The Support and The Fury
Slogans develop with formation of groups, organizations or social and political parties. In order to reach a single slogan, there needs to be a community with similar ideas and approaches which demonstrate its position towards other individuals, groups and nations under one (ideological) flag.
’Death to America’ is one of the most lasting slogans in Iran’s political scene, which has even found its way into revolutionary songs. Developed after the victory of Islamic revolution in 1979 and the ensuing conquest of United States embassy in Tehran, the slogan was quickly painted on walls and in the passage of time turned into an unalterable ideological tenet. Israel, just as the United States, turned into an ideological enemy of Iran after the revolution.
A characteristic of slogans is their transient nature. The case has not been true for "death to America" however. Islamic Republic’s long years of anti-imperialism have bestowed it with an ideological stature which is resistant to criticism or rejection.
There are also other ’death to’ slogans chanted and orchestrated in gatherings which witness the presence of supreme Iranian officials. Death to Britain, death to Israel, death to opponents of velayat-e faqih [guardianship of the Islamic jurists] and death to monafegh [hypocrites- reference to MKO] are from this group. However, in some periods and depending on the graveness of external threats, slogans against enemies have become stronger, weaker or even sometimes rejected.
Political slogans may be short-lived, but the history of Iran’s domestic and foreign affairs shows that they have a certain impact on policies, decisions, tensions and sanctions and act as yardsticks which show the intensity of Iranians’ opposition to a figure, group or state. Just like ’death to’ slogans, flag burns are perfect symbols which demonstrate all the hatred against a country or an administration. National flags of the United States, Israel and Britain have been the foremost victims of Iranians’ flag burns.
’Death to’ and ’long live’ slogans were quite popular in Iran even before the Islamic revolution, especially during the 1950s and 1960s. Chants were directed at imperialist powers one at a time but Iranians’ historical memory hardly remembers days when Russia (or Soviet Union) fell under hatred slogans and flag burn. Of course the rule of Soviet Union and the activities of its Iranian protégé, the Toudeh (masses) Party fostered Iranians’ fury, however, rarely the tensions led to chanting ’death to’ and burning flags.
If not worse, Russians’ record of betrayals and abuse against Iran during 20th century is not cleaner than Britain and the United States. Whether called soviets or Russians, they imposed the most humiliating treaties on Iran and extorted the largest benefits.
Thirty years after the revolution and while Iran was enjoying stability, the events during and after the presidential elections and rumors and doubts around the validity of its results directed minds towards Russia, a political interpretation was developed promptly and the way was paved for another death slogan in Iran’s political history. This happened on Friday prayers on 17th of July led by Hashemi Rafsanjani. With the conspicuous rift among the prayers, some chanted the traditional ’death to America’ etc. while the opposition responded with a ’death to Russia’ to show its fury with Russia’s presumed conspiracies. Photos published from Russia’s flag burning reveal that there was no impulsive decision and all the burning and filming had been planned before.
The Russian news agency RIA Novosti traces the root of anti-Russian slogans back to the letter released by Mahdi Karrubi, one of the objecting candidates: in the letter published in his newspaper Karrubi had asked the government to stop repressions and release the arrested citizens. Karrubi had said: "you sent police to northern neighbor to receive training how to beat the protestors and scatter them with tear gas". Russia is the northern neighbor. RIA Novosti meanwhile reported that in Tehran, rumor spread that Russian special forces are the ones dispersing the protestors and Russian advisors are hired by the Iranian government. It also points out that an ’anti-Russian forces’ group has been created in Facebook.
The Russian news agency adds that: "ordinary Iranians have always had a positive attitude towards Russia and the new wave of discontent is serious. Firstly, Russia was one of the first countries to congratulate Ahmadinejad. Quickly after his re-presidency, Ahmadinejad flied to Yekaterinburg in Russia and shook hands with the Russian president Dmitri Medvedev in front of the cameras…In the meantime; Russia is procrastinating launch of Bushehr nuclear power plant. Iranians know that it is not only the nuclear program and international pressures [on Iran that has caused the delay]. Russia benefits having a winning card with which it can gain political and economic advantages."
But along with the increasing repugnance against Russia, Iranian protestors shrewdly targeted China and decided to boycott Chinese products after the massacre of Uighur Muslims.
But the truth is that hand in hand with Russia, China supports Ahmadinejad’s policies and vetoes international punitive measures against Iran. We can even say that neither Russia nor China are loathed because of their approach towards Iran’s domestic and foreign policies, even Chinese goods inundating Iran’s markets are not the reason. The root lies at the measures of Ahmadinejad’s administration.
With the anti-Ahmadinejad sentiments, whoever pleases him becomes despised and whoever stands against him gains popularity. In G8 and United Nation conventions, Russia and China dismiss punitive measures against the ninth Iranian administration and are trying to form a new eastern front against West. It is their due support for Ahmadinejad that has provoked antipathetic sentiments against them, not the Uighur crackdown or nuclear procrastination. Hence, the newly created ’death to Russia’ may be the first slogan that has no ideological, anti-imperialist roots but emerges from anti-Ahmadinejad feelings. On the other hand, the benefit-seeking approach of China and Russia is natural and acceptable. Although compared with Russia and China Iran carries less weight, it is in a position which provides these two major powers with an opportunity to pressure the United States and receive bonuses.