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Living in Iran
MIND MAGAZINE | Most people
base their impressions of foreign countries on what they hear in the
mass media. Since September 2001, the images we get from the Middle East
usually come from reports on terrorist activities or the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict. But how are people actually living in that
part of the world? It seems that, looking through the eyes of the six
o’clock news, Middle Easterners are all about violence, religious
extremism and hatred against the West. But look a little deeper, and
you’ll see that Iran, a country often accused of harvesting terrorism,
doesn’t fit the picture we have of the Middle East. People are
rebelling, but their anger is not directed at the occident, rather they
are revolting against the religious institutions holding onto power
gained during the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Iranians are fighting to live
a “normal” life, without fearing moral judgment.
Iranians have lived through eight years of war with Iraq, and today they
still have to endure a struggling economy and many restrictions from the
dominant religious organizations. Combine this with a population largely
(65%) made of people below 30 years of age, and you have a recipe for
protests and contestation. As if popular resentment wasn’t enough,
outside pressures – namely the United States suspecting the presence of
weapons of mass destruction in Iran – is putting the government in an
unstable position. Signs of a slipping governmental authority are
showing as the new generation expresses its discontent by conducting
large protest rallies.
The future of the country, as it perceived by its upcoming generation,
is tainted by the archaic influence of the ruling clerics. Women are
still obliged to wear the veil, although they are generally well
integrated and respected. Entertainment taken for granted in the West,
such as bars or nightclubs, are still outlawed in Iran, creating a sense
of unfairness among the nation’s youth. With the exception of soccer,
authorities supervise most other forms of distraction. The government
imposes its authority on most aspects of the economic and social
environment. Living in a mentality different from that of the religious
leaders, Iranians are showing their discontent by quietly defying the
rules imposed authorities. Flagrant violations of the law like the many
satellite dishes populating rooftops, obvious infringement to the
conservative dress code and international drug trafficking are all signs
of the government’s incapacity to impose its authority.
The country is still caught in the throes of the revolutionary spirit of
1979, a year which saw established the conservative structures that
today’s youth are desperately trying to get rid of. Freedom of press is
also under fire, despite moderate reformist President Mohammad Khatami’s
best efforts to ensure an open flow of information. Dozens of newspapers
have been shut down in the past decade for supporting reformist ideas.
Endorsing standpoints criticizing the ruling clerics is a courageous act
– Reporters without Borders reported that 10 journalists were
imprisoned during 2002. Intimidation is often directed at the media,
preventing reporters from freely doing their job. Several cases of
abusive treatment of prisoners and minorities have also tarnished the
country’s human rights record. The most recent case occurred in the
summer of 2003. Zahra Kazemi, a Canadian photojournalist, was arrested
after photographing a prison in the Iranian capital Tehran. She died of
internal head injuries after allegedly being beaten by prison guards
while in custody. President Khatami has promised an inquiry to shed
light on the events that led to the death of the journalist, who was
also an Iranian citizen. But it is questionable that the president’s
pledge of transparency will materialize, simply because of his lack of
power over the government.
President Khatami has tried to create a transition to a more liberal
state, yet the Islamic wing of the legislature is still reluctant to
make compromises. Religious institutions were given absolute power over
the country after the 1979 revolution, self-proclaiming Iran a
theocratic republic. This means that Islamic principles form the
guidelines of the constitution. Religion has had a great influence on
how decisions government decisions are made. Yet the lifestyle imposed
by the clergy has not resisted to the changing times. The clash between
traditional and reformist forces is far from over, despite the trouble
and suffering it has caused already.
As Iran is trying to incorporate its traditional heritage to modern
reality, many outcomes are possible for the future. Unfortunately, it is
not improbable that the overriding moral conflict that is tearing Iran
in two might end up in large-scale violence.
Note: The point of this article is to give a clearer
impression on what life in Iran is like, especially the liberal movement
embraced by much of the population.
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