Iran Protests Timeline Following 1979 Islamic Revolution Unfolds

Protests Spread Across Iran Amid Economic Decline and Ongoing Crises

Tehran, Iran – Protests and strikes have been reported across Iran over the past week, with demonstrations now being recorded in most of the country’s 31 provinces. The protests come amid a rapid economic decline and grievances over multiple ongoing crises.

Historically, popular protests have been a common occurrence in Iran, dating back to the 1979 Islamic revolution that toppled the last shah and brought the theocratic establishment to power. Prior to the revolution, women’s protests began shortly after, with thousands marching in Tehran to oppose Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini’s decree mandating the hijab.

In the aftermath of the revolution, the country experienced several nationwide and smaller protests. In 1999, student-led protests broke out in Tehran over the closure of a reformist newspaper by hardliners, resulting in police brutality and arrests. The judiciary later decided that none of the security forces involved would be imprisoned, with one officer ordered to pay a fine for stealing an electric shaver.

In recent years, protests have continued to occur, often tied to economic grievances and sudden price jumps. In 2022 and 2023, the Mahsa Amini protests took place, sparked by the mandatory hijab decree and its enforcement.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has been deployed to crack down on protests and political dissent in the past, particularly against opposing camps such as the Mojahedin-e-Khalq. The MEK was designated a “terrorist” outfit by the establishment, with many members executed or exiled during the 1980s war with Iraq.

Protests have also occurred in other cities, including Mashhad and Isfahan, often sparked by economic grievances and sudden price jumps. In July 1999, massive student-led protests took place in Tehran over the closure of a reformist newspaper, resulting in police brutality and arrests.

Source: Al Jazeera