As it must be disclaimed, the book ‘A revolutionary Approach to The Religion Problem’ is in its undeveloped, primitive form as self-criticized by the Peoples Leader, himself. These writings are not completely representative of the current stand of the PKK regarding the revolutionary approach to religion. There have been many developments released as part of defense writings ever since, due to constraints. Overall, the writings should be taken with a pinch of salt, as we continue to translate and analyze the topic.
ISLAM – Part Two
They bring in countless tribes and clans to faith with the sharpness of the sword, the weight of the idea and determination. So, it is necessary to know how to learn from the great origins of history. At that time, the magnificent emergence had to be made. In this sense, Islam is a great revolution compared to its period.
Here, there were some left groups in Turkey, who were wiped out after the 12 September 1980 coup attempt. “We are socialists,” they said and were soon demolished.
However, Islam has existed as a religion for 1400 years. Without losing any importance. Thus, Islam has come into play as an important solution power in an important stage of human history. The sword has a role, the ideology has a role. There are great morale and determination. It has become the basic form of life of the Middle Eastern societies that we are a member of.
It seems that the Islamic revolution is certainly against the clan-tribal order; it tries to overcome it by revolution. It is also against Jewish tribes; it is against their conception of superiority. In this sense, it is revolutionary. It is also against the official order of Christianity; Christianity represents a significant proportion of slavery.
The effects of slavery are strong both in the Byzantine and Sassanid Empire. According to them, Islam is an advanced regime of feudal civilization, which it has embodied. Islam is, in the final analysis, the most advanced feudal civilization religion. Even more so than China or India, it is the preparer of this civilization; the majestic preparer.
And on a universal scale, it is the break-free from clan schemes which represent semi-slavery, or even a somewhat developed limited feudalism; as well as the complete overcoming of the tribal order, that is, primitive communal society. To the people under the influence of these orders, it seems to be a savior.
According to the Byzantines, the Sassanids, the suffering and torment of slavery was imposed on the peoples. The idea of tribalism does not advance at all. This demands the revolutionariness of transcending this framework. Therefore, Islam is welcomed quickly by the assimilated and oppressed everywhere, as a savior religion. The people easily interiorize and protect religion. There is some historical necessity at the core of its rapid spread and dominance.
Not only does it spread through the power of the sword; because it represents an advanced stage in the development of science, art, and the state. And by the time of 650, 20 years after its birth, Iran has taken root in the interior, Anatolia, Africa, has shown great devotion and courage in this regard, and is very conscious, believing in the essence of Islam and its egalitarian fair essence.
There is a fraction headed by Imam Ali, an intellectual, who has believed the foundations of Islam and its spirit of equality; Imam Ali does not desire property or ownership and does not become corrupted with authority. This fraction then appears in the form of various denominations. In other words, a group develops on the basis of being in favor of Ali’s attitude which we can call Alevism. This division, the Umayyad dynasty as it is known, gains power very quickly due to its dominant outflow of power. Power is in the hands of the Umayyads who were institutionalized in Damascus at that time.
Power and money are in their hands, the resources are in their command. They approach the rightist scene very quickly and make huge concessions to the family and tribal chiefs of older societies. They draw on them quickly, relying on money and power, and using it as a basis for the development of class society, they become stronger and dominant. The other Alevis, the pro-Ali, fight more effectively, but they cannot dominate because they adhere to ideological purity, they do not distribute money and property to anyone, especially because they want to live by faith with the militant essence of Islam. Although Alevism has developed as a powerful wing, it cannot prevail for these reasons. This contention has been going on ever since.
Iran Shia has an exceptional status and an important place in this regard. What is Shiism? It can be said that the interpretation of Islam within the framework of Iran is adapted to the interests of the Persian tribes and other Iranian tribes at the head of the Iranian control during the collapse of the Sassanid Empire, which developed a dominant state tradition and civilization in Iran. Initially, the Sassanids had their own religion.
Zoroastrianism is still effective and is a predominantly national-tribe religion. The Sassanid Empire is an empire of Iranian tribes, who have been in conflict with Islam for a long time. The Umayyad dynasty that developed Islam was Sunni, and their attack on Iran destroyed that magnificent empire of Iran. With the collapse of the empire, they witness tremendous oppression and massacres revealing why the Iranians chose Shiism and adopted Alevism. Such pressure and massacre developed at that time, and the Umayyad dynasty applied the same oppression to Imam Ali and those around him, including his son Hussein, when he was in Kaaba. Hüseyin’s head was brought to the Umayyad mosque and presented on a tray.
Imam Hussein and other family members face the brutality of the Umayyads, with the massacre of the then Sultan Ye Zid. On the other hand, there are attacks by the Umayyad dynasty on Iranians. Who would they prefer? Of course, they will accept the advocacy of Imam Ali who is in an oppressed situation like themselves. As it is known, Shiism is the most prominent advocate, warrior, and militant of Imam Ali.
And there is a very clear reason for this. The Umayyads were brutal in the destruction of many values that were vital to them -which the commanders of the Umayyad dynasty were very brutal- had surpassed the Roman Emperors by far. Considering what they had done to Imam Ali, Hussein and their followers (who were also Muslims and of Arab tribes), they were going to be much more brutal towards people who other tribes. This is the point where Shiism emerges; It leads to the formation of Shiite militancy as a resistance sect. They have fought since then. The establishment of the Abu Muslim and Abbasid Empire in the course of this war leads to the disintegration of the Umayyad dynasty, and the Iranians have a strong share in this. It is evident that the Shiites are the most militant part of Islam and the strongest supporters of Imam Ali. Due to the collapse of the Sassanid Empire, Shiism takes on some Iranian characteristics. It is a reaction against the massacres suffered by Iranians, ie Persian or other Iranian tribes. And they find themselves in a constant state of defense.
In this sense, there is a certain aspect of righteousness; it is against oppression and injustice and is in a constant struggle, so they are militants.
