Hawzah News Agency — Iran's Cultural Counselor in Indonesia has called for a unified Islamic front against what he described as the new face of colonialism in the 21st century, warning that domination has evolved from military occupation to control over knowledge, information, technology and the human mind.
Speaking at the "Learning from Iran" forum held at Gerak Gerik Cafe & Book Store in Ciputat, South Tangerang, Dr. Yahya Jahangiri said true independence extends far beyond political liberation, encompassing intellectual, scientific, cultural, data and technological sovereignty.
The forum, organized by the Mandala Project in cooperation with the Alumni Association of the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences at UIN Jakarta, marked the 81st anniversary of Indonesia's independence and commemorated the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). The gathering was held under the banner: "Keeping the Flame of Independence Alive; 100 Percent Independence."
Iran and Indonesia: Shared Struggles, Shared Futures
Jahangiri opened his address by emphasizing the necessity of mutual learning among Muslim nations, asserting that Islamic countries must exchange their historical and contemporary experiences, particularly in the realms of independence and resistance against colonial domination.
"Iran and Indonesia both carry significant and costly experiences in their paths toward independence and in confronting various forms of domination," Jahangiri said. "These shared struggles provide fertile ground for dialogue and collective lessons for the future of the Muslim world."
The Iranian cultural counselor stressed that the title "Learning from Iran" should not be misconstrued as an invitation to imitate a particular model. Rather, it should serve as a platform for dialogue between experiences and a joint effort to chart a common path forward.
Independence Beyond Politics: The Intellectual Dimension
Drawing on the ideas of the late founder of the Islamic Revolution, Imam Khomeini, Jahangiri argued that independence cannot be reduced to the departure of colonial forces from a territory.
"Within the discourse of the Islamic Revolution, independence possesses political, economic, intellectual, cultural and spiritual dimensions," he stated.
He warned that a country may be politically independent while remaining dependent in the fields of knowledge production, intellectual paradigms, cultural frameworks and even its definition of progress.
Within this framework, Jahangiri described the Islamization of sciences and the pursuit of knowledge production compatible with the principles and needs of Muslim societies as a central intellectual concern in Iran. He further referenced the concept of a "New Islamic Civilization" as a strategic effort to overcome intellectual and civilizational dependency and achieve independent production of knowledge, culture and models of life.
The New Colonialism: From Territory to Technology
In a striking analysis, Jahangiri devoted a substantial portion of his remarks to what he termed the emerging forms of colonialism in the contemporary world.
"Contemporary colonialism does not necessarily begin with military occupation, the presence of soldiers or the seizure of territory," he said. "It may emerge through domination over minds, information, technology and systems of knowledge production."
He identified "technological slavery" and "epistemic slavery" as defining features of the new dependency, warning that in the age of artificial intelligence, humanity faces an unprecedented form of subjugation.
"Such dependency is sometimes presented under labels such as freedom of information, open access to technology and technological progress," Jahangiri cautioned. "But it can lead to the concentration of power to produce and manage information in the hands of a limited number of global actors."
The Iranian official warned that if societies become mere consumers of technology, data and knowledge produced and managed by others, a new form of colonialism will emerge — one that controls not necessarily territory, but the minds and decision-making power of human beings.
He issued a direct appeal to thinkers in Iran, Indonesia and across the Muslim world to remain vigilant against this new generation of colonial domination and to seriously pursue avenues for epistemic liberation, scientific independence, and full sovereignty over data and technology.
The Role of the People: Beyond Election Day Participation
Jahangiri identified the role of the people as the third critical component of the Islamic Republic's experience, arguing that popular participation must transcend electoral cycles.
"In the political vocabulary of the Islamic Republic, people's participation should not be limited to election days," he stated. "Citizens should not be summoned only at voting time and then left with no role until the next election."
He emphasized that people must be present in war and peace, in prosperity and hardship, during crises and reconstruction, and at every stage of a nation's social and political life, regarding themselves as integral to the destiny of their society.
Referencing Iran's recent experiences, including the role and support of the people during times of conflict, Jahangiri noted that a country's true power is not confined to its formal institutions or military capabilities, but is deeply rooted in public trust, solidarity and the sustained participation of its citizens.
A Call for Intellectual Cooperation
Concluding his address, Jahangiri highlighted the significant potential for a shared intellectual dialogue between Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim-majority country, and Iran, a nation with extensive experience in confronting various forms of domination and striving for genuine independence.
He proposed that thinkers from both nations convene more frequently to address a fundamental question: "What forms has colonialism taken in the 21st century, and what does liberation from new forms of colonialism mean?"
According to Jahangiri, colonialism today may manifest in political, economic, cultural, media, scientific, epistemic, data or technological forms. Consequently, the very concept of independence must be redefined in accordance with the new realities of the global landscape.
He stressed that intellectual cooperation between Iran and Indonesia must not remain confined to historical reflection on anti-colonial struggles. It must advance toward the production of ideas and solutions for liberating contemporary humanity from new forms of domination.
"This effort is important not only for our two countries," Jahangiri concluded, "but for the future of the Muslim world and all nations seeking genuine independence."
The forum featured a distinguished panel including Professor Khalid al-Walid, professor of Islamic philosophy at UIN Jakarta; Gus Heri Harianto Azumi, candidate for the general chairmanship of PBNU; Dr. Yahya Jahangiri, Cultural Counselor of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Indonesia; and Kiai Haji Abdul Hakim Dubond, Muslim thinker and lecturer at STISNU Tangerang.
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