Most people are happy with their countries and proud of their nationality; but what is it like to feel Unwanted?
As a Danish Iranian I live a life in exile. I have lived in exile for 28 years without seeing Iran. I have a Danish passport, however most Danes do not see me as one of them, but as a foreigner. Every Time there is talk about foreigners on television I feel bad, because they talk about me and many Others living in their country. They talk most of the time about foreigners; unfortunately, they only Talk about the bad effects immigration has had, in order to get people’s attention. Every day I have To remember that I am a foreigner, and therefore, not welcome in their country. Unfortunately, I Have lived with this mental torture for many years, because I have no choice; I can not leave my Parents, and leave the country. Racism is permitted in their country, in the name of democracy. On the radio, before the election campaign, I had to listen to the Danish People’s Party , the racist Party, say that foreigners should be punished harder and faster than Danes. This law has become Very strict in Denmark, so much so, that you can almost no longer reunite families and start a life. You are trapped in their racism. Of course, they have sovereignty to decide in their own country, But legislation must be realistic. Denmark has the strictest foreign policy in all of Europe. The Ugly Danes reminds me of the book “The Ugly Americans”, written by Eugene Burdick and William Lederer in 1958, which sold 4 million copies. John F. Kennedy was so obsessed with this Novel, that he sent all his colleagues a copy. It dealt with the Cold War and Vietnam. Before John F. Kennedy, Dwight Eisenhower had ended democracy in Iran by a countercoup in 1953. Kennedy had come To change the ugly image of Americans in the world and his strategy was clear. Rather than Supporting dictatorship in the world, he wanted to give people what communism promised them. He launched the Peace Corps, and later decided to remove Mohammad Reza Shah ( 1941-1979) and Replace Teymur Bakhtiar, a powerful general from SAVAK (the Secret police). The plan, of course, Did not materialise when Kennedy was shot, and General Teymour Bakhtiar fled to Iraq. In Iraq, Saddam Hussein(1937-2006) used him against Mohammad Reza Shah until he was shot and murdered by SAVAK (He wanted to coup against the shah).
Americans had destroyed among many Iranians the image of the Shah in Iran, with their countercoup that Later cost the Shah power. Mohammad Reza Shah only wanted to save Iran, when Americans had scared him with communism and a new version like Korea (prevent Iran divided as Korea in north and south). His cooperation with Americans made many Iranians see him as an American puppet.
The 1979 revolution was a result of the 1953 countercoup, but Americans could never launch this countercoup if The high-ranking imams did not cooperate. They issued a fatwa against Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadeq who was backed by Tudeh, the communist party in Iran. After this coup, the Shah changed the constitution where he gained more power.(The situation should not be repeated and communism should not be allowed to take power ) .Americans would Again rule over Iran where they got the Shah to make General Zahedi Prime Minister. The Shah Canceled Zahedi after a few years to get out of the American control. Before Americans, the British Tried to rule over Iran by pointing out the prime minister. Prime Minister Ali Razmara is a good Example of that.
When Mohammad Reza Shah was king of Iran, communism was very strong in the world. Joseph Stalin was still alive and supported the communists in Iran. The Communists also fought in Europe, And several European countries such as Greece, were falling into the hands of the Communists. Mohammad Reza Shah achieved his greatness, when he was appointed leader of the OPEC. It was not easy and no one thought that Iran had a chance against Egypt. Only a few Arab Countries voted for Egypt even though Gamal Abdel Nasser(1954-1970) was the hero of the Arabs with his pan Arab ideology. In step with rising oil prices, Mohammad Reza Shah made Iran a modern country And Iran became the strongest country in the Middle East. The Shah said that Soviet Union will no Longer be able to occupy Iran and if there is ever going to be a world war, Iran must approve of it, Along with the other great powers. Jimmy Carter said in his speech that it is insane for the Shah to order the most modern aircraft Before the United States. How can we trust him as an ally? It was probably difficult for the Americans to trust the Shah because he had great ambitions. In the war between Israel and Egypt, He had helped Egypt. He had become a big fan of President Anvar al Sadat and played a major role In the peace process between Egypt and Israel which resulted in the Camp David Pact.
