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In Tehran, not all mourn Khamenei; memories of repression linger
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Culture & Society

In Tehran, not all mourn Khamenei; memories of repression linger

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • While millions mourn Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in Tehran, many young Iranians in wealthier districts are indifferent, embracing Western culture.
  • These younger Iranians, seeking political and economic freedoms, recall recent state repression and desire a different future.
  • Analysts estimate support for the Islamic Republic remains low, with many Iranians desiring change and expressing disillusionment with the current system.

In Tehran, a stark contrast exists between the solemn farewells for the assassinated Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and the everyday lives of many young Iranians. While millions gathered at the Mosala mosque for state-sanctioned funeral prayers, just kilometers away in the upscale Fereshteh street, young people sipped cappuccinos to Western music, seemingly detached from the nation's most significant funeral in the Islamic Republic's history.

This divide highlights an existential chasm within the capital. At Mosala, mourners, many women in traditional chadors, prayed for Khamenei, who led the country for over 36 years until his death on February 28. Authorities estimated 20 million people would participate in the exequies. Meanwhile, on Fereshteh street, the atmosphere was different. Women, some without headscarves and sporting dyed hair, wore styles seen in Paris or Madrid. They smoked cigarettes at cafes, listening to Kylie Minogue, and spoke not of Khamenei or martyrdom, but of the January protests where thousands reportedly died in state repression, and of their yearning for political and economic freedoms.

What I want is a free country, with a good economy and many job opportunities. I want to feel that we can have a dignified future.

— MorvaridA 25-year-old makeup artist in Tehran expressed her desires for Iran's future.

"What I want is a free country, with a good economy and many job opportunities. I want to feel that we can have a dignified future," said Morvarid, a 25-year-old makeup artist. She does not wear a veil and her fashion choices, including short sleeves, were once forbidden. Morvarid stated that while some have strong religious convictions aligned with the Republic, she does not share those ideals, either religiously or politically. "The people who disagree with the Islamic Republic are more numerous," she asserted.

Her sentiment aligns with analyses suggesting support for the political system established in 1979 hovers around 15-20% of Iran's 90 million population, based on presidential election results. Morvarid recalled the January protests, which began over price hikes but evolved into a movement calling for the end of the Islamic Republic, only subsiding after what Amnesty International termed a "massacre."

The people who disagree with the Islamic Republic are more numerous.

— MorvaridMorvarid stated her belief about the level of popular dissent against the current Iranian government.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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