Islamic Republican party
Encyclopedia
The Islamic Republican Party (حزب جمهوری اسلامی or IRP) was a political party
in Iran
, formed in mid-1979 to assist the Iranian Revolution
and Ayatollah Khomeini establish theocracy in Iran. It was disbanded in May 1987 after its objectives had been achieved.
, Mohammad Beheshti, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani
, Ali Khamenei
, and Abdolkarim Mousavi-Ardabili, ayatollah
s close to Khomeini in order to mobilize popular support for the Islamic Republic
.
The party has been said to be distinguished by "its strong clerical component, its loyalty to Khomeini, its strong animosity to the liberal political movements, and its tendency to support the revolutionary organizations," such as the komiteh. Policies it supported included the state takeover of large capital enterprises, the establishment of an Islamic cultural and university system, and programs to assist the poor.
These revolutionary ayatollah
s originally used the party to form a monopoly over the post revolutionary theocratic Iranian state.
In its struggle with civilian opponents the party made use of its ties to the Revolutionary Guards and Hezbollah
According to Ahmad Mneisi,
According to Daniel Brumberg, it was in response to the dispute between President Ali Khamenei
and popular prime Minister Mir-Hossein Mousavi
, that the IRP was dissolved - the Islamic Republican Party served "as a stronghold of radical activism," supporting Mousavi.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
, formed in mid-1979 to assist the Iranian Revolution
Iranian Revolution
The Iranian Revolution refers to events involving the overthrow of Iran's monarchy under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and its replacement with an Islamic republic under Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the leader of the...
and Ayatollah Khomeini establish theocracy in Iran. It was disbanded in May 1987 after its objectives had been achieved.
Founders and characteristics
The party was formed by Mohammad Javad BahonarMohammad Javad Bahonar
Hojatoleslam Mohammad Javad Bahonar was an Iranian scholar, Shiite theologian and politician who served as the Prime minister of Iran from 15 to 30 August 1981 when he was assassinated by Mujahideen-e Khalq MEK, also known as PMOI and KMO...
, Mohammad Beheshti, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani
Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani
Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani is an influential Iranian politician and writer, who was the fourth President of Iran. He was a member of the Assembly of Experts until his resignation in 2011...
, Ali Khamenei
Ali Khamenei
Ayatollah Seyed Ali Hoseyni Khāmene’i is the Supreme Leader of Iran and the figurative head of the Muslim conservative establishment in Iran and Twelver Shi'a marja...
, and Abdolkarim Mousavi-Ardabili, ayatollah
Ayatollah
Ayatollah is a high ranking title given to Usuli Twelver Shī‘ah clerics. Those who carry the title are experts in Islamic studies such as jurisprudence, ethics, and philosophy and usually teach in Islamic seminaries. The next lower clerical rank is Hojatoleslam wal-muslemin...
s close to Khomeini in order to mobilize popular support for the Islamic Republic
Islamic republic
Islamic republic is the name given to several states in the Muslim world including the Islamic Republics of Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan, and Mauritania. Pakistan adopted the title under the constitution of 1956. Mauritania adopted it on 28 November 1958. Iran adopted it after the 1979 Iranian...
.
The party has been said to be distinguished by "its strong clerical component, its loyalty to Khomeini, its strong animosity to the liberal political movements, and its tendency to support the revolutionary organizations," such as the komiteh. Policies it supported included the state takeover of large capital enterprises, the establishment of an Islamic cultural and university system, and programs to assist the poor.
These revolutionary ayatollah
Ayatollah
Ayatollah is a high ranking title given to Usuli Twelver Shī‘ah clerics. Those who carry the title are experts in Islamic studies such as jurisprudence, ethics, and philosophy and usually teach in Islamic seminaries. The next lower clerical rank is Hojatoleslam wal-muslemin...
s originally used the party to form a monopoly over the post revolutionary theocratic Iranian state.
In its struggle with civilian opponents the party made use of its ties to the Revolutionary Guards and Hezbollah
Hezbollah of Iran
The Hezbollah, or Party of God, is an Iranian movement formed at the time of the Iranian Revolution to assist the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini and his forces in consolidating power...
