Ali Shariati Mazinani (23 November 1933-18 June 1977) was an Iranian revolutionary and sociologist who was considered to be the ideologue of the Iranian Revolution. Sharati believed in Islamic socialism, a syncretic political ideology that incorporated both Islamism and socialism into a single ideology. Shariati died in exile in England in 1977, with some suspecting the Iranian government of having a hand in his murder.
Biography[]
Ali Shariati Mazinani was born in the village of Kahak in northeastern Iran, the son of an Islamic scholar. Shariati trained as a teacher in Mashhad, where he caught a first glimpse of the misery of the poor and unfortunate people in Iran. In 1952, while working as a high school teacher, he founded the Islamic Students' Association, and he was arrested several times by the Shahist regime for leading student demonstrations. Shariati moved to France during the late 1950s and became involved with the FLN, and he was arrested for taking part in a 17 January 1961 demonstration honoring Patrice Lumumba. In 1964, he returned to Iran to engage in subversive political activities, and his teachings at the Hosseiniyeh Ershad school led to Shariati becoming immensely popular among students and among people all across Iran, from all social classes.
Shariati formed his own version of the Catholic "liberation theology" called "Red Shi'ism", a concept that he contrasted to the "Black Shi'ism" seen under the Safavid dynasty. Shariat argued that society would naturally incorporate Islamic values when it was at its best state, and he argued in favor of socialism in addition to Islamism; however, he was opposed to the compulsory wearing of the hijab. He also argued that liberalism and democracy were evil, and that true democracy was the democracy seen under Imam Ali during the golden age of Islam. Shariati's views would lead to him being imprisoned by the fascist government, but he was released in 1975 due to popular agitation. Shariati proceeded to move to Southampton, England, where he died of a fatal heart attack on 18 June 1977; his death was believed to occurred under "mysterious circumstances", with some dissidents blaming SAVAK.