Iran Revolution 1979

 The Revolution

            When the Iranian Revolution happened, I wasn't born yet. Iran was on its way to growing as a modern country, like new western nations, under the rule of Mohammad Reza Shah. However, many factors drove people toward revolution. Before the Pahlavi era, Iran was under control of the Qajar dynasty, whose inappropriate rulers greatly harmed Iran’s economy and culture. People were angry about the Qajar dynasty and desired a Republic, but instead the Pahlavi monarchy took power. Mohammad Reza Shah tried to westernize Iran’s culture and most parts of the industry were under the control of western professionals, such as oil. Additionally, when Mosaddeq nationalized the oil, Britain, supported by US and the Shah, staged a coup against him. It made people angrier. Moreover, freedom of speech was completely limited, and protesting could cause jail or death. During this time, religious leaders gained popularity. The revolution began from universities and mosques to change the government from a monarchy to a Republic. However, after a year, Ayatollah Khomeini gained so much power and popularity, and he forced the Shah to leave Iran. This was the moment the government changed to an Islamic Republic. The history of Iran and the lives of millions Iranian changed in several ways after the revolution.

After the Revolution, the first part of society that was affected was the economy. Changing the government made the relationship between Iran and Western countries worse. Western governments put sanctions on Iran, stopped trading with Iran and helped Iraq to start a war with Iran. It caused Iran’s economy to crash. Most brands and western markets cut their own relationships with Iran, and Iranians had to take control of businesses that were run by western professionals who left after the revolution. In a few years, Iranians took the control and defended against Iraqi invasion, but the effects of war and the economic crash were big enough to even affect me when I was growing up. An unstable economy was never truly fixed and always affected people’s life in various ways. Prices rise every year, and the Iranian Rial lost worth in the international market. During that time, The Islamic government moved towards dictatorship step by step.

After the Revolution, people's freedom of speech became more limited. Religious leaders gained so much power in the government, and they pushed aside wise and educated people in the government. They tried to influence all universities, schools, and workplaces with religious laws, and they controlled religious beliefs, by censoring books, movies, music, and art. The censoring and the belief control were so strong in the few first years after the revolution. During the time I was growing up, I had easier access to movies and books than my parents. I grew up watching a lot of movies from different countries. Many actresses, actors, and singers left the country after revolution but continued their art from outside of Iran. Many TV shows and news channels started working to cover the truths that the government was trying to hide. People started using satellite dishes, and the government couldn't do anything about it. People always found a way to access everything that the government tried to censor or limit.

After the Revolution, women faced several limitations. Before the revolution, women started to have significant access to education, participating in universities and held high positions in society and government. However, religious leaders didn’t support women in power. They believe men should be in charge. The government forced women to wear a hijab in all places by law. Pressure and laws limited women’s freedom in various parts of society. Even singing was forbidden for women, and the brainwashing of girl students started in schools. I faced all these pressures and limitations when I was growing up. When my mother was my age, laws and pressure against women were stronger than in my time, but it was still enough to make me want to leave the country.

The revolution took a wrong turn and has had a big effect on every Iranian. The situation in Iran, today isn't much different from previous dictatorships. All these changes and rules have affected my life, my parents’ lives, and will affect the lives of many generations in Iran. Growing up after the revolution made me more careful about beliefs and politics. Fortunately, despite government efforts, they couldn't stop women and people from standing up for their rights. Religious law and beliefs don't have the same effect, popularity, or powers as they had during the revolution. Women continue their way to have high positions in science and government and they no longer follow the rule of hijab and fight for the freedom to choose whether to wear hijab or not. After the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old girl due to the hijab rule, people, students, and the young generation protest against Islamic Republic in every possible way, more than before, and keep fighting for woman, life and freedom.