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Some sources opposed to the Iranian government allege that during the Iran–Iraq War (1980–88), Plastic Keys to Paradise were distributed to young Iranian military volunteers by the Islamic Republic of Iran leadership.[1] It was reported in the Western media that golden-colored, plastic "paradise keys" were widely issued, each one symbolizing the certain entry into "paradise" for volunteers who were killed.
Soldiers were issued metallic identification bags, and/or colorful identification cards, along with a copy of Shaikh Abbass Qumi (d. 1959) prayer book entitled Mafatih al-Janan or Keys to Paradise. Iranian soldiers' possession of military and religious items enabled some opponents of Khomeini to argue that the soldiers had been issued 'Plastic Keys to Heaven' – a concept that they hoped would evoke derision in the Western media against Khomeini.[2]
Professor Seyed Marandi considered the "absurdity" of the plastic keys (for which he would like to see an evidence of, as a veteran of the Iran–Iraq war) and similar allegations, a feature of orientalist discourse which is not challenged by its Western audience, "as they reinforce the dominant representations of Iran in America by constructing an exotic Iran principally derived from US archives".[3]
While covering the 'Imposed War' a New York Times reporter claimed that: "I saw Iranian soldiers ready for battle wearing small gold keys on their uniforms where other soldiers might wear medals. They were the keys that would immediately take their souls to heaven if they should die."[4]
Accounts of the plastic keys have also come from Iranian civilians who lived in Iran during the war. One such example comes from Marjane Satrapi's illustrated memoir Persepolis, wherein the author relates how she and her mother were shocked to learn from one of their neighbors in Tehran that gold painted plastic keys to paradise had been distributed to the boys in her son's school. The boys were reportedly told that the key would grant them admission to heaven if they died in battle, which caused the neighbor to tell Satrapi and her mother, "All my life, I've been faithful to this religion. If it's come to this... well I can't believe in anything anymore..."[5]
plastic, keys, paradise, neutrality, this, article, disputed, relevant, discussion, found, talk, page, please, remove, this, message, until, conditions, october, 2018, learn, when, remove, this, template, message, this, article, need, rewritten, comply, with, . The neutrality of this article is disputed Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page Please do not remove this message until conditions to do so are met October 2018 Learn how and when to remove this template message This article may need to be rewritten to comply with Wikipedia s quality standards You can help The talk page may contain suggestions October 2018 Some sources opposed to the Iranian government allege that during the Iran Iraq War 1980 88 Plastic Keys to Paradise were distributed to young Iranian military volunteers by the Islamic Republic of Iran leadership 1 It was reported in the Western media that golden colored plastic paradise keys were widely issued each one symbolizing the certain entry into paradise for volunteers who were killed Soldiers were issued metallic identification bags and or colorful identification cards along with a copy of Shaikh Abbass Qumi d 1959 prayer book entitled Mafatih al Janan or Keys to Paradise Iranian soldiers possession of military and religious items enabled some opponents of Khomeini to argue that the soldiers had been issued Plastic Keys to Heaven a concept that they hoped would evoke derision in the Western media against Khomeini 2 Professor Seyed Marandi considered the absurdity of the plastic keys for which he would like to see an evidence of as a veteran of the Iran Iraq war and similar allegations a feature of orientalist discourse which is not challenged by its Western audience as they reinforce the dominant representations of Iran in America by constructing an exotic Iran principally derived from US archives 3 While covering the Imposed War a New York Times reporter claimed that I saw Iranian soldiers ready for battle wearing small gold keys on their uniforms where other soldiers might wear medals They were the keys that would immediately take their souls to heaven if they should die 4 Accounts of the plastic keys have also come from Iranian civilians who lived in Iran during the war One such example comes from Marjane Satrapi s illustrated memoir Persepolis wherein the author relates how she and her mother were shocked to learn from one of their neighbors in Tehran that gold painted plastic keys to paradise had been distributed to the boys in her son s school The boys were reportedly told that the key would grant them admission to heaven if they died in battle which caused the neighbor to tell Satrapi and her mother All my life I ve been faithful to this religion If it s come to this well I can t believe in anything anymore 5 References Edit Aslan Reza 2006 No God But God Random House p 190 ISBN 9781588364456 Khomeini s Search for Perfection Theory and Reality by Baqer Moin in Pioneers of Islamic Revival 2005 ed by Ali Rahnema p 68 Seyed Mohammed Marandi June 2008 Reading Azar Nafisi in Tehran Comparative American Studies 6 2 179 189 11 doi 10 1179 147757008x280768 S2CID 170912855 Persian Mirrors 2000 ed by Elain Sciolino p 178 Satrapi Marjane 2007 The Complete Persepolis 1st ed New York City New York Pantheon Books p 99 ISBN 978 0 375 71483 2 This Iranian history related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Plastic Keys to Paradise amp oldid 1110603364, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
