Great Satan
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The Great Satan (Persian شيطان بزرگ Shaytan Bozorg, Arabic الشيطان الأكبر Al-Shaytan Al-Akbar) is a derogatory epithet for the United States of America and sometimes the United Kingdom in some Iranian foreign policy statements.
The term was originally used by Iranian leader Ruhollah Khomeini in his speech on November 5, 1979 to describe the United States whom he accused of imperialism and the sponsoring of corruption throughout the world.
Ayatollah Khomeini also used occasionally the terms Iblis to refer to the United States.
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[edit] Background history
US and UK relations with Iran have a long history. Both states have been considered Imperialist states by Iranians and have a long history of interference in Iran's internal affairs. In 1907, the Anglo-Russian Agreement between Russia and Britain divided Iran into spheres of influence, challenging Iran's moves toward independence. At the height of the Cold War, the administration of U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower approved a joint British-American operation to overthrow democratically elected prime minister, Mohammad Mossadeq, in the pretext that his nationalist aspirations would lead to an eventual communist takeover. Decades later, declassified information from the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) proved that the only objective of this coup was to secure oil interests for the United States and Britain.[citation needed] The operation was code-named Operation Ajax. At first, the military coup seemed to fail, and the Shah fled the country. After widespread rioting -- and with help from the CIA and British intelligence services -- Mossadeq was defeated and the Shah returned to power, ensuring support for Western oil interests and snuffing the perceived and largely unfounded threat of communist expansion. General Fazlollah Zahedi, who led the military coup, became prime minister.
Ayatollah Khomeini was exiled to Turkey for his outspoken denunciation of the Shah's Status of Forces bill, which granted U.S. military personnel diplomatic immunity for crimes committed on Iranian soil. From Turkey, Khomeini moved to Iraq in 1965 and remained there until 1978. He then came back to Iran and led the 1979 revolution.
Although in 1950s the United States supported the Shah of Iran, in the 1970s it turned against him.[1] Iranian revolution was a move toward independence. Demonstrators commonly chanted slogans such as "Independence, Freedom, and Islamic Republic" at the rise of revolution.
[edit] Definition of the term
Khomeini is quoted as saying on November 5, 1979, "[Americans] are the great Satan, the wounded snake." Israel has been also depicted as "The Little Satan".
The term was used extensively during and after the Islamic Revolution[2], but it continues to be in use in some Iranian political circles. Use of the term at rallies is often accompanied by shouts of Marg bar Amrika! ("Death to America!"). The term has also found use in political statements of muslim and anti-American activists throughout the world. Moreover it is used in academic journals and media.[3]
[edit] Controversies
The term has been discussed extensively and addressed within the context of US-Iranian relations by some members of the United States foreign policy establishment. Former US Secretary of State, Colin Powell, argued: "Far from being the great Satan, I would say we are the great protector. The United States rebuilt Europe and Japan after World War II, defeated Communism and fascism and the only land we ever asked for was enough land to bury our dead."[1]
[edit] See also
[edit] References & notes
[edit] External links
- The Great Satan by Kavitha Rao, April 26, 2000
- 'Great Satan' warned of a burning hell by Ian Black, The Guardian, February 16, 2005
- How the "Great Satan" Became Just Great
