It has been over a century since Abdul Rahman Kawakebi wrote the book “The Nature of Tyranny” and warned about its deadly consequences for nations. However, this region and its people have not yet been liberated from the control of tyranny. Periods of freedom come and go briefly, but the oppressive nature of tyranny remains in these lands. Tyranny is associated with oppression, violence, discrimination, repression, and torture, making it the darkest period for nations.
Tyranny is not exclusive to Afghanistan; many countries in the region, particularly Muslim countries, suffer from authoritarian systems. However, Afghanistan faces the most perilous form of tyranny, religious tyranny. Religious tyranny is more hazardous than other types, as it associates all behaviors and actions with religion and justifies oppressive actions in the name of God and the Prophet. This approach is particularly effective in societies with a traditional and religious majority, resulting in a lifetime of oppression and the institutionalization of suffocation.
Systems that are based on religious tyranny attempt to manipulate people’s devotion to God and instead make them subservient to themselves by claiming to be God’s representative on earth. This results in the introduction of slavery and servitude into the society’s mindset and soul, as well as the mixing of humiliation and oppression with the people’s very essence. In these systems, individuals are compelled to mention the dictator’s name alongside God and the Prophet, even during religious ceremonies like Friday prayer sermons. By reciting a sermon in someone’s name, they are elevated to the level of God, which is inappropriate since an ordinary person does not have the right to have their name invoked in a sacred and religious context, evoking the concept of holiness in the minds of worshippers.
In religious authoritarian systems, the ruler assumes the role of God. The Qur’an mentions that God is not accountable for his actions, but people are. Similarly, religious authoritarian systems position the Commander of the Faithful, the jurist, and the supreme leader in a similar manner. They are not subject to questioning or scrutiny, but they have the authority to question, investigate, and punish others.
In such systems, the relationship between the leader and their subordinates is hierarchical, with the leader being seen as superior and the subordinates as followers. This dynamic is accompanied by internal tension and submission. In such a system, it is not possible to protest or criticize; instead, worship and blind obedience are expected. The rulers in these systems prioritize the expediency of Sharia and the establishment of religion, often resorting to deceit. Throughout the country, there is widespread structural deception. Religion is used as a means to intellectually and spiritually enslave people to the rulers, instilling a sense of humiliation and subjugation. Breaking free from religious tyranny is more challenging than other forms of tyranny because opposing it is seen as opposing religion and sacred beliefs. Even those who have been deceived become tools of oppression, pressuring dissenters and those seeking freedom. Authoritarian systems cultivate submissive subjects who willingly surrender their fate to their oppressors, much like cattle, without speaking up.
Read this article in Farsi here.
