When the Name of ‘Cyrus the Great’ is Drawn into Middle Eastern Politics Today

Controversial statements by “Loay Alshareef” centered on Cyrus the Great, Iran, and Israel have sparked fresh discussions about history, historical debt, and contemporary Middle Eastern politics.

A video of “Loay Alshareef,” an Arab activist and regular supporter of normalizing relations with Israel, has been circulated on social networks. In the video, by referring to Cyrus the Great and the history of ancient Iran, he presents a political and highly controversial message about Iran’s current situation.

Loay Alshareef is an Egyptian activist based in the United Arab Emirates who is known for his activities in promoting better relations between the Arab world and Israel and has also worked in media as a television program host.

He was born in 1982 and has been presented in the media as a figure supporting improved Arab-Israeli relations; particularly after he posted a message in Hebrew in 2018, which was said to be intended to reassure Zionists and emphasize the possibility of coexistence and dialogue.

His name has been heard more than before in recent years in the regional media sphere, coinciding with the expansion of discussions surrounding the Abraham Accords and the normalization of relations between some Arab countries and Israel.

Based on the released video, Loay Alshareef says in part of a speech:

“All of you Jews or people of Israel owe a debt to the people of Iran. Cyrus the Great, 2,500 years ago, freed your ancestors, and now it is time for you to repay your debt to Cyrus and free the Iranians so we can make Iran great again.”

These statements were quickly reshared in cyberspace and triggered varied and sometimes harsh reactions among Iranian, Arab, and even Israeli users; ranging from approval by some users due to the reference to ancient Iranian history, to sharp criticism from others who view these statements as an oversimplification of history or an instrumental intrusion into today’s complex political issues.

The central part of his statements returns to Cyrus the Great, king of Persia; a figure who, in historical and religious texts, particularly in Jewish tradition, is recognized as the king who, after conquering Babylon, permitted the Jews to return to their homeland and rebuild their temple.

This historical narrative, although reflected in various sources, its interpretation is political in today’s world, and using it to draw contemporary geopolitical conclusions has always been controversial. Critics argue that linking an ancient event to the political responsibilities of today’s states and nations can lead to oversimplified or emotional interpretations.

The release of this video occurs under circumstances where:

• Iran is facing one of its most critical domestic periods
• Iran-Israel relations are at the highest level of tension

Some users have viewed these statements as a symbol of a shift in the discourse of parts of the Arab world toward Iran as a people, not Iran as a state, while others have described it as interventionist, propagandistic, or even a distortion of history.

Loay Alshareef’s statements demonstrate the entry of ancient history, identity, and power into today’s Middle Eastern political disputes; a place where Cyrus the Great, Iran, Israel, and the concept of “historical debt” become intertwined in a single sentence.

The extent to which such narratives can contribute to dialogue, or conversely, fuel new tensions, is a question whose answer will not be found in ancient history, but in the region’s politics today.