Despair, union and courage. These are some of the ingredients that make this fight for more rights a difficult movement to overthrow. Despite the warnings, arrests and deaths, the population does not stop taking to the streets.
Azadeh Pourzand, director and co-founder of the Siamak Pourzand Foundation, which fights for human rights in Iran, and a researcher in the field of women’s rights, believes that Generation Z, which is leading the protests, is different from the others and Circumstances have made them ready for anything.
In a debate organized by the Faculty of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London, he defended that the climate and socio-economic crisis that the country is going through and the isolation of Iranians from the world have put them at a point where they see no reason to live: “They need freedom and they need it now even if they have to die for it.”
Annabelle Sreberny agrees with the idea that Generation Z is desperate. The emeritus professor at the University of London and a researcher in Iran’s history, culture and politics, also believes that young people are extraordinarily resilient and are therefore making the task of authorities more difficult.
“The regime is very violent, but it still hasn’t succeeded in crushing the protests and in a way it hasn’t tried everything because it’s going against women. He has put women at the center of his rhetoric about chastity, honor and family values. How can they kill so many women? Are”. 50% of the population. One of the slogans that is shouted is: “For every one that dies, that place will be occupied by a hundred.” That shows a huge commitment.”
Negin Shiraghaei does not agree that the generation that is on the streets is doing it out of desperation. The activist and former BBC Persian journalist says she sees in the protesters the ability to dream, something previous generations were unable to do: “Our generation was disappointed with the changes. We never thought it would be possible to change the This is why so many of us leave the country. This generation, however, still dreams. Their dreams have not been crushed and they want to act before that happens.”
In previous protests, such as those of 2009 and 2019, the population was divided. If the most disadvantaged were the ones who demonstrated, the richest stayed at home, but this time the movement cuts across all social strata and all ethnic groups. Azadeh Pourzand argues that everyone is united and this has helped their success. She says that the Islamic Republic has a government that divides and rules.
“It has always scared people with the possibility that the country will disappear if each ethnic group fights for their rights. Right now, people are fighting for the rights of others. In Tehran they sing for Balushistan, the Balushis sing for the Kurds and Kurdistan supports the south. This represents a serious strategic threat to the Islamic republic.”
Annabelle Sreberny, the oldest to participate in the debate, lived through the 1979 revolution and believes that today’s young people can make the dreams of their parents and grandparents come true. “In a way, 2022 could be the culmination of some of the hopes of 1979. Could there be divisions between the military, police and revolutionary guards? Possibly. The members of the regime have children and grandchildren on the streets. This is a children’s movement. and families with 50% of the population leading. It’s very difficult to kill them all.”
The emeritus professor at the University of London believes that the 1979 revolution, in which she pinned high hopes, was hijacked by a religious group and despite not being able to predict how the protests, which began in September, will end, she is hopeful that they will success.
Source: TSF
