When BBC Persian Narrates Our History for Us

On the Authority of Archives

As we were approaching the historical and painful anniversary of 1953 British-American coup in Iran, BBC Persian highlighted the event and broadcasted programs relating to this crucial moment of Iran’s modern history. It is interesting that the seemingly anti-west government of Iran remained silent in the anniversary of this coup d’état, as this date could have given space to stir up the much controversial relations between Iran and the west. Yet, our nationalist and proud government preferred to ignore the anniversary and hand over the pleasure of narrating this critical moment to foreign-funded TV channels particularly BBC Persian. And this institute sincerely devoted significant amount of time and work to re-define this black hole of our modern history.

A couple of days before the date of the coup (28 Mordad 1332 in Persian calendar, 19 August 1953) BBC Persian opened a discussion board in the program NOBAT-E-SHOMA (Your Turn), asking Iranian audience what they think and feel about this coup, yet at the same time they reflected the claim of Iranian pro-royal regime collaborators of the coup, who named the event as  “national resurrection”. This shocking nomination was located next to the title “coup”, which is the name Iranian collective memory has given this injustice(1), thus talks found a new framework: coup or national resurrection?  Although, this balancing was done smoothly and quietly we can all assume where BBC Persian has started to take us.

However, the utter misrepresentation unfolds itself on the date of the coup, during a lengthy documentary produced by the employees of BBC Persian. To acquire legitimacy in narrating the past, the documentary was furnished with footages from BBC archive.  It showcased many unseen black and white photos from the streets protests, military presence in the street, personal and public photos of the significant political figures, etc. This is a privilege that only BBC can enjoy as IRIN TV does not demonstrate its archive and has left the stage empty for a performance by BBC.

We, the thirsty audience, the generation who has been desperately in search of the truth, distinct by an infinite hunger to know, was attracted to this incarnation of figures, places, objects and inevitably the problematic and constructed narration.

BBC Persian misrepresentation of history should be observed along with other attempts to demonstrate the 1953 coup as a natural reaction induced by the inefficiency of anti-colonial government. On Wednesday 18 Augest Washington Post also published an article where it called the role of CIA as mythologized and claimed that Iranians themselves should be held responsible for the failure. It is easy to see the new line of interpretation emerging from the think tanks of these states attempting to reduce the role of American and British foreign policy and intelligent services as much as possible.

Here are some of the misrepresentations, false and inaccurate information that the documentary made:

1- In recounting the events of the crucial year between the nationalization of oil industry and the coup, the film totally ignores the consequences of loosing this industry for the West and is attempted to justify the plotting of British and American embassy in Tehran with regard to the threat of Communism. The documentary claims that the only reason these embassies planed and financed the coup was fear of losing Iran to Communism. There is no mention of the economical instability their market went through at the time. As if they had no attempt to re-claim the oil industry back.  Thus, the actions led to coup d’état seem like heroic moral sacrifices the Western diplomats committed to rescue the naïve and uninformed neighbour of former USSR. The documentary implicitly asserts that if it wasn’t for the intervention of CIA, Iran like many other small buffer states had fallen into the net of Communism.

2- To explain what exactly happened, a number of political figures are introduced. Yet, the introduction is inaccurate and misleading. For instance, during the first round of conflict between Shah and the nationalist prim minister Mosadegh, the prim minister resigned and Shah immediately assigned Ahmad Qavam instead. BBC Persian introduces Qavam only and solely as an experienced politician. But fails to mention that he was a well-known and notorious pro-British figure. His personal diary, which has been published after the revolution, clearly demonstrates his services for the British government. Also, the film does not explain that the main reason for street protest after Qavam assignment was his notorious political background which deprived people from any trust.

Another politician is Esmayil Rashidian who is introduced as the contact between British embassy and the ruffians. On the date of the coup this group of aggressive rogues and ruffians occupied the streets in favour of Shah and established an atmosphere of terror and insecurity along with army officers. BBC Persian introduces Rashidian as a benevolent person who feared the takeover of Communism hence the collaboration with coup. This is a very problematic claim. Rashidian was not politically sophisticated to be able to analyse the international political situation in this way. Also, as a person who distributed the American dollars between ruffians, he perhaps had a deep knowledge about Tehran’s underground world. But how had he established his connections? How did he distribute the money? What percentage did he take for his own services?

Last but not least, the documentary fails to mention that the politicians mentioned above were Freemasons. As usual BBC never discusses the relation between political struggles in the developing world (third world at the time) and the institution of freemasonry.

3- The documentary construct a narration full of naïve mistakes, suspicious strategies, unexplained silences and unreasonable behaviour of Mosadegh government.  We are not against a profound and truthful account of history which would demystify the events and responsible people. Such a critical account can assist us to avoid making similar mistakes and could guide us in our struggle for justice. Yet, this is not the aim of this documentary. Clearly, if one is to believe this narration, one will undoubtedly loose faith in Mosadegh and the national movement. It shatters the image of its devoted people, attempts to devalue their sacrifices, their hopes and wishes for a free Iran. BBC Persian makes the movement and its closure looks like an avoidable crisis, a stupid scenario ran by simplistic sentiments.

