The Past and the Present: Mahsa Amini’s Death and a Brief Explanation of the Iranian Revolution

On September 16, 2022, Mahsa Amini died under the custody of the Tehrani “morality police” for violating the law on headscarves. The authorities claim she fell ill and slipped into a coma after being taken into custody, but Amini’s family has come out and said that witnesses claim she was beaten by officers. 

A civilian revolt has been brewing for years due to the intensity and cruelty of authorities within the country, but 22 year old Amini’s suspicious death sent the people of Iran into extreme shock and anger. Many Iranians who have been unjustly targeted by biased authorities are fighting for justice for Amini and women across the country. They are arguing against a strict Islamic republic, one where the freedom of women is hindered. 

The horrific event sparked an abundance of protests throughout the country, which has brought back memories of the Iranian revolution (also called the Islamic revolution) in 1978-1979. Across Iran, women are burning their hijabs, flipping off images of the country’s leader, marching through their cities in large groups, and chanting “Death to the Dictator” and “Women, life, freedom.” Pre-1979, Iran was a monarchy ruled by an emperor. From 1941-1979, Iran was under the rule of King Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi. The Shah attempted to restrict political freedom in a sense, but also worked to adopt western ideologies; in a way, this expanded cultural freedom by allowing Iranian educational systems and the economy to grow. This may sound good, but the Shah’s tendency towards authoritarianism was a cause for concern. 

Due to Iran’s ample supply of oil, many countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom became allies with Iran as the Shah forced many parts of the country into mass industrialization. However, the communists and religious citizens of Iran were angered by the Shah’s plans– they wanted the country to be an Islamic Republic. However, the Shah believed that religion should come after the government, which is how many countries operate today. To execute this plan, he encouraged women to receive an education and even banned headscarves in public, which many people strongly disagreed with. They felt that it barred religious freedom and conservative Muslims were desperate for change. Although an uprising was brewing within the vast religious community, many nonreligious citizens were content with the freedoms they were being granted. 

Eventually, in 1979, the Shah fled Iran amidst the backlash he was facing for his discriminatory laws and ideals. In his place, extreme traditionalists swooped in and took control.  Ayatollah Khomeini, an extremely religious leader, took his place and led the newly established Islamic Republic of Iran until 1989 when he passed away. To this day, Iran remains a strict Islamic Republic, long after the death of Khomeini. 

Surprisingly, many people today are completely unaware of the Iranian revolution and its long lasting repercussions, especially westerners who have always viewed the Middle East as a consistently widely authoritarian region. Due to Amini’s tragic case, Iran’s seemingly skewed leadership is in the spotlight and citizens are fighting for immediate change, this time in opposition of the strict government that actively encumbers the people of Iran who wish to break away from intense traditionalism and violence.

Layla Schuon is a senior in high school in Los Angeles, California. Since a young age, she has been consistently interested in politics and human rights issues around the globe, especially those that involve reproductive rights, gender equality, religious freedom, the environment, and the eradication of oppressive systems. NGP caught her eye because she believes passionate young people deserve to have their voices heard. Layla is an avid musician and artist who wants to study the music industry as well as international affairs in college. She is currently a member of the USC Keck Healing Committee, has a leadership position in her school’s Jewish Student Union, and is a volunteer for Heal the Bay. She is very excited about the opportunity to write for the NGP blog.