in the Muslim world, addressing these issues in such conferences not so much of a prudent act.
In such conferences and meetings where the focus is on convergence and commonalities, controversial issues, deterministic judgments and criticism of various interpretations –even those regarded as short-sighted- should be avoided. But it seems that with all the religious differences among Islamic sects, such remarks made by the Minister of Culture have potential to invoke disputes and differences.
Of course Saffar Harandi possesses a remarkable record in attacking modern Islamic thinkers and advocators of unorthodox Islamic interpretations. He believes any non-conformist understanding of religion, or any criticism of politicized religion originates in conspiratorial thoughts.
Such remarks may not be surprising, even by a person who bears the responsibility of the Ministry of Islamic Guidance and Culture, in private sessions where no media can infiltrate according to Saffar Harandi. However, in a conference on ’Islamic unity’ that seeks convergence between Islamic sects, such statements are astounding. As Mr. Minister claims, unity requires a broad information system and capable individuals that aren’t deluded by Israel and West
. Speaking in the birthday of Prophet Mohammad and in the 22nd international conference of Islamic unity, Saffar revealed West’s new modern of intervention in Islamic countries affairs and said: the imperialist and colonialist world is acting more intricately nowadays. The real manifestation of these interventions is not in form direct interference and dispatching troops.
Imperialist countries are acting clandestinely; hiring individuals who are intellectually dependent on the, but unlike previous years, these individuals are serving them unconsciously.
Prior to this, conservatives’ most vitriolic attacks to cultural and political movements claimed that these currents are financially supported by West, with suitcases full of dollars. However, Minister of Culture believes that Islamic thinkers aren’t supported financially by West, but they’re intellectually spellbound by the enemy. University professors, artists, the press and even ’clerics’ are categorized as ’conspirators’ and according to Saffar those trained by American and Zionist intellectual schools are much more dangerous, since they are fascinated by foreigners and West.
Since taking office in Ahmadinejad’s administration, Saffar has been criticized by artists and intellectuals due to his strict policies, sometimes aimed to sideline culturati.
Meanwhile, in his speech in the Islamic unity conference Saffar Harandi also voiced concern over the growth of internet users and information networks and dubbed it one of the present calamities of the Muslim world. Saffar Harandi has linked those spellbound by Western schools and internet to add to the gravity, calling for further restrictions on entering ’unchaste’ spheres.
In the closing session of the conference Saffar Harandi again criticized those defending different interpretations of Islam, calling them as ’others’ who are the most significant problem of Muslims. According to Saffar ever some disputes between Islamic sects are caused by interventions made by conspirators. Although United States and Israel mastermind the crises in the Muslim world, addressing these issues in such conferences not so much of a prudent act.
In such conferences and meetings where the focus is on convergence and commonalities, controversial issues, deterministic judgments and criticism of various interpretations –even those regarded as short-sighted- should be avoided. But it seems that with all the religious differences among Islamic sects, such remarks made by the Minister of Culture have potential to invoke disputes and differences.