Disinformation and propaganda from communism and the Shah’s enemies led many to believe That the Shah was an american or western puppet. The only reason the Shah chose Americans over The Russians was Joseph Stalin’s breach of promise after World War II. The Shah was actually a socialist, and had More in common with communism. He had made Iran a socialist country with free access to school And health and had strengthened agriculture. He wanted a collaboration with Tudeh, the Communist Party of Iran, but Tudeh was supported by Joseph Stalin. If Americans had not helped, The Russians would not have left Iran after World War II. It made the Shah choose Americans over The Russians.
The Shah collapsed due to a fall in oil prices. It was a matter of life and death. It was either Europe, Or Iran that was going to collapse. The Europeans, especially the British, blamed the Shah. The Shah would not give up, why should Iran pay European losses? They had to work harder rather than Relax. The Shah was under pressure as he wanted to make Iran modern, and had only a few years To live; he had cancer and was very ill. The high oil prices would result in uprisings in southern Europe and communism could take over. A fall in oil prices would result in revolts in Iran and Communism could take over.
The USA had to make a choice. Saudi Arabia was weak, but wanted to strengthen its position and Chose to help the Americans against the OPEC. They weakened OPEC and this resulted in a collapse Of the Iranian economy. It was all a battle for the market. The Shah chose to put a lot of pressure On the people and encouraged them to work harder.The fight was over. Ayatollah Khomeini had launched a revolution, in which he had promised the People a better life with free oil money for them. Prime Minister Jamshid Amouzegar launched cut Downs to save the monarchy, but made it all worse when he stopped the money for the imams (including Ayatollah khomeini).
Former Prime Minister Amir Abbas Hoveyda and the Shah believed that imams and Islam were against Communism, and that strengthening imams could keep young people away from communism. The Shah also did not want to fight against imams, as he knew a fatwa could trigger a rebellion against His regime. The white revolution of the Shah that made Iran a socialist country had made some Societal classes against the Shah.
Falling oil prices, communists, and extreme Islamists and other organisations like Al Fatah ( Palestinian National Liberation Movement) made the revolution a reality. The Americans did everything to prevent the army from carrying out a coup against Ayatollah Khomeini, as it could Strengthen communism. Before the revolution 6.8 tuman (Iranian currency) was equivalent to one dollar. Today, 25-27.000 Tumans equals one dollar.
Before the revolution, Iranians could travel everywhere. Today, no one wants them and they are placed at the back of the queue at the airport.
How deep can a nation sink?
Already shortly after the revolution, the Islamic regime began to kill its opponents. How can any Iranian today work for this regime? It reminds me of Nazi Germany and the Jews who worked for Them and helped with the extermination. The Europeans and other people who worked for Nazi Germany, it shows that people can sink a lot.
In my book “The Rise and Fall of Iran and Middle East” I have explained the three main areas that Resulted in the collapse of the Middle East and democracy. The competition between colonial Powers, the formation of Israel and the Middle Eastern culture. The Iraq war(2003) was a result of Israel and disinformation. The revolution in Iran(1979), the many coups in The Middle East that started with Syria (1949), was because of Israel. Turkey changed direction from being Pro-American to extremism. We must not forget Turkey and the Muslim Brotherhood. Iran is not a Sunni state but has much in common with the Muslim Brotherhood( Anti colonial) What we see in Iran is not Islam, but a new Islamic revolutionary ideology founded by Ayatullah Khomeini . Today, the primary state backers of the Muslim Brotherhood are Qatar and Turkey. As of 2015, it is Considered a terrorist organisation by the governments of Bahrain, Egypt, Russia, Syria, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. The colonial powers were the main reasons for the Formation of Muslim Brotherhood (al-Ikhwān al-Muslimūn) which is also due to the popularity of Communism in China and other countries.
