culture in iran pre revolution

The Iranian Revolution (Persian: , Enqelb-e Irn [eelbe in]), or the Islamic Revolution ( , Enqelb-e Eslm),[4] refers to a series of events that culminated in the overthrow of the Pahlavi dynasty in 1979. [275] After Khomeini claimed that Americans were behind the 1979 Grand Mosque seizure, student protesters from the Quaid-e-Azam University in Islamabad attacked the US embassy, setting it on fire and taking hostages. [109] Units of Imperial Iranian Army were deployed to the city to restore order, and the death toll, according to government was 6,[114] while Khomeini claimed hundreds were "martyred. Under the shah, Iran had more political, social and cultural life than any of its neighbors. [117][139], Increasing contact was established with the pro-Khomeini camp. It increased the power and number of clerics on the Council of Guardians and gave it control over elections[214] as well as laws passed by the legislature. [306] Reports of torture, imprisonment of dissidents, and the murder of prominent critics have been made by human rights groups. The Tehran Symphony Orchestra flourished. [308] More organization of women's groups occurred in the 1960s and 70s, and they used the government's modernization to define and advocate for women's issues. Higher education in Iran had many leftist forces who were opposed to Ayatollah Khomeini's Islamic state in Iran. Land reforms redistributed properties to small farmers. [111][116] Worse, the opposition was increasingly becoming armed with weapons, firing at soldiers and attacking banks and government buildings in an attempt to destabilize the country. [229] Most victims of the 1981 massacre were young activists aged eleven to twenty-four. He followed in his familys path to become a Shiite scholar and teacher. [171] Women were involved in caring for the wounded, including doctors who responded to calls for help and opened their homes for those who needed assistance. Demonstrations continued to grow; on December 10, hundreds of thousands of protesters took to the streets in Tehrn alone. Outlets for political participation were minimal, and opposition parties such as the National Front (a loose coalition of nationalists, clerics, and noncommunist left-wing parties) and the pro-Soviet Tdeh (Masses) Party were marginalized or outlawed. Pahlavi maintained a close relationship with the U.S. government, as both regimes shared opposition to the expansion of the Soviet Union, Iran's powerful northern neighbor. [113][101] Revolutionaries gave flowers and civilian clothes to deserters, while threatening retribution to those who stayed. She further explains that the cultural, ideological, social and material factors shaping the social life and class differences in the period just prior to the revolution need to be studied in order to understand how the Iranian women's social consciousness developed and how it led them to take part in public protests. Finally, in October Khomeini's son Mostafa died of an alleged heart attack, and his death was also blamed on SAVAK. [116][134], Military authorities declared martial law in Khuzestan province (Iran's main oil producing province) and deployed troops to its oil facilities. The growing dissatisfaction continued until the Constitutional Revolution of 19051911. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. [290][291], Literacy has continued to increase under the Islamic Republic. During the shahs reign there had been an increase of women in labor force participation, but following these new religious laws, there was a drastic decrease of women in the workforce. In his original letter, Khomeini wrote: Set yourselves free from any " ism" and " ist" belonging to the East and the West. [172], Women who were activists, religious women and women dissatisfied with the regime were able to unite under the anti-Shah umbrella. [178] The Iranian government has had to reconsider and change aspects of its policies towards women because of their resistance to laws that restrict their rights.[178]. The students held 52 American diplomats hostage for 444 days, which played a role in helping to pass the constitution, suppressing moderates, and otherwise radicalising the revolution. Iranians enjoyed the luxury of new colleges, universities and libraries under the shah. [111], On 10 and 11 December 1978, the days of Tasu'a and Ashura, between 6 and 9 million anti-Shah demonstrators marched throughout Iran. Popular ayatollah Mahmoud Taleghani supported the left, while perhaps the most senior and influential ayatollah in IranMohammad Kazem Shariatmadarifirst remained aloof from politics and then came out in support of a democratic revolution. The period leading up to Iran's Islamic Revolution was a time of major upheaval and reform. [158][Note 5] Khomeini reported of a much larger number; he said that "60,000 men, women and children were martyred by the Shah's regime. Secondary schools were free for all and financial support was extended to university students. New York: Random House, 2003. Sign up to receive ShareAmerica