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| Mashallah Razmi |
"Ayatollah Shariatmadari himself demanded autonomy for Azerbaijan. In an interview with Le Monde newspaper, he discussed federalism for Iran," says veteran political activist Mashallah Razmi in a conversation with Voice of America. The author of the book The Movement of Azerbaijan and Shariatmadari's Supporters and a political activist who closely followed the 1979 Tabriz uprising, in this interview, sheds light on the nature of the Muslim People's Republic Party, which was a leading political force in the south of Iran after the 1979 Islamic Revolution, its influence in the Azerbaijani provinces, and the reasons and objectives of the Tabriz uprising at that time.
"Ayatollah Shariatmadari and Ayatollah Khomeini were two rivals with different views. Shariatmadari was a reformist, while Khomeini was a revolutionary," says the southern Azerbaijani writer, describing the two most influential Shia leaders in post-revolutionary Iran.
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| Ayatollah Shariatmadari and the former governor of Azerbaijan, Rahmatullah Moghaddam of Maragheh (on the right). |
In his discussion, Mr. Razmi provides examples of Ayatollah Shariatmadari’s belief in peaceful resistance and his calls for other leaders to avoid armed movements.
Grand Ayatollah Mohammad Kazem Shariatmadari, after the revolution, opposed Article 110 of the constitution, which was related to the Velayat-e Faqih or theocratic Islamic rule, and refused to vote for the constitution. According to Mashallah Razmi, this marks the beginning of the Shariatmadari supporters' movement.
"This article of the constitution granted all the powers of the nation to one person. Ayatollah Shariatmadari opposed this. The beginning of the Muslim People's Movement was in this direction," says the political activist from Tabriz.
Razmi draws attention to the Turkish-language slogans raised in Azerbaijani cities, especially in Tabriz, during that period:
"The essence of 110 is against humanity, If reforms don’t come, it’s futile, wasted."
"Initially, the main line of the movement was resistance against Velayat-e Faqih. However, as the movement radicalized, the national issue took precedence," Mashallah Razmi, who participated in the mass protest actions in Tabriz at that time, notes.
He adds that the movement’s nationalism was reflected in the street protests as well:
"Azerbaijani heroes, They have been tested many times. Our republic should be established, Our leader, our reference, is Shariatmadari."
Mashallah Razmi states that Ayatollah Shariatmadari personally discussed the demands for autonomy and federalism.
"Ayatollah Shariatmadari, in an interview with Eric Rouleau of Le Monde newspaper, referred to the Law of Provincial and District Councils and spoke about autonomy for Azerbaijan. In the same interview, he used the word federalism," says Razmi.
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| Supporters of Ayatollah Khomeini welcoming him at Tehran airport. February 1, 1979. |
According to the southern writer, in 1979, the pro-Khomeini groups in Tabriz were very weak in terms of numbers and influence, with the majority supporting Shariatmadari.
"In Tabriz, 36 committees controlled the city. 28 of them supported Shariatmadari. Only one of the committees was fully pro-Khomeini," Mashallah Razmi describes Tabriz's stance toward the two great Shia leaders.
Currently living in exile in France, the southern political activist was one of the leaders of the People's Fedayeen Organization, one of the major leftist groups in Iran at that time, and participated in those committees.
He states that Shariatmadari's supporters twice seized the Radio and Television building in Tabriz, and each time, programs were broadcast in the Turkish language.
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| 1979 Tabriz Uprising – What the American Media Wrote |
These events came to the attention of the U.S. media in December 1979.
The Associated Press news agency reported on December 7, 1979, about the events in Tabriz:
"Turkish insurgents flew five American-made military planes over Tabriz as a show of force against Ayatollah Khomeini's central government in Tehran. Among the insurgents were members of the Iranian armed forces, who on Thursday seized the Tabriz Radio and Television station and the airport, and removed the provincial governor from his office."