Turkey will go back to the Ottomans and not respect the countries and borders. The borders were Formed by the British and the French. Turkey has today occupied the mountains of Ararat and Closed its border with Armenia. Turkey supported al-Qaeda and helped destroy Syria and Iraq. Karabakh conflict resulted in 5-10,000 Armenian lives. Russia chose not to support the Armenians Enough with hopes of getting Azerbaijan on its side but Azerbaijan chose Turkey over Russia. Russia’s desperate attempt to attract ex-Russian countries to Russia resulted in the conflict of Ukraine and Georgia who want to choose Europe over Russia. Putin’s ambitions to make Russia Great again. The young generation wants Europe rather than Russia because they want a good life With welfare, while the old generation who served under the USSR, misses the communist times. The dissolution of the Soviet Union came when Moscow was silent and did not order strike in 1989. After Joseph Stalin ,Nikita Khrushchev proved to be a weak leader. In 1954, Crimea became Part of Ukraine and the Cuban Missile Crisis confirmed the weakness of the Soviet Union over the Americans. Later the Russians tried to compete with NATO and the European Union and the Warsaw Pact secured ex-Russian countries military support from Russia in 1995 . Russia’s Competition with Europe proved to be a failure as Russia’s economy is not as attractive as the European Union’s. Putin participated in Syria to convince ex-Russian countries that Russia is still a Superpower and Iran participated in the war after Putin ordered Iranian General Qasem Soleimani (Revolutionary Guard) For help. Syria is an important country for Iran due to Israel.
No doubt that part of the ex-Russian lands belonged to Iran, as the Russians occupied in the Napoleonic Wars resulted in the treaty of Gulistan and Turkmenchay. Iran’s weakness towards Russia is from the most popular president in Iran, Mohammad Khatami (1997-2005), to the least popular Ebrahim Raisi (2021- ) who went to Russia and showed his loyalty to Putin. Putin has done everything in his power to keep Iran from negotiating (JCPOA) with the United States. Iran is a country today, that not only kills its opponents but also its scientists. The AMAD (Atomic) project is Clear evidence of Iran’s cruel regime. Iran is today a dangerous country with rockets that can go Really far and the Iranian secret police is operating in European soil, and liquidating its Iranian Opponents. Muslim countries reacted very weakly to the Israel Palestine conflict (2021). Turkey and Pakistan could have sent warning to Israel but only Iran helped with missiles to test Israel’s defensive. I am referring to the Periphery doctrine that was concluded between Israeli and non-Arab countries in 1950. Back to Denmark, I live in a country that constantly wants a return of refugees and stricter rules for Foreigners. A country that depoliticises refugees and calls them all, immigrants. How can I be an Immigrant when I have not lived in Iran for 28 years? Funnily enough, the people of the Iranian Regime including statesmen’s descendants, live in Europe and the United States. Of course, there is Nothing wrong with that because they have money. The money they have stolen from the Iranian People. In the end, it is unfortunately ordinary people who have fled for a better life that are Unwanted. Social democracy in Denmark still claims that they are a party with social democratic values. I do Not see much difference between them and the racist parties. It all changed under the previous Prime Minister of Denmark Helle Thorning-Schmidt (2011-2015). She was not a real social democrat but was Nevertheless appointed president. She started a collaboration with the racist People’s Party and Since then it was all over.
Today, Denmark wants to return the Afghans they received several months ago. Has Afghanistan Suddenly become a peaceful country? I do not see that the Taliban has changed behaviour! How can apartheid in a democratic country be acceptable? Every tenth foreigner born in Denmark does not have a Danish passport because their parents are not Danish citizens.
Very interesting article. I agree with its geopolitical visions but partly disagree on Denmark. The author is as Danish after 28 years as a Dane would be Iranian after 28 years in Iran.
The Social Democrats in Denmark simply do not want an Afghan ghetto in Denmark, as they see the rise of radicalised suburbs in France, Belgium, and in other European countries.
As the author pointed out, many Western countries supported radical Islam to fight Communists and now they are tasting their own medicine.