updates. I found this article very interesting as Ruhollah Khomeini overthrew the Shah, the monarch and leader the U.S. supported in trying to complete the White Revolution. [165] Before the revolution was consolidated, these chants were made by various political supporters, and were often recorded on cassette tapes in underground and home studios. Popular dishes in Iranian culture were turkey, khoresht (stew served with white rice), ash (a thick soup), and polo (white rice with additional meat and vegetables. [9] At all times Mesopotamian art appears to have centered more on man than did the pre-Islamic art of Iran. But the Shah's increasingly authoritarian measures and his eventual dismissal of multiparty rule set the stage for the infamous revolution. Bakhtiar went into hiding, eventually to find exile in France. Written under a pseudonym by a government agent, it denounced Khomeini as a "British agent" and a "mad Indian poet" conspiring to sell out Iran to neo-colonialists and communists. Nafisi, Azar. The clergy should go to Qom and build a wall around themselves and create their own Vatican. Universities were closed to purge them of opponents of theocratic rule as a part of the "Cultural Revolution", and 20,000 teachers and nearly 8,000 military officers deemed too westernized were dismissed. Our opponents do not dare act against us. [308] Many of these achievements and rights that Iranian women had gained in the decades leading up to the revolution were reversed by the Islamic Revolution. However it's important to note that "women were not united in their opinions of the revolution and its outcome as much as they were not united in their reasons for joining the revolution". "Iran jumped overnight from the Muslim year 1355 to the royalist year 2535. [109] Instead, the clergy directed the crowd on a large march through the center of Tehran, whilst the Shah reportedly watched the march from his helicopter, unnerved, and confused. . In Iran there was an immediate outcry, and both Khomeini and leftist groups demanded the Shah's return to Iran for trial and execution. [210] To approve the new constitution and prevent leftist alterations, a relatively small seventy-three-member Assembly of Experts for Constitution was elected that summer. In May 1979, the Furqan Group (Guruh-i Furqan) assassinated an important lieutenant of Khomeini, Morteza Motahhari. [2] The cultural revolution sometimes involved violence in taking over the university campuses. Iranian Culture Pre-Islamic Revolution By: Gabriel Godwin, Miranda Clark, Courtney Hurtn, Zehra Quadr sports men at the age of 24 participated in these sports the popular sports were wrestling, skiing, polo, and soccer. Here are photos of Iranian society prior to the 1979 revolution. [323] GDP per capita (nominal) has grown from $2290 in 1979 to $5470 in 2016. The hostage crisis ended with the signing of the Algiers Accords in Algeria on 19 January 1981. The Cultural Revolution (1980-1983; Persian: : Enqelbe Farhangi) was a period following the Iranian Revolution, when the academia of Iran was purged of Western and non-Islamic influences (including traditionalist unpolitical Islamic doctrines) to align them with the revolutionary and political Islam. [14][101], In addition, the media coverage eroded the influence of other, more moderate clergy such as Ayatollah Shariatmadari and Ayatollah Taleghani. Although the lives of men were also affected, the lives of women changed most drastically due to many laws taking their rights away. Based on the Word Net lexical database for the English Language. In theory, oil money funneled to the elite was supposed to be used to create jobs and factories, eventually distributing the money, but instead the wealth tended to get stuck at the top and concentrated in the hands of the very few. On 4 November 1979 youthful Islamists, calling themselves Muslim Student Followers of the Imam's Line, invaded the US embassy compound in Tehran and seized its staff. And suddenly nothing. The government was replaced with an Islamic republic, which continues to this day. [6] Bakhtiar became increasingly isolated, with members of the government (including the entire Regency Council) defecting to Khomeini. [326], The value of Iran's currency declined precipitously after the revolution. Salzman, Philip Carl. [52][53][54] On the other hand, during the early rise of Reza Shah, Abdul-Karim Ha'eri Yazdi founded the Qom Seminary and created important changes in seminaries. [citation needed] The Islamic Republic lags some countries in transparency and ease of doing business according to international surveys. In what would be the largest terrorist attack in history prior to the September 11 attacks in the US in 2001,[123] 422 people inside the theatre were burned to death. Iran, also known as Persia, is widely considered to be one of the cradles of civilization. 