Causes of its dissolution
In the late 1980s, factionalism in the IRP intensified, the major issues being the Iran-Iraq War, whether to open up to foreign countries or remain isolated, and economic policies. Because all rival parties had been banned, the party "did almost nothing and had little incentive to."According to Ahmad Mneisi,
"While unanimous on the idea of a theological state and united under the umbrella of one party, the Islamic Republican Party (IRP), [the religious right] differed on a number of issues, such as the extent to which religion is to take hold of political life (the Velayat-e Faqih debate).
According to Daniel Brumberg, it was in response to the dispute between President Ali Khamenei
Ali Khamenei
Ayatollah Seyed Ali Hoseyni Khāmene’i is the Supreme Leader of Iran and the figurative head of the Muslim conservative establishment in Iran and Twelver Shi'a marja...
and popular prime Minister Mir-Hossein Mousavi
Mir-Hossein Mousavi
Mir-Hossein Mousavi Khameneh is an Iranian reformist politician, artist and architect who served as the seventy-ninth and last Prime Minister of Iran from 1981 to 1989. He was a Reformist candidate for the 2009 presidential election and eventually the leader of the opposition in the post-election...
, that the IRP was dissolved - the Islamic Republican Party served "as a stronghold of radical activism," supporting Mousavi.
Leaders
| Picture | Name | Term start | Term end | Positions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mohammad Beheshti | February 18, 1979 | June 28, 1981 | Chief Justice Chief Justice The Chief Justice in many countries is the name for the presiding member of a Supreme Court in Commonwealth or other countries with an Anglo-Saxon justice system based on English common law, such as the Supreme Court of Canada, the Constitutional Court of South Africa, the Court of Final Appeal of... |
|
| Javad Bahonar | June 29, 1981 | August 30, 1981 | Prime Minister Prime Minister of Iran Prime Minister of Iran was a political post in Iran that had existed during several different periods of time starting with the Qajar era until its most recent revival from 1979 to 1989 following the Iranian Revolution.-Prime Ministers of Qajar era:In the Qajar era, prime ministers were known by... |
|
| Ali Khamenei Ali Khamenei Ayatollah Seyed Ali Hoseyni Khāmene’i is the Supreme Leader of Iran and the figurative head of the Muslim conservative establishment in Iran and Twelver Shi'a marja... |
August 30, 1981 | May 15, 1987 | President President of Iran The President of Iran is the highest popularly elected official in, and the head of government of the Islamic Republic of Iran; although subordinate to the Supreme Leader of Iran, who functions as the country's head of state... |
Deputy leaders
| Picture | Name | Term start | Term end | Positions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hassan Ayat Hassan Ayat Seyed Hassan Ayat was an Iranian scholar, Shiite theologian and politician. He was member of Islamic Republican Party and was served as Deputy Leader of Party from establishment of party in February 1979 until February 1981... |
February 18, 1979 | February 18, 1981 | MP | |
| Mir-Hossein Mousavi Mir-Hossein Mousavi Mir-Hossein Mousavi Khameneh is an Iranian reformist politician, artist and architect who served as the seventy-ninth and last Prime Minister of Iran from 1981 to 1989. He was a Reformist candidate for the 2009 presidential election and eventually the leader of the opposition in the post-election... |
February 18, 1981 | May 15, 1987 | Prime Minister Prime Minister of Iran Prime Minister of Iran was a political post in Iran that had existed during several different periods of time starting with the Qajar era until its most recent revival from 1979 to 1989 following the Iranian Revolution.-Prime Ministers of Qajar era:In the Qajar era, prime ministers were known by... |
Further reading
- Cleveland, William L. A History of the Modern Middle East 2nd edition Oxford: Westview Press, 2000.
- Hafte tir bombingHafte tir bombingOn 28 June 1981 , a powerful bomb went off at the headquarters of the Iran Islamic Republic Party in Tehran, while a meeting of party leaders was in progress...
: The explosion that killed 73 high-profile IRP members.