Nelson Mandela’s Legacy among Iranian Elites
Nelson Mandela has been praised and admired among Iranian officials on all levels. He was known as one who dedicated his life for freedom and justice and one who fought against racism, discrimination, and the primitive apartheid regime. FM Mohammad Javad Zarif was first to announce his condolence over his death. President Rouhani has also in a letter announced his grief over Nelson Mandela’s death. There have also been rumors regarding the possibility of an encounter or meeting between the US and Iranian president at Nelson Mandela’s funeral. Rouhani noted on his Twitter account, without confirmation or denial according to a British newspaper report saying that he and Obama were “expected” to meet at the Mandela funeral. However, it was too complicated for such a meeting at this time, given the dynamic of both parties back home.” Apart from the sidelines of Iran’s participation in Mandela’s funeral, Nelson Mandela’s legacy has been celebrated among the political elites in Islamic Republic.
Nelson Mandela’s relationship with the Islamic Republic and the way the Islamic Republic has received Mandela is important in that it shows that the IRI has been a pioneer in the Middle East in celebrating Mandela’s anti-apartheid and anti-western hegemonic views. Cyrus Safdari points out, everyone should remember that “Islamic Iran was strongly supporting the freedom movement [in South Africa], the US sided with the South African apartheid regime and Reagan in particular was opposed to the sanctions on that government. Israel too was a close cooperator with the racist regime there, and may have even jointly developed a nuclear weapon with South Africa. Israel was the most significant arms supplier to that regime throughout the 1980s and served as a lifeline for the apartheid government during a period when Pretoria faced growing international condemnation and heightened domestic unrest.”
Mandela visited the Islamic Republic of Iran in 1992, two years after his release from prison and two years before his election to South Africa’s presidency, during one of the most intense and difficult phases in the negotiations and political struggle to end apartheid in his own country. He mentioned in his trip to Tehran: “We are here to thank the Iranian government and nation for their support in the black people’s struggle against apartheid.” Mandela meets Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, addressing Khamenei as “my leader.” Iran which often refers to itself as the defender of the world’s oppressed people has been among the most outspoken Middle Eastern countries in condemning apartheid. Mandela said in 1992 when he travelled to Iran: “We are here to praise the Iranian government and nation for their support in the black people’s struggle against apartheid”
Hassan Khomeini, the grandson of the late Ayatollah Khomeini visited the South African embassy in Tehran upon Mandela’s death and paid his tribute to Mandela during his meeting with the South African ambassador. He mentioned in this meeting that not only South Africa but rather the entire African continent and all those who seek freedom have lost a precious. He also said that he was honored for having met with Nelson Mandela in Tehran and Johannesburg and has memories of him, which brings him calm.
Nelson Mandela’s legacy has been also celebrated among Iranian artists on a popular level. Meysam Shahbabaie, now living in South Africa, is to depict the last days of Mandela life and the funeral service for the great anti-apartheid leader. Mandela is a hero of peace and forgiveness. Shahbabaie recalls: after he became president of South Africa, he forgave the security officers and justice officials of the apartheid regime who detained him for 27 years. He said that he forgave the security officers and justice officials, but, he never forgets the crimes the apartheid government perpetrated in South Africa. He set a pattern for the revolutionary leaders who topple the despotic regimes not to take revenge from the officials of the former dictatorial governments.
Iran is also planning to hold an international poster exhibition illustrating the anti-apartheid activities of Nelson Mandela. “Organized by the Iranian Artists Forum (IAF), the show which has been titled ‘Nelson Mandela: The Bird of Freedom’ will welcome all various works focused on the determined theme”.
The Iranian artist Reza Nouri, in paying his tribute to Mandela, is working on a ceramic tableau that depicts a portrait of the legend liberal. Nouri explained: “The gold-inlaid portrait of Mandela is highlighted on a background, which has been divided in several sections. Each section depicts part of the life of the African people” “The White Africa” an art piece by Nouri is slated to be sent to Johannesburg to be placed on Mandela’s tomb.