Nazi Abad: A Neighborhood of a Movement
Nazi Abad neighborhoods should be given a special role in protest movements. They have been prominent both in the revolution and the political structure that followed, and now their presence in the nationwide protests in Iran is notably visible. The historical significance of this neighborhood in organizing protests is so considerable that after the revolution’s victory, Nazi Abad was called the political capital of Tehran.
The visibility of Nazi Abad residents in recent protests can be understood both from the echo of their unique and distinct slogans and the large crowds that came to the streets. It seems that even the special forces struggled to confront them. The images from the Saturday night march in Nazi Abad show a massive crowd compared to other parts of Tehran and other cities, and also the participation of some special forces alongside the marchers draws attention.
In one of the released videos, the guards are seen walking alongside the people, talking and laughing, with no sign of confrontation or violence. Some interpreted this as a sign of the police joining the people, while others believe that the sheer number of protesters in Nazi Abad disrupted the balance of power compared to the special forces, leaving them no choice but to accompany the crowd for their own safety.
Why is Nazi Abad Important?
The significance of this neighborhood in protest gatherings seems so substantial that reports are written about it, and there is insistence to clarify that the slogans or protest behaviors are not related to the local residents. However, from the very beginning of the protest gatherings, the people of Nazi Abad joined the scene. By noon on Wednesday, September 21, it was spreading among the people that a gathering was to take place in Nazi Abad. Various Instagram channels and pages undertook diverse and extensive promotions for a protest aimed at clarifying the death of Mahsa Amini.
However, a Telegram channel named Nazi Abadgram, in a report on the events of that night titled ‘Raid on Nazi Abad,’ claimed that individuals from outside the neighborhood had joined the gathering to create turmoil. It then detailed the events moment by moment and concluded that people from other neighborhoods and parts of the city had entered the neighborhood with the intent to incite the locals. In the end, it questioned why Nazi Abad was chosen, hinting that the author of the report is aware of the neighborhood’s special importance.
A Political Neighborhood
Nazi Abad is one of the southern neighborhoods of Tehran, holding a special place in the cultural and political geography of the city. A documentary has been made about it, journalist Mohammad Gouchani has written a book on it, and some political and revolutionary figures have emerged from this neighborhood. After the revolution’s victory, it was called the political capital of Tehran because it was one of the most influential neighborhoods in all of Tehran’s historical events.
Nazi Abad was established in 1941 under the orders of then-Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh, but its construction began in 1956. The designer and builder of Nazi Abad was Engineer Ali Akbar Moeinfar, a member of the Iran Freedom Movement, the first Minister of Oil of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the founder of the Islamic Association of Engineers, and the deputy mayor of Tehran in the Nazi Abad area, with more authority than a regional mayor.
In the introduction to his book ‘The People of Nazi Abad,’ Gouchani writes, ‘Nazi Abad is a neighborhood that, before the revolution, was a point of political activism of the guerrilla kind and armed struggles. In the early days after the revolution’s victory, it was the birthplace and showcase of newly established institutions whose intellectual roots lay with the youth of this neighborhood, from the establishment of revolutionary committees to the founding of the Revolutionary Guards.’
The young revolutionaries, some of whom mainly attended Elahi High School in Nazi Abad, read the works of Shariati and Motahari, listened to the interpretations of Mousavi Khoeiniha at the Jozestan Mosque, received guerrilla training, and became university students in Tehran, and later revolutionaries.
The Organizational Ability of Nazi Abad Residents
Saeed Hajjarian, one of the revolutionaries from this neighborhood, writes about the role of Nazi Abad and its people in the protests leading to the revolution: ‘Nazi Abad has a history of strong organization, and before the revolution, it was a center for neighborhoods like Javadiyeh, Aban, Ali Abad, Javanmard Qassab, Khazaneh, Yakhchi Abad, Yaft Abad, Khani Abad Nou, and the Nazi Abadis, with their connections and organizational power, took significant steps towards the revolution’s victory. After the victory, they also organized the distribution of goods and oil and contributed many martyrs during the war.’
He writes about the roots of the potential organizational talent in this neighborhood, stating that among the southern parts of the city, it has always been one of the reformist areas, and reformists have always had the upper hand there. He has spoken about the necessity of cadre building and creating movements in the south of the city, saying that Nazi Abad is a working-class neighborhood where local leaders play an important role in guiding and organizing the working-class sectors, and if the Nazi Abad Party can follow these local leaders, it will have lifted a heavy burden.
Saeed Hajjarian, with the help of other revolutionaries from Nazi Abad, from reformists to principlists, has registered an institute named ‘Nazi Abad Growth Companions’ with the slogan ‘Nazi Abad, My Neighborhood,’ aiming to improve the neighborhood they claim to owe a debt to. The reformist party ‘Union of the Nation’ also has an office in this neighborhood.
Hajjarian has said about the establishment of this party’s office in Nazi Abad: ‘This newly established office has party-political responsibilities that are naturally communicated from the center, but it should be noted that since the revolution, Nazi Abad has experienced many challenges, especially in terms of employment, addiction, and social issues, which are currently being addressed by NGOs and community organizations in the area. The Union Party office can also help resolve these issues to the extent possible through communication with them.’
He had stated that ‘we are trying to show all our friends, both principlists and reformists, that we can come together where we are determined to serve our people and country, put aside political differences, and with the resources we have gained over the years, serve our people and country. Have they succeeded? No one really knows yet.’
The nationwide protests in Iran following the death of Mahsa Amini at the hands of the morality police began. Iran Gate has exclusively covered various aspects of this incident. Some other related articles to this writing:
- The Controversial Man Becomes a Victim
- Morality Police or Death Chariot
- How Not to Get Arrested in Protests
