We may think Iran to be a strict Islamic country still on the path of the religious revolution that started in 1979 and on the crossroads of a potential ideological conflict with the West and Israel. The strictness and isolation of the society has increased since the coming to power of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, a former Revolutionary Guard and an ideal disciple of Shiite Islamic teachings. But as reported by the Guardian’s Robert Tait, a completely different Iran, in line with western cultures, exists behind the iron curtains.
Robert Tait is expelled from Iran but speaks of his experience of the people who desperately try to live parallel lives. The attitude of the Iranian people, who apparently look to adhere to strict religious beliefs, on the hindsight thrive for religious and social freedom. This is partly to do with the fact that the ordinary Iranians were preparing for a more open society under the rule of reformists like Mohammad Khatami but the dream ended by the election of the strict President Ahmadinejad in 2005. Since then, the hardline regime has made all efforts to stop reform-minded people gaining ground in Iranian politics. But, if we go by reports within Iran, there is a sense of anger among many ordinary people at the hardliners for taking Iran nowhere but towards political and economic isolation. The Guardian’s report is significant in the sense that it sheds light on the daring nature of Iranian men and women to defy the piercing eyes of the religious and justice police (although the men and women take necessary precautions before beginning their western-style revelry) and live a sort of life they think is paramount to their personal satisfaction, which for so long is being dictated by the state.
The Ayatollah, along with President Ahmadinejad know that strict administration is the only way to keep a growing reform-minded population under the shadow of state and religious fear, for the radical leaders know that iron grip is the only way to prevent the country being taken over by reformists which would mean grave danger to the Islamic revolution. Iran’s young population is ambitious, but they are getting anxious and disillusioned in the face of a growing uncertainty over Tehran’s relations with the West, particularly with the United States.
The Iranian government is calling every citizen to join in the struggle against Washington and Tel Aviv but the bottomline is unemployment and corruption are high in the country, despite being oil-rich, and a major part of the country’s society has lost patience with the strict religious restrictions which, to many, have become a thorn in the country’s economic development.
Image and Source Link: Guardian
