On Religion in Iran Before and After the Revolution
Scott Douglas Jacobsen: Your book Limu Shirin, The Bitter Story of Life After the Iranian Revolution speaks to personal experience of post-Islamic Revolution of Iran. Religion comes in multiple flavors. What was the flavor — so to speak — of religion since the Revolution in personal life in Iran?
Arya Parsipur: Before the revolution Iran was blessed with a society that accommodated followers of many religions (including Judaism) who lived in comfort and harmony; but post-revolution regime of Iran would not tolerate freedom of speech, freedom of religion and the civil rights of non-Muslims. During the early stages of the revolution back in the 80’s Iran was at the peak of radicalism and many non-Muslims and non-believers who had lost their jobs and property fled the country. Even the lives of Muslims who stayed back were at risk if they proved to be against the regime and the revolution’s values. Frequently houses were inspected by the regime’s guards in search of western films and music (considered un-Islamic at the time) or any other objects that verified people’s beliefs i.e. holy books of other religions, images of the late Shah, alcoholic drinks, etc. and Imprisonment and execution would have been the outcome if such objects were found. You could say that was a very similar situation of “Inquisition” in the olden times. Speaking of flavour, I would say…
