Iran Eyewitness: "Life Continues for People...With the Hope of Change" (Fatemeh)

Ms Fatemeh, who has just returned from a long stay in Iran, reports for EA:

Before I went back to Iran, I’d followed the news coming out from Iran very closely. I was surprised when I went to visit my family, who live outside one of the big cities, that they basically knew the same as I did of what was happening in Tehran and the other cities. But this is only true for those who have satellite TV.

Personally I felt a sense of disappointment at how strong the grip of the regime continues to be, but perhaps that is due more to my own hope and expectation rather than the reality of life in Iran? By and large, life continues for people --- with the hope of change always just ahead of them.

However in balance to that, I was thrilled at what unfolded on Chaharshanbeh Souri (Fire Festival, in March). I could hardly believe my eyes at the sheer numbers of people out celebrating it. I’d never seen anything like that in my life. I have no doubt this was people’s way of safely protesting against the regime and showing their true identity and culture, which predates not just the regime but Islam itself.

It’s absolutely true that the economy is in a dire situation, and deteriorating by the day --- I’ve no idea how poor people can afford to live at all. Meat is double the price it is in Europe, but wages are much much less. (A teacher gets between $350 - $450 a month.) Everything is so much more expensive than when I last visited, and the pressure people are under is immense. I do wonder who can afford to buy some of the luxury goods that are available in the large cities, such as Leica binoculars and other top-of-the-range items?

I was in Tehran when the Friday Prayers Leader [Hojatoleslam Kazem] Seddiqi said that it was bad hijab that was causing earthquakes. People laughed at his stupidity and soon there were poems and songs made up about it.

It makes me so sad to see that the thugs now have their own people in place in every area of society. Educated judges have been replaced with uneducated regime sympathizers.

More than thirty years of the Islamic Republic has poisoned Iranian society, with corruption endemic in every part and sadly becoming the norm. They have eroded trust between people, and I would say that family breakdown and divorce is worse in Iran than in any country in the West.

It is my opinion that tragically, even when this regime is finally gone, it will take years and perhaps several generations to rebuild and restore Iran to the great nation that it should be, to rid society of the blight of corruption which is now an established part of life. I’ve always been aware of the corruption and encountered it on previous visits to the country, but this time I was just so aware of it everywhere. It’s definitely worse now than ever.

The Mullahs are terrified of the sanctions. It’s all they talked about, including in every Friday prayers, so everyone knew they are really worried.

The regime's grip is strong, but they are hated by the majority of the society and they can’t last. They have to go.

Comments

[Arshama]

Fatemeh Khanum,

Thank you very much for your detailed report on daily life in Iran.
I fully agree with you on the fact that rebuilding Iran will take years, but I ignored the extent of corruption. Rebuilding the country requires a completely revised administrative, judiciary and educational system, and especially replacing nepotism by competition. Another important sector is our language, which has been heavily tampered by this ignorant and anti-modernist regime, hostile to any decent culture.

Sabz o sarafraz bashid

Arshama

[Rgrassroots]

I also have a friend who has just returned from Iran after spending many months there and of course he gives a totally different picture. I wonder if the EA would give space to my friend to give an alternative view????

[ScottLucas11]

Rgrassroots,

Thank you. Would be happy to have a look at the account.

S.