Iran; How Religious Extremists Hijacked Democracy and How The Youth Are Taking It Back

 "Enlighten the people generally, and tyranny and oppressions of body and mind will vanish like evil spirits at the dawn of day" - Thomas Jefferson

President of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad making a speech in front of a tv screen showing Ayatollah Khomeini's fac

         Iran's present condition is one that worries the international community, with its large scale abuse of human rights, complete disregard of women's rights and harsh theocratic rule. Iran's hegemony over the anti werstern/anti american ideology is one that affects not only the United States but the world. Their goal of achieving nuclear enrichment facilities which could lead to the possible distribution of nuclear weapons is worrisome.
         The autocratic regime has had a strong hold over this country that thirsts for democracy, as we have seen with the protests in 2009, which came about as a result of the highly contested presidential election between incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and challenger Mir Hossein Mousavi. This comes after a wave of anti government protests swept across the middle east starting with Tunisia. But as many would note, we've seen this same type of mass uprising against the government in Iran back in 1979.
          The revolution of 1979 had its goal disposing the western backed dictator Shah Reza Pahlavi, whose strict and harsh rule left millions impoverished and left the religious community alienated. His attempts at westernizing a country at the expense of the religious right came with a heavy price; a mass uprising inspired by the charismatic and prophetic Ayatollah Khomeini, who at this point was exiled in France due to his criticism of the regime. His call for adherence to religious authority and moral righteousness left many people left many nostalgic for an Islamic based government that would serve its people. His words struck a chord with many inside Iran and it led to an uprising which was met with brute force by the Shah, but eventually led to his disposal and exile from the country, bringing forth an Iran that would be ruled under Khomeini and his religious extremists.
           The outcome was disparaging with a suspension on the constitution, the enactment of shari'a law and a complete and total make over of the "democratic" government of Iran under the Shah. This ushered in an era of untold pain and suffering for the Iranian people, especially when it came to women and free speech. Women were now forced to be garbed in the burqa or fear retribution by government thugs known as the Revolutionary Guard. People who dissented against the government were thrown into prisons, often tortured, beaten and sometimes killed. Those who committed adultery were sentenced to gruesome death sentences, such as stoning or torture. These wide scale abuses have sent shock waves through Iran and have left a once peaceful nation in shambles.
           As a new generation tries to identify itself in Iran, what values do they hold dear? What do they want the future of Iran to be and what type of Iran do they want their children to grow up in? While the government will tell you its people despise all things western, we have seen a growing discontent with the regime and a call for a western style democracy that respects its people and serves them as well. With Iran having one of the largest populations in the middle east with 70 million people, we see almost a third living in squalor and poverty, while another third are dying from starvation and disease. This once prosperous nation was well on its way to democracy until western backed forces in 1953 deposed of the pro democratic prime minister Mohammed Mossadeq and installed the dictatorship of the Shah, who would protect American interests domestically and internationally for the funds and aid he received while in power. Mossadeq's fervent nationalism, and his attempt to share the profits which were exploited by the British owned Anglo Iranian Oil company led to his downfall. Time magazine in 1952 called Mossadeq the "George Washington" of the middle east for his attempt to bring the fortunes of their natural resources back to his people and expel foreign influence from the country. He was seen around the world as a revolutionary who fought for the good of his people and had only his nation's best interests at heart. This however did not sit well with many in the British government, who saw a large part of their tax revenue come from the Anglo Iranian oil company, and saw this as a threat to their stronghold over the resources and political control in the middle east.

Protesters bearing images of Mossadeq at the 2009 'Green Revolution'

          Although Mossadeq is long gone, and the true democratic reforms first enacted by Prime Minister Mossadeq have since been disposed of by the theocratic regime in present day Iran, the ideas, values and spirit of Mossadeq's vision for a democratic, secular Iran still lives on. His belief that the Iranian people were a culturally sophisticated, intellectually articulate and aware people that could live under a democratic government free from foreign influence to pursue an autonomous, purely Iranian path is one that the current youth in Iran still remember and strife for.
          The 2009 protests now known as "The Green Revolution" saw these ideas that have been locked away underground come to the surface, as people chanted for the overthrow of the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khameini and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's brutal government. Masses of people filled the streets, pleading for democracy and waving Mohammad Mossadeq signs entitled "We still remember". This mass uprising came at a price, with hundreds being killed and injured by the Revolutionary Guard and Basij, and hundreds more being prosecuted, imprisoned and blacklisted.

          Even though this mass protest was quelled only after a few weeks, its message still lives on, and its leaders lay dormant waiting for the next opportunity to rise against the government.
          When a man in Tunisia named Mohammad Bouazizi, a poor vegetable seller in the town of Sidi Bouzid, 190 miles south of the capital Tunis, lit himself ablaze in protest of the dictatorship ruling his country and the governments oppression of the impoverished people like himself, it reverberated through the Middle East with irrevocable results. From Tunisia, to Egypt, to Algeria, to Lybia, to Syria, to Jordan, to Bahrain and all over the region, calls for reforms haunted the political elites of the Middle East.
          Iran's people took advantage of that momentum. The Green Revolution sprung back up, calling for Ahmadinejed's brutal regime to be overthrown and an installation of a true democracy. The protests were met once again with violence and brutality as tear gas, armed police and thugs intimidated and even maimed protesters. Deja Vu it seems.

People fill the streets of Iran in the 2009 protests

          So what does this mean? Where will Iran be in 10 years? 20 years? 5 years? Nobody can tell for sure. These types of revolutions can not be planned, they just happen. Without warning, a spark is ignited that fuels the outrage and anger of millions, leading to mass uprisings. We've seen this all too often throughout history, and there are those that have resulted in bitter consequences, like the Bolshevik Revolution, and those that often shape and change history for the better like the French Revolution.
           Iran's 1979 revolution is an example of a revolution that led to dire consequences and the installation of an oppressive, religiously fundamentalist regime that has gripped power for over 30 years.
           It's this new young generation's job to ensure that their children don't live under the same tyranny and oppression that they did. They must come together and unite as a country against the regime. This generation is enlightened to western ideas and values, but they do not necessarily want to become westernized- they just want freedom. Freedom is what all men desire, except those that desire to rule. Another revolution is in the works. It's only a matter of time before this government sees its demise and true reforms and secularization begins. All we can hope is that this next revolution isn't hijacked by an even worse force than the one that hijacked it in 1979.

Signing out- John Thomas