One of the measures of Habib Sabet [1] in 1330s S.H. is the establishment and running of television in Iran. The primary idea of it was posed by Iraj Sabet. In 1336 S.H., he returns to Iran after finishing his educations. He holds the first show of the set using a receiver and sender system in Pahlavi queen palace participated by Muhammad Reza performing music program by Googoosh, the famous singer of the court, and was noticed by the Shah.
The Shah says to Habib Sabet: “Take action Personally. I order for each aid you need to be executed.”[۱] [2]
Supported by Muhammad Reza Pahlavi and Manoucher Eghbal, the chairman of oil company of Iran, Sabet could run the television of Iran although it costed too much, in 1337 S.H.
The Shah remarked in the ceremony of television inauguration:
“The establishment of television set caused pleasure; because it helped kids’ general knowledge and education be expanded. Regulating programs must be done carefully to be enough and merited. This set must be run in other regions as soon as possible to be exploited by the country residents. I appreciate the Iranian television company to take over such a difficult task during a short period of time.”[۲] [3]
Habib Sabet says in this ceremony thanking Muhammad Reza Pahlavi:
“My mere patron is His Majesty the Shak who forced me to do this job. I will resist against the problems with all of my abilities due to his encouragements although it is a hard job.[3] [4]
On Ordibehesht 1344 S.H., Habib Sabet wrote a letter to the national spiritual assembly of the Baha’is of Iran whose main aim of establishing television in Iran was to employ the Baha’is, to preach spiritual thoughts and the knowledge of divine commandment (the Baha’i thought). He declared that it is not against the viewpoints of the faith and the Baha’i orders.[4] [5]
Masoud Behnoud, the journalist who is related to Pahlavi government believes that most specialists of the Iranian television organization have been the Baha’is.
The other aim of Habib Sabet in running television in Iran was helping the cultural programs of Pahlavi regime via audio and video training in television. Proselytizing for Masonry organizations was of the other measures of Habib Sabet in this television.
Mr. ABEU, the chairman of international Rotary club interviewed with Mr. Montaser’s company dated 1340/06/15 in the Iranian television concerning the duties of this club and the methods of serving the humane communities. Mr. Montaser was the member of Rotary club in Iran.[5] [6]
Imam Khomeini (P.H.) was aware of the events had happened in the newly-established television at first: “The advertising television set belongs to a hated minority group and as if it is to be expanded across the country. Its owner has additionally possessed the economy of our country. Pepsi Cola factory is a spying center. They are going to broadcast the ex-women and the modern ones show on the solar month of Day 17.”[۶] [7]
Broadcasting foreign movies and series particularly the American ones changed people’s lifestyles and consuming foreign goods were day by day increasing and had diverse influence on interior productions.
Via television, he could manage a part of the artistic community of Iran and expanded his influence through holding various conference with interior and exterior politicians in the Iranian television.
Habib Sabet could expand the political and cultural dominance of Pahlavi regime and the western culture in Iran through psychologists, sociologists and the specialists of human sciences.
Visiting television of Abadan to open the sender of it on Bahman [8] 1338 S.H. by Muhammad Reza Pahlavi, Farah Pahlavi, Manoucher Iqbal, Tymour Bakhtiyar and several country officials indicates the bond between policy and economy and the vital relationship between these two parts.
In this regard, one of Bahaism heads wrote a letter to the national assembly of the Iranian Baha’is concerning the function of TV. institute. It indicates the band between Habib Sabet with Bahaism organization. It is written in the letter:
“On Ail-Sharaf month, 120 Badia’; according to the report on the night of the half of the lunar mouth of Sha’ban it has been congratulated to all Shias across the world by television institute. Because this set is attributed to Bahaism, it is so sorry for TV. institute to do such action.”
It would be grateful to be asked Mr. Habib Sabet: How have the employees of that institute done such action and which procedure have been taken for such measures to be prevented? “
It is figured out by this letter that the universal organization of Bahaism considers the television managed by Habib Sabet as attributed to itself and assumes him to be in charge of presenting and regulating the principles of this creed.
Preaching vulgarity in various forms was of the main aims of Bahaism organization in running television. These measures were too clear that were opposed by managing like Roshanfekr which was of the preachers of obscene images.
In Roshanfekr magazine, an article was published dated Khordad 1339 S.H. entitled “people of Tehran’s anger and complaint about obscenity of programs of television of Iran.[7] [9]
To prevent the newspaper managers’ criticisms for the Iranian television advertising programs, Habib Sabet was using the economic chips. A SAVAK document says in this regard:
“Not long time ago, the newspaper called Peygham Emrouz”, “Khandaniha” magazine, “Ajang” newspaper attacked the television of Iran and its advertising programs by a series of articles.
On the solar month of Day, 2, 1341. S.H., the clergyman Falsafi declared opposing Habib Sabet in one of his speeches:
Now, a group who are spying for other countries called the Baha’is have been made … Who are also being supported by the government. Now, there are 400 respectful and religious businessmen who are going to make national radio and television, but the government doesn’t let. However, the government allows a mercenary spy (Habib Pasal) to bring television and to spy in this country Shamefully.”[۸] [10]
۱۳ yean a go, Ayatollah Broujerdi (P.H.) also wrote for the clergyman Falsafi:
“The creation and influence of this cult is purposefully and it is not accidental and the governments’ reactions against it is just eyewash not reality. So, Mr. Falsati campaigned against this cult more.[9] [11]
The religious movements were aware of the interactions between Israel and the Baha’is. Of course, the expansion of the relationship between the Baha’is and Israel must be figured out alongside with the expansion of the relationship between Pahlavi government and Israel. source: Reza Qaribi, the wealthy Baha’is men and the Pahlavi regime, pp. 218-228.
Keep in touch with us: bahaismiran85@gmail.com [12]
[۱] [13] Pahlavi era men narrated by SAVAK documents, 29th book, Habib Sabet, p. 27.
[۲] [14] Ibid, p.1.
[۳] [15] The history of the Iranian cinema, Tehran: Rouzaneh, 1374, p. 1007.
[۴] [16] Pahlavi era men narrated by SAVAK documents, 29th book, Habib Sabet, p. 214.
[۵] [17] Ibid, p.127.
[۶] [18] Sahifeh by Imam Khomeini (P.H.), vol.1, p. 123.
[۷] [19] Pahlavi era men, narrated by SAVAK documents, the 29th book, Habib Sabet, p. 59.
[۸] [20] Imam’s companions narrated by SAVAK documents, 9th book, the clergyman Muhammad Taghi Falsafi, Tehran, 1378, p. 176.
[۹] [21] Rasoul Ja’fariyan, the religious movements and organizations of Iran, P.210.