[#313] RED SHI’ISM: Ali Shariati and the Origins of Revolutionary Shi’ism in Modern Iran

[#313] RED SHI’ISM: Ali Shariati and the Origins of Revolutionary Shi’ism in Modern Iran

From Subliminal Jihad by Subliminal Jihad

March 20, 2026 · 4h 38m

About this episode

Dimitri and Khalid explore the philosophical works of Ali Shariati and the origins of Revolutionary Shi'ism in modern Iran.

Dimitri and Khalid explore the philosophical works of 20th century Iranian sociologist and Shia Islamic socialist Ari Shariati, including: “Red Shi’ism” versus “Black Shi’ism” and Islam-as-liberation theology, collaborating in Paris with Jean-Paul Sartre and Frantz Fanon, his areas of agreement and disagreement with Marxist materialism, his influence on Pierre Omidyar’s Qajar dynasty-descended mother and a variety of anti-Shah political movements, calling out corrupted religious leaders as the most dangerous Shaytans of all, his mysterious 1977 death in London (probably at the hands of SAVAK), the shadowy Forqan Group of ultraleft Islamo-socialist assassins who claimed to uphold Shariati’s ideas but may have been a CIA/Mossad Gladio op to sow hatred between the Ayatollahs and the Marxist parties, and more… For access to full-length premium SJ episodes, upcoming installments of DEMON FORCES, and the Grotto of Truth Discord, subscribe at https://patreon.com/subliminaljihad.

People in this episode

Hosts: Dimitri, Khalid

Topics covered

  • Revolutionary Shi'ism
  • Ali Shariati
  • Islam-as-liberation theology
  • Marxist materialism
  • Political movements in Iran
  • Corrupted religious leaders
  • Historical assassinations

Keywords

  • Red Shi'ism
  • Black Shi'ism
  • Ali Shariati
  • Iran
  • SAVAK
  • Forqan Group
  • Islamic socialism
  • Marxism
  • political movements

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: SAVAK, Forqan Group, CIA, Mossad, Gladio

Places: Iran, London

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