1 Colonization and Settlement (1500-1763), 2 Revolution and Early Republic (1754-1801), 4 Civil War and Reconstruction (1850-1877), 5 Emergence of Modern America (1877-1929), 4 Late Middle Ages-Renaissance-Reformation Europe (1300-1648), 3 Post-Classical History (600 CE-1492 CE), HS 1302 United States History since 1877, SP 3392 Language Variation and Dialectology of Spanish, Sadia Rafique and Khalid Manzoor Butt, Position of Women in Iran: An Analysis of Pre and Post Islamic Revolution 1979,, Encyclopaedia Britannica, September 2018, s.v. Yes, they did many positive things, especially in regards to modernization and the rights of women, but the last Shah was also a dictator who had his political enemies thrown in prison, tortured, and even executed. "As the foreigners reveled on drink forbidden by Islam, Iranians were not only excluded from the festivities, some were starving. Thus, in spite of all government efforts, a cycle of violence began in which each death fueled further protest, and all protestfrom the secular left and religious rightwas subsumed under the cloak of Shii Islam and crowned by the revolutionary rallying cry Allhu akbar (God is great), which could be heard at protests and which issued from the rooftops in the evenings. Discuss Back then, before the Iranian Revolution in 1978 and '79, chadors weren't simply the black uniform of the Ayatollah's followers, but were riotously various, their shades ranging from dove gray. [14][131] Khomeini rapidly became a household name in the West, portraying himself as an "Eastern mystic" who did not seek power, but instead sought to "free" his people from "oppression." Though an adviser to Khomeini, he was a leftist who clashed with another ally of Khomeini, the theocratic Islamic Republic Party (IRP) the controlling power in the new parliament. This agency aggressively defended women's rights and eliminated restrictions that were previously imposed by the High Council of the Cultural Revolution.[27]. The shahs dependence on the United States, his close ties with Israelthen engaged in extended hostilities with the overwhelmingly Muslim Arab statesand his regimes ill-considered economic policies served to fuel the potency of dissident rhetoric with the masses. They were forced out of their homes and had to move to new countries and restart their lives. "Reading Lolita in Tehran." The land reform, instead of allying the peasants with the government, produced large numbers of independent farmers and landless laborers who became loose political cannons, with no feeling of loyalty to the Shah. [231][232] These dissidents were sentenced to death by the Islamic Revolutionary Courts during show trials in more than eighty-five cities across the country on charges of spreading "corruption on Earth" (ifsad-fi-alarz), "espionage", "terrorism", or "enmity against Allah" (Moharebeh). [51] Police forcibly removed and tore chadors off women who resisted his ban on the public hijab. Iranian Revolution, also called Islamic Revolution, Persian Enqelb-e Eslm, popular uprising in Iran in 197879 that resulted in the toppling of the monarchy on February 11, 1979, and led to the establishment of an Islamic republic. [6], On 19 August, in the southwestern city of Abadan, four arsonists barred the door of the Cinema Rex movie theatre and set it on fire. SAVAK and the Iraqi government declared heart attack as the cause of death, though many believed his death was attributed to SAVAK. Trade with the West, which was curtailed after the revolution because of sanctions, was a boost to the economy. [230] More recently, Rastyad Collective has verified the identities of more than 3,400 political dissidents who were executed between June 1981 and March 1982. Most of us think that Iranian pre-Islamic culture and literature was totally destroyed with the invasion of the Arabs and a new culture, separate from that of the past developed under the influence of Islamic culture. [6][14][133] He referred to himself as Padeshah ('Master King'), instead of the more grandiose Shahanshah (king of kings), which he insisted on being called previously. These personal accounts were valuable in a time where the official coverage of news was not trusted by many people. [219] Among the casualties of the hostage crisis was Prime Minister Bazargan and his government, who resigned in November unable to enforce the government's order to release the hostages. The British unsuccessfully sought punishment from the World Court and the United Nations, sent warships to the Persian Gulf, and finally imposed a crushing embargo. It is evident we are not. The result of the lectures was the book "An inquiry into principles of Mar'jaiyat". Beginning in the 20th century, Iran had been ruled by the Shah monarchy, which funded its decadent lifestyle through oil--mainly through concessions to Great Britain, which relied heavily upon the oil during both World Wars--while allowing the majority of Iranians to live a life defined by poverty. The Iranian Revolution changed Iran in many ways, especially in the day-to-day lives of its citizens. The telegram effectively declared his belief that the Shah would not survive the protests and that the US should consider withdrawing its support for his government and persuading the monarch