Forqan Group

Furqan Group
Participant in Consolidation of the Iranian Revolution
Active c. 1976–January/May 1980
Ideology
Leaders
Headquarters Tehran, Jamalzadeh St., 23 Akhavan Alley [lower-alpha 6]
Area of operations Tehran, Urmia, Tabriz[lower-alpha 7]
Size 49 [lower-alpha 8]
Originated as Kahfis (People of the Cave) [lower-alpha 9]
Opponents

Iran Islamic Republic

Forqn Group (Persian: گروه فرقان‎, named after Al-Furqan sura) was an Iranian opposition militant group with clandestine cell system [2] adhering to a Shia anti-clerical Islamist ideology.

Furqan successfully assassinated some senior officials, including Gen. Valiollah Qarani, Morteza Motahari, Mohammad Mofatteh and Mohammad Ali Qazi Tabatabaei[lower-alpha 10] but it was soon terminated following arrest and execution of its key members in 1980.

The group opposed other social sectors such as the "wealthy bazaaris", the "liberal politicians" and the "Marxist atheists" who, in their view, "were plotting to betray the Islamic Revolution" .[lower-alpha 11] The group self-proclaimed to be followers of Ali Shariati, however claim was used instrumentally to look more "prestigious" and allow them to develop their combined ideology.[lower-alpha 12]

Etymology

Due to the literal meaning Forqan is described as criterion or standard. Proof or evidence is the meaning that Wehr's dictionary give to this word. Uri Rubin introduced Forquan as one of names of the Quran. Muslim scholars believes that the root of this word is F.R.Q means depart. In the Tarikh al-Tabari and Tafsir al-Kabir (al-Razi) the root of this word that means "to God's separating or distinguishing between truth and falsehood, is defined F.R.Q.[2]

History

The Forqan group is the Islamic shia group that emphasized the Islam without clergy and decided to present the real Islam and truthful message of Quran.[4]

According to the Shariati' thought, the rule of the unity of Allah forms the basic element of an equal and just society in the Muhammad prophet's tradition. He believed that the Twelve Imams (not Rashidun except Ali) are the real successors of the Prophet and they tried to make equal society. Also he considered shia Islam above all ideologies and religions but clerics should not have key role at political positions. Akbar Goodarzi who were affected by revolutionary thought of Shariati, authored interpretation of the Quran named monotheistic ideology. Shariati followed Islamic method without clerical intervention such as Abul A'la Maududi 's idea but Goodarzi was more fanatical than Shariati and on 1970 the Forqan group was founded by him. Another person who had important effect on forming the ideology of Forqan group was Habibollah Ashory, the frustrated cleric.[2]

The climax of activities of Forqan group, actually the fight against clericalism is seen at early days after victory of Iranian revolution and finally this group in early1980 was eliminated by arresting members of it.[2][5]

Activities

Furqan group as a terrorist organization in the early years of the Iranian revolution performed assassinations of some of characters. The responsibilities of following assassinated persons had been undertaken by this group:[5][4] Mohammad-Vali Gharani, Morteza Motahhari,[6] Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani ,[6] Mohammad Taghi Haji Tarkhani, Abbas Amir-Entezam, Seyed Razi Shirazi, Seyed Mohsen Behbahani, Ahmad Lajevardi, Hosein Mahdian, Mahdi Iraqi, Hesam Iraqi, Mohammad Baqir Dashtianeh, Hans Joachim Leib, Mohammad Ali Qazi Tabatabaei, Mohammad Mofatteh, Javad Bahmani, Asghar Nemati, Faqih Imani and Qasim Rouhani.

The assassinations attempt on Ali Khamenei and Abdul-Karim Mousavi Ardebili were attributed to furqan group.[5][7]

See also

Note

  1. ↑ Revolution Under Attack, p. 41-42
  2. ↑ Revolution Under Attack, p. 41-42
  3. ↑ Revolution Under Attack, p. 66
  4. ↑ Revolution Under Attack, p. 30
  5. ↑ Revolution Under Attack, p. 30
  6. ↑ Revolution Under Attack, p. 116
  7. ↑ Revolution Under Attack, p. 177
  8. ↑ Revolution Under Attack, p. 30
  9. ↑ Revolution Under Attack, p. 30
  10. ↑ Revolution Under Attack, p. 80
  11. ↑ Revolution Under Attack, p. 51-52
  12. ↑ Revolution Under Attack, p. 76–77

References

  1. 1 2 Barry M. Rubin, ed. (2010), Guide to Islamist Movements, 2, M.E. Sharpe, p. 260, ISBN 9780765641380
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Ronen A. Cohen (2015), Revolution Under Attack: The Forqan Group of Iran, New York: Palgrave Macmillan, doi:10.1057/9781137502506, ISBN 9781137502506
  3. ↑ Mohammadighalehtaki, Ariabarzan (2012). Organisational Change in Political Parties in Iran after the Islamic Revolution of 1979. With Special Reference to the Islamic Republic Party (IRP) and the Islamic Iran Participation Front Party (Mosharekat) (Ph.D. thesis). Durham University. p. 166.
  4. 1 2 Shahidi, Hossein (2007). Journalism in Iran: From Mission to Profession. Routledge; Reissue edition. ISBN 978-0415583169.
  5. 1 2 3 Staff, Writer (2010). "Take a look to assassinations of Forqan groupe". jamejamonline.
  6. 1 2 E. Marty, Martin; Appleby, R. Scott; H. Garvey, John; Kuran, Timur (1996). Fundamentalisms and the State: Remaking Polities, Economies, and Militance. University of Chicago Press. ISBN 978-0226508849.
  7. ↑ Alavi, Hamid. "Assassination attempt on Ali Khamenei 35 years later". BBC.
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