Azadegan Organization
Azadegan Organization سازمان آزادگان ایران | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Abbreviation | AzO |
| Chairperson | Atur Barzinmehr |
| Founder | Bahram Aryana |
| Founded | 1979 (Original) 2025 (Refounded) |
| Headquarters | Paris, France (1979–1985) Munich, Germany (from 2025) |
| Think tank | Iranenow Consortium |
| Youth wing | Pishahangan |
| Ideology | Azadegi[1] Constitutionalism Iranian nationalism Popular nationalism Liberal socialism Secularism[1] Social democracy Decentralization Progressivism[1] Technocracy Meritocracy[1] Anti-communism Anti-clericalism Anti-Islamism[1] |
| Political position | Centre |
| Religion | Mazdayasna |
| International affiliation | National Council of Iran |
| Colors | Gold, Indigo, Red (official, Derafsh Kaviani colours). White (Customary) |
| Anthem | "سرود آزادگان" ⓘ |
| Party flag | |
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| Website | |
| azadegan | |
| Part of a series on |
| Monarchism in Iran |
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The Azadegan Organization (Persian: آزادگان, lit. 'the [spiritually] free ones') is an Iranian monarchist organisation that sought to restore the Pahlavi dynasty following the 1979 Iranian Revolution. The group, founded by General Bahram Aryana, was described as the most prominent of the "fundamentalist monarchist" (vice "constitutionalist monarchist") groups following the Revolution.[2]
Ideology
The organisation's ideology is outlined in Aryana's manifesto Pour une Éthique Iranienne, which proposes a doctrine known as "Iranian Ethics" (A’in-e Azâdegân). Aryana presents Azadegi as a synthesis of ancient Iranian wisdom and modern progressive values, explicitly rejecting fanaticism and dogma seen in "Red" (communist) and "Black" (Islamist) totalitarianism.[3]
Governance and Meritocracy
Aryana advocated for a technocratic and meritocratic system of government modeled after the Parthian Empire. His manifesto rejected hereditary absolutism of Iran's Constitutional Monarchy, in favor of a system where leadership is determined by competence.[3] The proposed form of governance outlined in the manifesto called for formation of two houses in the legislative branch.The Mehestān (Assembly of the Elect), An upper council of elites and "wise" men and women responsible for electing the executive branch, Head of State (Bozorg Farmadār) and supervising the government. The second house is the Kahestān (Assembly of Representatives), which is the lower legislative assembly representing the general population, guilds, and corporations, acting as a mediator between the people and the state.
The organisation supports a centralised command structure for state affairs (defense, foreign policy) combined with administrative decentralization, granting provinces significant autonomy in execution to manage local affairs, fiscal policies, and social policies, provided this does not threaten national unity.[3]
Secularism and Rights
Since Aryana was a reformed Zoroastrian, his Azadegan Organisation approached secularism from Zoroastrian ethical foundation. Azadegan calls for the complete separation of religion and state under Secularism. In their proposal, the normative judicial system should follow humanism of Iranian philosophies. The organisation also asserts that no official religion should exist for the state, and religious minorities must have equal rights to hold high office. Most notably, it also posits that political Islam and clerics should be barred from political and administrative positions, and political commentaries. The organisation also advocates for freedom of thought and worship must be guaranteed, but religious manifestations for political ends are forbidden. The manifesto condemns the degradation of women's status post-1979, citing ancient Iranian queens as evidence of historical gender equality. It calls for the abolition of the veil, polygamy, and Sighe marriage (Nikah mut'ah).
Policies
Economic Policy
Economically, Azadegan identifies as Social Democratic. It rejects the Marxist concept of class struggle and the "dictatorship of the proletariat," viewing them as dehumanising. Instead, it proposes a third Way that reconciles individual liberty with social justice. The organisation believes that the state should manage key national resources (oil, heavy industry, forests, water) to ensure collective benefit. Likewise, the state must guarantee work, hygiene, culture, and leisure for all citizens to prevent poverty, which the manifesto describes as a source of "malignant thoughts."
Cultural Policy
A core pillar of the Azadegan ideology is the "resurgence of Iranian traditions" and the purification of national identity from Islamic influences. The organisation calls for the purification of the Persian language to remove Arabic loanwords and restore its "roots." It also proposes the adaptation of Latin alphabet, or replacing the Persian alphabet with Avestan alphabet, arguing that the complexity of the current script is an obstacle to scientific progress and literacy. The manifesto argues that Iranian history has been "falsified" by foreigners and calls for a revisionist approach that emphasises pre-Islamic civilisations (Achaemenid, Sassanid) and minimises the Islamic era's dominance. Azadegan also advocates for the revival of ancient Zoroastrian and national festivals such as Nowruz, Sepandārmazgān, Tirgan, Sadeh and Mehregan to replace Islamic mourning rituals with "gaiety" and national pride.
Iranian Liberation Front
Liberation Front of Iran (Persian: ارتش رهاییبخش ایران, romanized: Artesh-e Rahāyibakhsh-e Irān, French: Mouvement pour la Libération de l'Iran (M.L.I) ) was a military organisation established by Bahram Aryana with the cooperation of Gholamreza Azhari, Sardar Jaf, and Hassan Jaf, and with the support of Ardeshir Zahedi.[3]
Hijack of the Tabarzin
The Tabarzin was seized during its maiden voyage from Cherbourg to Iran on 13 August 1981. Approximately fifteen armed operatives, disguised as tourists and operating from a rented tugboat named Salazon, boarded the vessel within Spanish territorial waters. Responsibility for the hijacking was later claimed by the Azadegan Organization, who said that the operation had been conducted without the use of force and declared their intention to repurpose the ship as a "fighting unit" in opposition to the Iranian government.
References
- ^ a b c d e Aryana, Bahram (1981). Pour une Ethique Iranienne. Paris: Self-published. ISBN 2-86577-008-7.
- ^ Anoushiravan Ehteshami (1995). After Khomeini: the Iranian Second Republic. Psychology Press. pp. 15–. ISBN 9780415108799. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
- ^ a b c d Aryana, Bahram (1981). Pour une Ethique Iranienne. Paris. ISBN 2-86577-008-7.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
External links
- "France: Iranian Monarchists' Leader Says He Will Overthrow the Ayatollah's Government", Thomson Reuters, 6 September 1981, 638129