Zan, Zendegī, Āzādī (Woman, Life, Freedom)

Illustration: Forouzan Safari

In spite of - and in opposition to - the dark clouds, black chadors and closed minds of the regime, you would be hard pressed to find a more fun loving, generous, warm hearted people than the Iranians. We love a good party, serve up some of the most delicious food and adore getting dressed up - appearances matter a lot - as do life and love. This was true before the revolution of 1979 and remains true 43 years later.

One of the world’s oldest civilizations has been held hostage for almost half a century, and the dreams of freedom and equality that brought down the Shah and installed Ayatollah Khomeini have been quashed by a religious authoritarian regime that has succeeded in warping a religion, spreading terror, insisting on archaic values, and killing men and women in war as well as in opposition.

To this day, Iranians inside (and out) of Iran do not always feel safe, the arbitrary nature of the country's particular rule of law constantly and unexpectedly shifting the ground beneath their feet. The recent tragic death of the 22 year old Mahsa Amini was yet another example of this blatant disregard for life and freedom.

A few years ago I went to a talk at Copenhagen University with Rasmus Christian Elling, Associate Professor at the Department of Cross-Cultural and Regional Studies and an eminent expert on Iran. After a fascinating talk on the country’s modern history, an audience member asked why freedom continues to elude Iranians. In a (somewhat) surprising answer Rasmus Elling suggested that if women had been given the freedom of expression and the right to refuse the hijab back in 1979, Iran might very well have been a very different place today.

This isn’t the first time the streets of Tehran are in flames, the proverbial straw has broken the proverbial camel’s back again and again and each time the world has stood by with bated breath wondering if this was the moment of change; 1999, 2009, 2017-2018, 2019.

This time, however, the nature of the uprising following the killing of Mahsa Amini is different. The demonstrations are more widespread, the anger more intense; the incredible death-defying courage shown by the women unparalleled and the support of the men astonishing. So maybe this time?

Kind regards,
Isabella and your friendly team at Books & Company