Inside Iran: what is life like 25 years after the Islamic Revolution?

On a late afternoon in Tehran, Iran's capital largest city, young people are checking out Nike sneakers, foreign-music CDs, and handmade Iranian crafts at a shopping mall. Shadi, 15, peers through a store window with her friend. Shopping is one of Shadi's favorite pastimes. She also enjoys going to the mountains north of town and visiting with friends in coffee shops. She wants to be an artist someday.

If you drive 45 minutes south, you will see Qasem (ghah-SEM) sitting on the grass, talking with his family. Ask what his favorite food is and Qasem, 15, will tall you: "Whatever God gives me. It doesn't matter."

Like most Iranians, Shadi and Qasem are Muslims. When Qasem grows up, he wants to "do service to religion." He attends a special school where he is studying to become a cleric (leader trained in Islamic law).

Both teens were born after the Islamic Revolution that shook the country in 1979. The revolution replaced the U.S.-backed Shah (king) with an Islamic government led by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini (koh-MAY-nee). A new constitution granted the Ayatollah the final say on all domestic and foreign policies.

At that time, many Iranians wanted Islam to play a larger role in their society and government. Some also believed that the Shah was corrupt and suppressed human rights. They said his economic and social reforms did little for many Iranians.

But, say many people, the new Islamic theocracy placed even more restrictions on personal freedoms and on the press. The new regime imprisoned hundreds of protesters and killed many others. The judicial (court) system was dismantled, with a new Islamic-based system taking its place.

Frustrations of the Young

This year, Iran is marking the revolution's 25th anniversary. Qasem is proud of what the Islamic republic has accomplished. But many people are dissatisfied with the strict religious government. A few want a return to the brief period, nearly a century ago, when Iran attempted democracy.

Shadi says she feels stifled (smothered) by limitations on personal and social expression. She is not alone in her frustrations. But some elders say that teens like Shadi, who have no memory of the revolution, should be grateful for the rights they do enjoy.

Two decades ago, when leaving the house, women were required to wear modest clothing, such as a chador (CHA-door), a large cloth that covers the head and body. Unmarried couples could be arrested if they were seen together in public. And listening to Western pop music was forbidden.

Such restrictions began to ease in 1997, when Iranian voters over-whelmingly chose Mohammad Khatami (khah-TAH-mee), a reformist, as President. Three years later, they elected a mostly reformist Parliament.

Now, more newspapers are able to criticize the conservative clergy, even if they must do so very carefully. And the judiciary system has undergone some reforms.

There have been other changes. Many women now wear makeup and colorful scarves instead of chadors. And young, unmarried couples can be seen walking together in parks or on the streets.

Meanwhile, activists are working hard to gain more rights for women and children. So far, they have succeeded in raising the legal age at which a parent can marry off a daughter. Parents must now seek a court's permission for the marriage of a daughter younger than 13. The official age used to be 9.

Last fall, Shirin Ebadi won the Nobel Peace Prize for her work as a human-rights lawyer. She became the first Iranian and the first Muslim woman to receive the award.

In her acceptance speech, Ebadi said that the Koran, the holy book of Islam, should not be used to justify a repressive culture. "The Koran swears by the pen and what it writes," Ebadi said. "Such a sermon and message cannot be in conflict with awareness, knowledge, wisdom, [and] freedom of opinion and expression."

High Unemployment

In addition to their struggle for greater freedom, many Iranians want better jobs. The country's official unemployment rate is around 16 percent, although some analysts say it could be as high as 30 percent.

Iranians want more of a say in their government, too. Everyone age 15 and older is eligible to vote. But elected officials wield little power. Any decision the Parliament makes can be overruled by the Guardian Council, a group controlled by Iran's current supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei (khah-MAY-nee).

In a legislative election held in February, the Council blocked more than 2,000 reform-minded candidates from running, including more than 80 reformist lawmakers who were seeking re-election.

For now, Iran's clerical leaders have a firm hold on power. But, says a report by the U.S. State Department, the elections will "only further deepen the discontent with clerical rule, which is now discredited and publicly criticized as never before."

Politics Aside ...

These days, many Iranians are simply trying to enjoy life. Extended families often get together on weekends and holidays for meals and walks in the park. Gorme sabzi, a stew of beef, peas, and spinach served over rice, is a favorite dish. Many parents, meanwhile, actively seek mates for their children, although youths are free to meet each other on their own.

For Shadi, religion is "not very important." But Qasem prays five times a day. And during the holy month of Ramadan, he fasts from sunrise until sunset. He says that people should not just call themselves Muslim but act on their beliefs.

Last December, Iranians put such differences aside when a devastating earthquake struck the southeastern city of Bam (see map, p. 17). More than 40,000 people were killed and thousands more injured or left homeless. About 80 percent of the city was destroyed.

People from across the country and around the world united to help the victims. The earthquake also revived a proposal to move the country's capital from Tehran to another city. More than 12 million people live or work in Tehran, which sits on major seismic fault lines.

Relations With the U.S.

The U.S. and Iran have not had diplomatic ties since the revolution in 1979, when hundreds of Iranians overran the U.S. Embassy in Tehran. They took dozens of Americans hostage and held them for more than a year.

