This was a very old plan. Shortly after the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917, communists diligently planned to establish a Marxist state in one or more regions of the Middle East. The aspirations of Marxist planners are evident throughout the twentieth century until the present day.
As Marxism spread throughout the Middle East, Arab nationalism came to the fore with a racial tinge and pan-Arabism resulted. As Ba’athist dictators eventually controlled Syria, Egypt and Iraq, Marxism at once became the norm in these states.
The situation with predominantly Shiite Iran was different. It had pro-Western policies under the leadership of Shah Reza Pahlavi. Marxism did not favor the Shah’s administration. At this point, the communists of the French secret state entered the equation. Khomeini was supported and in 1979 was installed in an “Islamic revolution.” What kind of revolution is possible in Islam? Can a system installed by revolution be Islamic? Of course not. Because there is no compulsion in Islam and a system based on Islam cannot come by force or revolution. And what followed Khomeini ‘s revolution was certainly not Islamic.
Under a Marxist leadership, away from the understanding of love and compassion that Islam requires, the Islamic Republic of Iran has never been a true Islamic republic. Iran is currently a country where a Marxist regime rules. Schools continue to give poor Iranian children a materialist and Marxist education. The appearance of religious devotion has been part of the current oppressive regime, and as a result, truly sincere Islamic believers are quite few in number in Iran. This is because Iran is being governed by a communist authority under the guise of religion, not religion itself.
That is why Israel has always been the target of Marxist Iran and some other Arab countries such as Ba’athist Syria. Apart from Turkey, Israel has always been the only anti-Marxist country in the region. Israel is devout. Religion was the reason for the founding of Israel, and the system of government rests on religion. This devout identity of Israel works against the entire Marxist plans for the Middle East. That is why Israel is the target. Today, Israel stands in the way of Marxist “progress” in the Middle East.
This is the answer to the question, “Why Israel?” Let us now look at the answer to the question, “Can Iran be a threat?”
For thousands of years, Muslims, and Jews have believed in a Savior who will appear in the End Times. This person is called the Mahdi in Islam, and the King Moshiach in Judaism; nonetheless, they are the same person. Both Islamic and Judaic sources provide many indications that our age is that of the coming of the King Moshiach and this is something met with joy by Muslims and Jews because the King Moshiach will eradicate wars, oppression, hatred, injustice, poverty and will bring peace to the whole world. He will fill a world riddled with cruelty with justice instead and will cause wealth and plenty to prevail. The provisions regarding this are astonishingly similar in Islam and Judaism.
In Shiite belief, however, the Mahdi (King Moshiach) is the last of the 12 imams following the death of the Prophet Muhammed (pbuh). Shiites believe that the 12th imam, who disappeared in childhood, has been hidden for around 1,000 years and is still alive. In other words, in Shiite eyes, the Mahdi is a superhuman entity and in fact a phantom Mahdi. According to that belief, if someone is “sufficiently devout” one can see the Mahdi in the form of light at times of need, and can receive instructions from him. To put it another way, if a state official one day says “I saw the Mahdi yesterday, and he told me to attack such and such a country and to use nuclear weapons, that is a command” nobody in this belief can question it or demand proof. Other people may well lack the “religious depth” to see the Mahdi in that way so it is meaningless for them to demand proof. It is generally people at the top of the state who can talk with the phantom Mahdi. And that is the danger.
Iran has to abandon this unusual and dangerous belief that flies in the face of reason, logic and the law of God. Even many Shiite hadith [sayings of Prophet Muhammed (pbuh)] sources explicitly state that the Mahdi does not have superhuman attributes and that he will come to the world in the End Times and be a human being who is tested with difficulties.
Let us now look at the answer to the question, “Can Iran be a threat?”
The religious leader Ayatollah Khamenei issued a fatwa and said, “It is a sin for nuclear weapons to be produced, stored and used.” That fatwa is binding for Iran. The appearance of being an “Islamic Republic” demands it. In facts, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mehmanperest’s words that, “Iran is ready to apply to the U.N. to record this major fatwa as an international document” confirm this.
This is a comforting statement. But it does not, of course, remove the great and profound Marxist threat in the region. Since Israel is a Jewish state, it will continue to be a target for radicals and since it is anti-Marxist it will persist as to be a target for Marxist Muslim countries in the region. That is why support and unity among all Middle East countries are needed in the region. Only Turkey, the other anti-radical and anti-Marxist country in the region, can do this. Egypt, under the leadership of Morsi – who claims to have abandoned his radical past and favors reform – must also be a part of that unification process. Right now, after the apology of Israel from Turkey, it is much easier.
Once Israel and Turkey are united, Egypt will join them soon after. The presence of Turkey will be a guarantee for President Morsi, who desires to see a decline of the unrest in his own country to die down. To promote a genuine unification between these three countries, visa requirements must be abolished to make movement between them easier; tourism and trade will then grow. Other paths leading to brotherhood must also be opened and the three countries must take joint decisions regarding problems in the Middle East.
This tripartite unity will inevitably also be a guarantee in the region for Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is deeply worried about Western hegemony in the Middle East and radical threats at home. Putin’s worries coming to an end means an end to the Syrian problem because the real problem in Syria is directly concerned with Putin, not Assad. The Assad regime will obviously fall the moment President Putin withdraws his support. Since this union will give the guarantee that Russia seeks, there will be no more disorder in the Middle East, and no more Marxist or radical threat.
Iran must stop raising its children as Marxists and free itself from its belief in the phantom Mahdi as a matter of urgency. It is necessary not only for the safety of Iranian citizens, but also for the whole Middle East. Until then, Marxism and phantom Mahdi idea will continue to pose a threat. Consequently, unity is more important now than ever.
Aylin Kocaman; The writer is a commentator on A9 TV and executive director of the Building Bridges Show (buildingbridgestv.com) Istanbul/Turkey. She is also a columnist for renown online newspaper haberhilal.com in Turkey, a guest columnist at several international newspapers and magazines. Website: http://en.aylinkocaman.com/
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