Six Articles of Union and Conformity

The Six Articles of Union and Conformity (Fasdani: شش ماده اتحادیه و انطباق; Šeš-ye Maqâle-hâ Ettehād-ye bi-Muqtaẓā; Rahelian: ستة عقود من الاتحاد والمطابقة; Sitta Maqālāt min al-Ittiḥād al-Mutabaqa) are a set of six principles and historically sixty-five clauses establishing standards for governance and guiding the behaviors of the people of Zorasan. These six principles form a central role in the establishment of the Zorasani cult of personality (around Mahrdad Ali Sattari and the Union Fathers) and obedience to the state. First published in 1960 and re-eleased in 1980, the Six Articles mandate absolute loyalty and obedience to the Zorasani state, the National Renovation Front, the Zorasani Irfanic Revolutionary Army and adherence to National Renovationism.

History

A printed copy of the leaflet carrying the Six Articles.

The Six Articles were originally devised in 1953 by Yadollah Shariatzadeh, the then Supreme Commander of the National Revolutionary Army as a small booklet published solely for use among the rank and file of the army. The Six Articles according to Shariatzadeh would "instill within the soldier and officer, the principles upon which they serve, unite and fight. These articles shall be the guidance of all armed men either to victory to the embrace of the martyrs." The mandating of daily recitation impressed the other senior leaders of the Union of Khazestan and Pardaran and at the 1954 Revolutionary Command Congress, it was formally adopted as a "national commandment." However, the 1954 edition made some amendments to the articles at the personal command of Mahrdad Ali Sattari, the Supreme Leader of the Union, who sought to conflate the military with the ruling Revolutionary Masses Party and to enhance the collective-nature of government by removing the names of individuals, including himself.

In 1955, the Revolutionary Command Congress solidified the Six Articles' role within the shaping of daily and political life in the UKP and also declared its "contents to supersede the constitution and law book of the Union." The same Command Congress mandated its daily recitation by citizens, memorisation and mass production in the form of leaflets, architectural motifs and slogans. The Command Congress further protected its decision by declaring this edict a "Sacrosanct National Commandment" - guaranteeing that no future Command Congress can revoke its status.

In 1980, following the Second Rahelian War and establishment of the Union of Zorasani Irfanic Republics, the 1955 National Commandment was re-certified by the first post-unification Command Congress that year. It was once again mass produced in leaflets, slogans and mandated to be broadcasted at the start and end of programming on state media.

Implementation

In some ways, the Six Articles have come to supersede the Constitution of Zorasan and various edits of the National Renovation Front and constitutes the basic supreme law of Zorasan. The country has devised criminal and political laws interpreting the individual Six Articles, including Anti-Union Behaviour.

School boys at primary level reciting the Six Articles.

Under the 1955 and 1980 National Commandments, the Articles must be memorised by every citizen of the country and recited daily at the workplace, factory, school and business. They are to be exercised through daily Self-Correction Sessions and are broadcasted at the beginning and end of daily state programming. The Articles form the foundation of the Zorasani cult of personality around the Union Fathers, deference and obedience to the state and adoration and obedience to the armed forces. The simplicity of the Articles themselves has enabled them to become integral to the political and daily lives of Zorasanis to such an extent that many consider them to be rivals to the commandments of Irfan and Sotirianity.

The Six Articles

The current version of the Six Articles was published in 1980 following the completion of Zorasani Unification.

1. We must be willing to give blood, sweat and flesh to the struggle to maintain our Ettehâd.
2. We must honour and respect our Union Fathers, the fathers of our homeland and the eternal leaders of our National Renovation Front.
3. We must honour and respect the authority of our Union Fathers and the Front and be ready to fiercely and absolutely defend that authority.
4. We must abandon the Self and give to each other for the greater collective good of the Union.
5. We must embrace unconditional obedience to the governance of the Front and the inspirational leadership of the Revolutionary Army.
6. We must strengthen by all possible means the willpower, spiritual and political unity of the Union to build a greater fatherland for generations yet to come.