President George W. Bush has said that Iran and other "terrorist" nations "constitute an axis of evil." His administration has accused Tehran of developing nuclear weapons, supporting terrorism, and suppressing human rights. Iran, which denies all of the charges, has agreed to international weapons inspections.

Recently, both countries have hinted at restarting a dialogue (talks). Iranian officials say that the U.S. needs their help in fighting terrorism and providing stability in neighboring Afghanistan and Iraq.

Many Iranians, like Shadi, would like to see their country improve relations with the U.S. Qasem, who says he has nothing against the American people, is opposed to the U.S. government. With roughly two thirds of Iran's population under 30, this generation is likely to have a huge impact on the country very soon.

IRAN

LAND AND PEOPLE: Iran is an Islamic republic in which religious leaders hold much of the power. Unlike most of its neighbors to the west, Iran is not an Arab country. In ancient times, it was the site of the mighty Persian Empire, and 60% of its people are of Persian descent. Iran is larger than Alaska in area (630,575 sq mi), but much of its land is desert and is almost uninhabited. Population: 66.6 million.

GOVERNMENT: Religious leaders exercise control over the government and recently disqualified many candidates in parliamentary elections. President: Mohammad Khatami.

ECONOMY: Petroleum exports provide most of Iran's earnings. The 1979 revolution damaged the economy, as many skilled workers left the country. Iran must import food because of a severe water shortage.

PER CAPITA GDP: $7,000 *.

LITERACY: Males, 86%; females, 73%.

LIFE EXPECTANCY: Males, 68 years; females, 70 years.

* The value of all items produced by the country in a year divided by the population. (GDP stands for gross domestic product; per capita means per person.)

QUESTIONS

1. A major earthquake struck what city on December 26, 2003?--

2. What is the capital of Iran?--

3. Most of Iran's oil fields are located near which border?--

4. Ships entering the Persian Gulf must first pass through which narrow body of water?--

5. Which mountain chain is located north of Iran's capital?--

6. Damavand is a spectacular mountain for skiing. What is its height in feet?--

7. What city has a population of 3 million people?--

8. How would you describe the land at 36[degrees]N, 55[degrees]E?--

9. What city is located 200 miles south of Tehran?--

10. Iran lies on the southern boundary of the world's largest inland body of water. Can you name it?--

Words to Know

* Ayatollah: A religious leader of Shiite Muslims.

* Muslim: One who believes in Islam.

* Theocracy: Government by religious officials ruling as "representatives of God."

Your Turn

WORD MATCH

1. Shah       A. smothered
2. stifled    B. religious
3. chador        leader
4. cleric     C. talks
5. dialogue   D. king
              E. head-to-toe
                 garment

THINK ABOUT IT

1. What changes occurred in Iran immediately after the Islamic Revolution?

2. If you could speak with Shadi and Qasem, what questions would you have for them?

LESSON PLANS

OBJECTIVE

Students should understand

* Iran is an Islamic republic that is ruled by powerful religious clerics who control most governmental and social policies.

TEACHING STRATEGY

Ask students: "Why would people revolt against their own government?"

BACKGROUND

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) praised Iran last month for cooperating with United Nations weapons inspectors. The U.S. had urged the IAEA to call for economic sanctions against Iran for allegedly trying to produce weapons-grade uranium. But the IAEA rejected the call for a harsh resolution, at the urging of France, Britain, and Germany, which want to foster a more cooperative spirit With the Islamic nation.

CRITICAL THINKING

MAKING CONNECTIONS: In what ways do Iranians have more freedom today? (There is a greater degree of freedom of the press and personal expression. Lawyers have regained their status in the national judiciary. Today, more Iranian women are studying in universities, and are no longer required to wear chadors.)

MAKING INFERENCES: How did Islam become a major influence after the Shah's rule in Iran ended? (Many Iranians suffered from the failed social and economic policies of the Shah's corrupt reign. A great number of them turned to the comforts and security offered by Islam, and wanted the religion to play a major role in their society and government. This discontent fueled the revolution that led to the creation of an Islamic theocracy.)

ACTIVITY

IRAN-U.S. RELATIONS: Instruct students to write a letter to Shadi or Qasem explaining why the governments and people of Iran and the U.S. might or might not benefit from having a closer relationship.

STANDARDS

SOCIAL STUDIES, GRADES 5-8

* Power, authority, and government: How members of the Islamic clergy control most social, religious, and governmental mailers.

* Culture: How the Islamic Revolution of 1979 continues to affect Iran's government, culture, and society.

RESOURCES

PRINT

* Rajendra, Vijeya, Iran (Benchmark Investigative Group, 2003). Grades 5-8.

* Daugherty, William J., In the Shadow of the Ayatollah (U.S. Naval Inst., 2001). Grades 7-8.

WEB SITES

* Iranian President Mohammad Khatami www.president.ir/

* Islamic Revolution of 1979 www.iranchamber.com/history/islamic_revolution/islamic_revolution.php

ANSWERS

1. D

2. A

3. E

4. B

5. C

Iran Map and Facts

1. Bam

2. Tehran

3. western border

4. Strait of Hormuz

5. Elburz Mountains

6. 18,934 ft.

7. Meshed

8. salt desert

9. Isfahan

10. Caspian Sea