to abdicate. [308] After the abdication of Reza Shah in 1941, the discipline of the government decreased, and women were able to further exercise their rights, including the ability to wear the veil if they wanted. Iranian music Persian symphonic music- famous composers: Gholam-Hossein Minbashian, Amihollah hossein Folk music Thus, this created a "dangerous bargaining position for activist women" since rather than arguing their position through intellect they were only able to "argue by numbers in the streets and be repelled by force". The British, however, were outraged and accused him of stealing. [164] According to Tucker's estimations, in the period of 1980 to 1985, between 25,000 and 40,000 Iranians were arrested, 15,000 Iranians were tried and 8,000 to 9,500 Iranians were executed. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. All Iranians want change, it is time for change. A decade of extraordinary economic growth, heavy government spending, and a boom in oil prices led to high rates of inflation and the stagnation of Iranians buying power and standard of living. They were not to open for another two years. Continuation of this disaster which is, unfortunately, the objective of some the foreign oriented groups would deal a heavy blow to Islamic Revolution and Islamic Republic and any indifference towards this vital issue would be great treason against Islam and the Islamic country. Visit BusinessInsider.com for more stories. "[9] Attacks continued April 21 and "the next day at the Universities at Ahwaz and Rasht. "Western" and government symbols such as cinemas, bars, state-owned banks, and police stations were set ablaze. Britain suspended all diplomatic relations with Iran and did not re-open their embassy in Tehran until 1988. [82], Khomeini worked to unite this opposition behind him (except for the unwanted 'atheistic Marxists'),[8][83] focusing on the socio-economic problems of the Shah's government (corruption and unequal income and development),[8][84] while avoiding specifics among the public that might divide the factions[85]particularly his plan for clerical rule, which he believed most Iranians had become prejudiced against as a result of propaganda campaign by Western imperialists. [19][116][132] The army and police, confused about their orders and under pressure from the Shah not to risk initiating violence, effectively gave up and did not intervene. Along with political criticism, he also received religious criticism from people who thought westernization contradicted Islam.2This is what would later lead to the shahs overthrow by Ruhollah Khomeini and his followers. Social Origins of the Iranian Revolution , 1989. ( Mario De Biasi/Mondadori/Getty Images) [6] According to historian Abbas Milani, this resulted in the United States effectively helping to facilitate Khomeini's rise to power. Whether youre studying times tables or applying to college, Classroom has the answers. Attacks on student groups also took place at Mashad and Isfahan Universities. In November, young supporters of Khomeini, angered by U.S. support of the Shah, stormed the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, taking 66 hostages. Many of their reforms centered around women, placing them in the public eye. I understand the necessity for religion to find its own medium for it to function, but I suppose its disappointing to know that something as controlling like this is currently a harsh reality that more specifically, women will have to go through. In the year 1987, there was the creation of the Social and Cultural Council of Women. Reaffirming himself as the legitimate leader, he declared that: Iran has one government. Black Tents of Baluchistan , 2000 . [266] Relations between the two countries became improved after Vladimir Putin took office in 2000 and increasingly warmer in recent years following an international backlash over the annexation of Crimea in 2014 which led to sanctions by the Western powers. For example, organized feminism which was around since the Pahlavi dynasty, joined the revolutionary movement after the Shah dropped the cabinet position on Women's Affairs to appease the Islamists. [172] Many women were instrumental not only in being involved in the revolution themselves but in mobilizing men and other non-political women. [14][101][116], Worse for the Shah was that the Western media, especially the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), immediately put Khomeini into the spotlight. The shutdown of the universities was preceded by attacks on foreign forces on university campuses. On 13 September, central government workers in Tehran simultaneously went on strike. Outwardly, with a swiftly expanding economy and a rapidly modernizing infrastructure, everything was going well in Iran. The Iranian Islamic Revolution wiped out those gains. Khomeini left Iraq, instead moving to a house bought by Iranian exiles in Neauphle-le-Chteau, a village near Paris, France. The shah, weakened by cancer and stunned by the sudden outpouring of hostility against him, vacillated between concession and repression, assuming the protests to be part of an international conspiracy against him. [114] As result, police forces were unable to control demonstrations, thus the army was frequently deployed. [1][clarification needed] The official name used by the Islamic Republic is "Cultural Revolution". According to one historian, "even discounting for exaggeration, these figures may represent the largest protest event in history. Their resentment towards the Shah also grew as they were now stripped of organizations that had represented them in the past, such as political parties, professional associations, trade unions, and independent newspapers. How many students or faculty were killed is not known.