The Ayatollah Begs to Differ by Majd

Ref: Hooman Majd (2009). The Ayatollah Begs to Differ: The Paradox of Modern Iran. Penguin Publishing.

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Summary­

  • The history, rise of, and contradictions that comprise Modern Iran.

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Terminology

  • Shia Muslims: Muslims that believe only men from the Prophet’s bloodline should lead the Muslim nation. Shia Muslims revere two martyred Imams (ummah) above all others: Ali, who was murdered, and his son Hussein, who died in battle against the prevailing rulers of Islam at Karbala (modern Iraq). Shia Muslims have a relatively more liberal view of ISlam in that the church can interpret the Koran and the Hadiths for the masses who might not have the education and religious qualifications to do so. Shia rule is comprised of clergy, ayatollahs, and others.

  • Sunni Muslim: Muslims that believe in a strict interpretation of Islam in which the Koran is taken as the literal word of God.

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Chronology

  • 1953: CIA Engineered Iranian Coup; the Democratically elected Iranian PM Mohammed Mosaddegh is replaced with the absolute dictator Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who had fled the country for Rome (Ayatollah by Majd).

    • The British had convinced POTUS IKE that the coup was necessary due to a communist threat after Mosaddegh nationalized the Iranian oil industry (Ayatollah by Majd).

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