G08: Revolution: Iran

A variety of news stories related to the protests in Iran in 2022

Iran has been rocked by the biggest protests in years following the death of Mahsa Amini on 16 September.
The country's morality police -- tasked with enforcing strict codes around dress and behaviour -- had arrested the 22-year-old for not wearing her hijab correctly and sporting skinny jeans.
Her family say Amini was beaten and her head struck several times. The government and police have denied the accusations, claiming her death was due to an "underlying disease".

UN human rights experts* condemned the killings and the crackdown by security forces in Iran on protesters following the death of Jina Mahsa Amini, including alleged arbitrary arrests and detentions, gender-based and sexual violence, excessive use of force, torture, and enforced disappearances. They urged that the reports be thoroughly and independently investigated and those responsible held to account.

Iranian authorities continued their crackdown on peaceful dissent, prosecuting human rights defenders and dissidents while serious human rights violators enjoyed impunity.

“There is no economic justice or prospect of hope for the future, and this is driving widespread anger that is violently spilling over on the streets,” said Sanam Vakil, deputy director and senior research fellow at the Royal Institute of International Affairs.

The Iranian Revolution was characterized by the overthrow of the Shah's government and the resulting international ramifications, including the American hostage crisis

Key Figures
President Jimmy (James Earl) Carter, thirty-ninth president of the United States (1977- 1981), accused of "plotting" against the Khomeini regime and regarded as the "Great Satan."

Ayatollah Khomeini, exiled Islamic leader (1963-1979), who came to power during the revolution and instituted an anti-American theocratic government.

Mohammed Riza Pahlavi, last Shah of Iran, who ruled between 1941 and 1979, before he was deposed in 1979.

The overthrow of the shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi (1919-80), in 1979 by populist forces led by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini (1902-89) established the Islamic Republic of Iran. This revolution has been regarded as one of the most significant in modern history, along with the French Revolution of 1789 and the Russian Revolution of 1917. What makes the Iranian Revolution unique is the important role played by religion. Even though antishah sentiments were held by a wide spectrum of urban Iranians, Islamic revolutionary symbolism, together with anti-Western sentiments, played a major role in uniting the opposition. Moreover, the creation of a Shii revolutionary government under Khomeini's leadership inspired radical Islamic groups in many Muslim countries during the 1980s and 1990s. The revolution was also a factor in several Persian Gulf wars during this period. Many Iranians emigrated to the United States as a result of the revolution.