For instance, the film emphasizes the fact that Mosadegh was not aware of the danger of an American coup. He naively trusted Americans thus, was not cautious and prepared against them. It is a true fact. Mosadegh ignored their potential danger. But who could predict that Americans with their anti-colonial rhetoric would plot to overthrow an authentic movement in 1953? At the time Americans had not been involved in conflicts in Vietnam or South America or Mideast. They came out of ruins of WWII innocent and clean and victorious. We can understand the conditions which misled Mosadegh: there was no record against America and they pretended to be anti-colonial.  Indeed, here, there is a lesson for us. We should not trust the powers which seem to be against our current opposition.  States, which oppose the current Iranian government, could easily betray Green movement as Americans did to Mosadegh.

Musavi next to Mosadegh: We won't let the history to be repeated

Instead of deriving a historical lesson or a methodology for resistance, the documentary indirectly warns against possible failure.  In addition, it does not allow its audience to keep their respect. It is not possible to take pride in the sincere politicians like Dr Mosadegh and Dr Fatemi who devoted their life to this project. If we are to believe what the documentary claims, if they can shatter the admirable image of the national movement, we will turn to a generation without a solid background of resistance. Without a model to take as a guide, without hope, deprived of stubbornness and collective confidence, we would be fragile, empty and hesitant heirs of mistakes, betrays and defeats; subjects who would better remain silent and accept what global and illegal powers decide for them.

The points explained above are just a few among many that the seemingly impartial historical narration of BBC Persian claimed against the Mosadegh’s national movement on the anniversary of the coup d’état. It is interesting to observe how BBC has persistently tried to mislead public opinion after half a century. Probably, it demonstrates the historical significance of the national movement. The wound that Mosadegh left on the body of British foreign policy is still bleeding. Even after a coup d’état, after having Mosadegh arrested and isolated in exile, after twenty five years of benefiting from oil industry (between 1953-1979), Sam Fall (the British diplomat in Tehran at the time) does not forget that in the pick of nationalizing movement, Mosadegh held formal meetings in his house, never leaving his bed. Fall claims that Mosadegh pretended to be ill and old. Perhaps we all could guess what the reason was:  Mosadegh kept his pride and forced them to negotiate with him in the conditions he established, in his bedroom while having British diplomats around his bed, like pupils who have no other choice but to agree. This is what no colonial power has forgotten yet. This is what Makes Washington Post recall national movement and dismiss its significance as mythologized.

Beyond all doubts the documentary was impressive. It showed us moments, corners, objects, locations, bodies, outfits, cars, tanks, ruffians, prim ministers, diplomats of our history which we had not seen. We were seduced by the novelty of images. The attraction of BBC Persian documentary comes from the power of archives; Who owns the archives gains the authority to narrate the history in a way which suits its benefits.

However, let’s not forget the fact that  BBC Persian’ archive is imagery and image is ambiguous. Thousands of interpretations other than the one BBC invented are waiting to be born.

Moreover, we have an archive which is far more greater thsn BBC’s. If you look around yourself you will find old people who still recall the 1953 coup clearly. They can tell you their personal experience of politics, radio, newspapers, what happened in the schools, markets, and offices. My mother was one year old at the time of nationalizing movement and her uncle brought her to the protest. My grandmother narrated for us what she witnessed in the streets of Abadan, the heart of oil industry. How thousands of people joined the workers of oil industry, went to the field and closed the pipelines. In this way our narration could even decentre BBC Persian’s Tehran-based, Shah-based history.

Is the memory of collective victory lost? Did Iranians simply forget what they hoped and suffered for? Where did all those passions for independence go?

My personal gateway to the memory of 1953 coup d’état was in fact literature. The hope, pain and loss of that historical period was perfectly recorded as short story, novel and poetry. Ahmad Shamlou, the avant-guard poet wrote about the sacrifices people made during the movement. The dark, depressed, inert, paranoid and fatal atmosphere of a country ruled by foreign powers and domestic collaborators has been meticulously captured by artists of the time writers like E.Golestan, Q. Saedi, Sh.Parsipour, A.Mahmoud. We own a remarkable archive which is more diverse, sincere and informing than the BBC Persian’s.

What happened to Iran, to its subjects, to its intellectuals, to its officers, to its prostitutes, to its workers and soldiers, to its parties and meetings, to its pride and passions during the coup?

Let’s forget BBC Persian. Let’s watch Women Without Men by Shirin Neshat.

*Pictures were taken from the Internet

1) Please visit Bamdadi weblog for a Farsi interpretation and the discussion in the comments: http://bamdadi.com/2010/08/19/bbcpersian-national-uprising-of-28th-of-mordad-and-few-questions/

2) To read Washington Post’s utter fabrication please visit: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/17/AR2010081704944.html