Iranian Revolution: celebrate in hangover mood

40 years Ago, the Iranians expelled the Shah and proclaimed the Islamic Republic. In the country that is celebrated today. However, the state-organized cheers can't drown out the increasingly louder criticism.

40 years Ago, the Iranians placed the hated Shah and proclaimed the Islamic Republic. Today, the country celebrates the anniversary with mass rallies, to which millions of people expected.

on the occasion of the celebrations announced by the government, Pardons and criminal decrees for 50,000 prisoners. Whether the Amnesty is for political prisoners, remained open.

Chomeni returned on 1. February 1979 with a Jumbo Air France from exile to Tehran.

He had already criticized the French exile of the Shah violently and was enthusiastically received.

Iran missile program

President Hassan Rouhani asked in a speech to the people, in which he praised the stability of Iran: The "conspiracy" of the United States, Israel, and other "reactionary States" in the Middle East against Tehran was doomed to Failure, he said. The number of people on the streets of the country showed that the "enemy will achieve his diabolical objectives," never.

Iran is observed due to its rivalry with Saudi Arabia and its controversial nuclear programme, among other things, of the United States and Israel with suspicion. US President, Donald Trump, for example, had justified the withdrawal from the nuclear deal with the lack of regulation for the construction of missiles.

Last week had presented the revolutionary guards reportedly a ground missile with a range of 1000 kilometers.

Rouhani noted in his speech in the programme: "We have, and we will not ask for your permission, in order to develop different missile types," he said.

disillusionment instead of enthusiasm

in 1979, the enthusiasm about the changes in the country was great - today, the celebrations are likely to be significantly more restrained than 40 years ago. At the time, the people cheered, as the Shah Reza Pahlavi left the country, and Ruhollah Chomeni from the French exile returned.

He initiated the most radical change that Iran has experienced ever, says the Tehran analyst Khalum. "The Islamic Revolution meant that the Iranians wanted an Islamic government, the introduction of Sharia law or the veil compulsory for women." The Iranians would have seen no contradiction between Islam and democratic government.

After the end of the monarchy, a Referendum on the new form of government took place in March 1979. To the vote of the Islamic Republic were Yes or no.

Demonstration on 9. October 1978 against the Shah Pahlavi in front of the Azadi tower in Tehran. Even today, the rally will take place there.

pressure on the government increases

is now in a severe economic and political crisis: The Inflation was in January, around 40 percent, according to the state statistics service, the prices for meat and fruit were in January compared to the year-on-year by 77 per cent higher. The fish was more than 80 percent more expensive.

foreign policy tensions, internal political power struggles between reformers and hard-liners, and a fragile economy, the country is dominate. In addition, more than half of the present population, more than 40 million people was born after the Revolution.

"We have not had good experiences with revolutions"

The young Iranians are aware that their country needs a change. "I know of no Alternative for a different form of government," says the 23-year-old history student, Mina. "It should not be initiated in every case by a new Revolution. We do not have good experiences with revolutions."

An important platform for critics of the Internet. What could still be a few years ago is not, frankly, is now read every day in social media. Therefore, clergy and hardliners are calling for stricter Internet controls, but also within the regime are controversial. "When the Internet or other realities of the 21st century. Century are not assessed correctly, this could lead to a dangerous conflict of generations," even warns President Rouhani.

With information of Christian Buttkereit, ARD-Studio Istanbul

40 years of Islamic Revolution in Iran
Christian Buttkereit, ARD Istanbul
11.02.2019 06:57 PM

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