Iran needs change

Original Excerpt

30 years back when Iranians ushered in the Islamic revolution expecting a better and prosperous Iran little did they know that 30 years down the line their children will be fighting the same Islamic revolution. The disputed election has provided an outlet to the anger and frustration brewing in the minds of young Iranians against the incompetent, corrupt and ultra conservative pro-Islamic government. Iranian youth have openly defied Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah’s Ali Khomeini’s order to end the protests and are on the streets shouting ‘Death to the Dictator’. This is an open challenge not only to Ayatollah but to the Islamic revolution itself. With more than 75% Iranian’s under the age of 30 and 35% amongst them facing long term unemployment the current fundamentalist government has angered and disappointed the Iranian youth. Under Mahmud Ahmadinejad’s regime Iran’s economy has gone from bad to worst. As of 2008 unemployment level was about 12.5%, last year September inflation shot up to 29.4%. As of Dec 2008 Iran’s foreign reserves stood at $96.56 billion. For a nation with world’s second largest proven natural gas and third largest oil reserves these are disappointing figures. A female Iranian citizen told CNN that the protests are not limited to the disputed elections anymore they are against the system and even if the opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi embraces the elections as free and fair the protests will continue. It is time Ayatollah and Ahmedinejad realize that Iranian youth is tired of religion dictating social and political norms. They want religion and religious leaders away from politics. It will be haste to say that current protests will topple the Islamic revolution but it certainly will not be a Tiananmen Square part 2.

Pritash Chaudry