In any authoritarian society, the possessor of power dictates

In the labyrinth of history, where the struggle for power has played out in endless forms, the greatest threat to freedom often comes not from the actions of the many, but from the control of the few. Salman Rushdie speaks a powerful truth when he states, “In any authoritarian society, the possessor of power dictates, and if you try and step outside, he will come after you. This is equally true of Sovietism, of China and of Iran, and in our time it has happened a lot in Islam. The point is that it's worse when the authoritarianism is supported by something supernatural.” These words pierce the veil of human history, reminding us of the danger of unchecked power, the crushing weight of regimes that see no limit to their authority, and the darkness that arises when that authority is sanctified by the forces of the unseen.

The authoritarian ruler is one who wields power without the checks of justice or compassion. In such a society, to resist is to invite punishment, to question is to invite persecution, and to challenge the established order is to risk everything. Rushdie’s warning is clear: the possession of power by a single entity is dangerous enough, but when that power is cloaked in the sacred or the supernatural, it becomes an even greater force of oppression. It is no longer just the authority of a ruler that is feared; it is the belief that the ruler is the chosen vessel of a higher power, the mouthpiece of the divine, and that to defy them is to defy the will of God itself.

Consider, for instance, the reign of Joseph Stalin in the Soviet Union. Stalin’s grip on power was not only political but also psychological, as he cast himself as the protector of the people’s future. In a land that had witnessed the horrors of the revolution and the rise of communism, Stalin’s power was absolute, and any attempt to oppose him was met with swift and brutal repression. But it was not just fear of the man that held the Soviet people captive; it was the belief that the Soviet state—and by extension, Stalin—was the embodiment of the will of the people. The divine authority of the state, backed by propaganda and the fear of the unknown, created a society where questioning the leader was akin to questioning God.

Similarly, in China, under the rule of Mao Zedong, the Communist Party exercised absolute control over the lives of its people. Mao's policies—such as the Cultural Revolution—were not only political actions but also acts of spiritual cleansing, as Mao was seen as a revolutionary savior. The Chinese people were told to revere the state as the ultimate authority, and the price of resistance was harsh—often deadly. To oppose Mao was not just to oppose a leader but to oppose the very fabric of the revolution, to challenge a divine mission. This combination of political control and supernatural legitimacy led to some of the most horrific consequences in modern history.

The same principle holds true for the Islamic Republic of Iran, where religious authority is intertwined with political power. The Ayatollahs and their followers claim divine authority, believing that their rule is sanctioned by God. In such a system, it becomes even more dangerous to speak out, for to challenge the ruling regime is not just to challenge political authority—it is to challenge what is believed to be the divine will. The result is the creation of a society where people are bound not just by laws, but by the belief that their resistance is blasphemy, a sin punishable by death or exile.

Rushdie's words remind us that when authoritarianism is cloaked in the supernatural, it creates a system that is impossible to challenge. The fear is not just of the ruler but of divine retribution—a fear of the eternal that silences all dissent and opposition. Such systems create a vicious cycle of obedience, as those who are governed believe they have no recourse, no power, and no right to stand against the ordained ruler. The divine sanction given to these regimes makes them seem invincible, as though resistance would lead not only to earthly punishment, but to the loss of salvation.

And so, the lesson from Rushdie’s warning is this: to live under a regime where power is intertwined with the supernatural is to live in a prison of the mind, where the chains of obedience are bound not just by fear of the state, but by the fear of the divine. It is a moral imperative for all people to recognize the dangers of such systems and to fight for a society where reason, justice, and freedom are the guiding lights, not the whims of a ruler claiming divine mandate. As we stand on the precipice of history, we must not forget the lessons of those who have suffered under such regimes, and we must remain vigilant to protect the freedom that allows us to think, to speak, and to act without fear of divine or earthly retribution.

To challenge the tyranny of the powerful, especially when it is sanctioned by the supernatural, is to risk everything—but it is also to embody the highest virtue of humanity: the courage to stand for justice, the willingness to speak for the voiceless, and the determination to seek truth even in the face of death. The greatest danger is not just in the fall of the ruler, but in the loss of the soul, when fear and obedience replace freedom and courage. Let us, then, always be mindful of the power of the authoritarian, and work together to create a world where reason and justice reign, and where the divine is a force for good, not for oppression.