According to the public relations office of the IICT, a scientific symposium on “Palestine and the Theology of Genocide” was held by the Scientific Center for Islamic Philosophy of Religion in collaboration with the Hikmat Baligha Cultural and Artistic Institute, the Faculty of Theology and Islamic Studies at the University of Tehran, and the Ma’refat Institute on Tuesday, June 18, 2024, both in-person and virtually.
This scientific symposium featured presentations by Dr. Mohammad Mohammadzadeh and Dr. Mohammad Mohammadi-Nia.
Dr. Mohammad Mohammadi-Nia, a faculty member of the Western Studies Department at the Institute, stated:
“The question is, what is our analysis of the situation in Palestine and the unequal war in Gaza? Such a discussion contributes to theoretical debates on the theology of genocide.
Another issue is the conceptualization of Zionism itself and its religious foundations. My analysis is that a large American scheme is being implemented in the region, in line with other Middle Eastern plans, including the occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan and the creation of paramilitary organizations such as ISIS and Al-Qaeda. The Americans aim to seize this region and establish the best possible corridor for themselves, with Israel and America’s allies, including Saudi Arabia and the UAE, playing key roles in this corridor, while countries like Iran and Russia are excluded or their shares reduced to the point of insignificance.”
U.S. Plans for the Region
He added: “The U.S. has come to the bitter realization that its superpower status can no longer dictate its will in this region, thus it needs to prevent the emergence of powers in a new order. Therefore, the Gaza war is not merely a conflict between an extremist group and an Arab nation but an issue that goes beyond these factors. In my view, international Zionism is the main force behind these events, and I consider the occupying regime of Jerusalem as one of the satellites of international Zionism. Another point is that when we speak of the theology of genocide, we mean genocide by the Zionists.”
Mohammadi-Nia stated: “When we speak of Zionism, we refer to a recent phenomenon that emerged after the modern era, and the history of Judaism and the Talmud has been appropriated for this political ideology. If we do not understand this issue well, we will not grasp the reason for the conflict between Jews and Zionists, as many prominent Jews have disagreements with the Zionists. Regarding the religious, theological, and possibly superstitious roots of Judaism and Zionism, there are two views: some believe Zionism is entirely a modern and newly formed ideology and a heresy within Judaism. Another view is that Zionism is an evolved belief within Judaism. However, I believe that Zionism is not entirely disconnected from Jewish history and has roots in it. Understanding these viewpoints can significantly transform our perspective on the theology of genocide.”
The faculty member of the Western Studies Department said: “The truth is that the narrative of the stories of Ishmael and Isaac, as presented in the Old Testament, is not accurate but relates to the final compilation of the Old Testament in the 9th and 10th centuries CE. At that time, there was intense hostility towards the Umayyad and Abbasid Muslims who controlled vast territories. Another issue in Jewish theology pertains to the chosenness of the Jewish people in the teachings of the Old Testament. One contemporary Jewish thinker provides an interesting explanation of chosenness, stating that chosenness means that God is the God of the Israelites and that the best servants are the Israelites. Roger Garaudy says that all these interpretations have emerged from Zionism and that God’s promise has been given a security and political aspect to fulfill, in their view, God’s promise to Abraham of the land of Israel from the Nile to the Euphrates.”
