| Forqan Group | |
|---|---|
| Leaders | |
| Dates of operation | c. 1976–January/May 1980 |
| Headquarters | Tehran, Jamalzadeh St., 23 Akhavan Alley[2] |
| Active regions | Tehran, Urmia, Tabriz[3] |
| Ideology | |
| Size | 49[1] |
| Opponents |  Islamic Republic
|
| Battles and wars | Consolidation of the Iranian Revolution |
Forqan Group (Persian: گروه فرقان) was an Iranian militant opposition group. It had a clandestine cell system,[8] and had a Shia anti-clerical Islamist ideology.
Forqan assassinated senior Iranian officials including Gen. Valiollah Qarani, Morteza Motahari, Mohammad Mofatteh and Mohammad Ali Qazi Tabatabaei.[9] It also attempted to assassinate future Supreme Leader Khamenei in 1981. The primary motive behind these assassinations was Forqan's rejection of the ayatollahs, whom they considered "reactionary clerics."[10] The group became defunct following the arrest and execution of its key members in 1980.
The Forqan Group opposed other social sectors such as the "wealthy bazaaris", the "liberal politicians" and the "Marxist atheists" who, in their view, "were plotting to betray the Islamic Revolution".[11] The group self-proclaimed to be followers of Ali Shariati, however, according to Ronen Cohen, the claim was used instrumentally to look more "prestigious" and allow them to develop their combined ideology.[12]
- ^ a b c d Cohen 2015, p. 30.
- ^ Cohen 2015, p. 116.
- ^ Cohen 2015, p. 177.
- ^ a b Barry M. Rubin, ed. (2010), Guide to Islamist Movements, vol. 2, M.E. Sharpe, p. 260, ISBN 9780765641380
- ^ a b Cohen 2015, p. 41-42.
- ^ Cohen 2015, p. 66.
- ^ Mohammadighalehtaki, Ariabarzan (2012). Organisational Change in Political Parties in Iran after the Islamic Revolution of 1979. With Special Reference to the Islamic Republic Party (IRP) and the Islamic Iran Participation Front Party (Mosharekat) (Ph.D. thesis). Durham University. p. 166.
- ^ Cohen 2015, p. 41.
- ^ Cohen 2015, p. 80.
- ^ Cohen 2015, p. ix.
- ^ Cohen 2015, p. 51-52.
- ^ Cohen 2015, p. 76–77.