[1][3][4]. The future of our country depends on your support. Grumbling once done about the tyranny and corruption of the Shah and his court is now directed against "the Mullahs. Iran was also struggling to find replacement parts for much of its US- and British-supplied equipment. [6][109] In order to help create a democratic faade, Khomeini placed Westernized figures (such as Sadegh Ghotbzadeh and Ebrahim Yazdi) as the public spokesmen of the opposition, and never spoke to the media of his intentions to create a theocracy. The government's process of censoring foreign influences has not been without consequences. [6], The Shah decided to continue on his plan of liberalization and to negotiate rather than to use force against the still-nascent protest movement:[109][110][111][116] he promised that fully democratic elections for the Majlis would be held in 1979; censorship was relaxed; a resolution was drafted to help reduce corruption within the royal family and the government;[111] and protesters were tried in civilian courts rather than by military court-martials and were quickly released. [111][134] He apologized for mistakes that were committed during his reign, and promised to ensure that corruption would no longer exist. Much of Iran still relied on agriculture. Transparency International ranked Iran 136th out of 175 countries in transparency (i.e. In early March 1979, Khomeini announced, "do not use this term, 'democratic.' Some left easily with their families on vacations, but others had to leave on foot through mountains hoping to survive the journey to safety, praying to be reunited with their families one day. The Council had been active in repressing the student movement of 19831989, "banning many books and purging thousands of students and lecturers." [274], In Pakistan, it has been noted that the "press was largely favorable towards the new government"; the Islamist parties were even more enthusiastic; while the ruler, General Zia-ul-Haq, himself on an Islamization drive since he took power in 1977, talked of "simultaneous triumph of Islamic ideology in both our countries" and that "Khomeini is a symbol of Islamic insurgence." Womens rights were stripped away and, in my opinion, women are seen helpless in that area of the world. Backround [46], At the end of the 19th century, the Shi'a clergy (ulama) had a significant influence on Iranian society. Khomeini attacked the MEK, referring to them as monafeqin (hypocrites) and kafer (unbelievers). The implementation of these new policies sparked the beginnings of the well-known Iranian Revolution. We can put the constitution to the people's vote without difficulty "[217], With great publicity the students released documents from the American embassy, which they labeled a "den of spies",[218] showing that moderate Iranian leaders had met with U.S. officials (and didn't release similar evidence of high-ranking Islamists having done the same). The 1971 2,500-year celebration of the Persian Empire at Persepolis, organized by the government, was attacked for its extravagance. Throughout history, women in Iran have played numerous roles, and contributed in many ways, to Iranian society. There the two signed an agreement for a draft constitution that would be "Islamic and democratic". He also sent a letter to American officials warning them to withdraw support for Bakhtiar. "[150] When asked by a reporter how he felt returning to his home country after a long exile, Khomeini replied "Nothing". . Quoted in. At the time, the Persian tobacco industry employed over 200,000 people, so the concession represented a major blow to Persian farmers and bazaaris whose livelihoods were largely dependent on the lucrative tobacco business. Censorship is handled by the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, without whose official permission, "no books or magazines are published, no audiotapes are distributed, no movies are shown and no cultural organization is established. opposition included some clerics, including Ayatollah, example: "Secular Iranian writers of the early 1980s, most of whom supported the revolution, lamented the course it eventually took.". While some argue that the micro-level actions of women can be understood through religious and political ideologies, others argue that it is in fact the effect of manipulations of information, symbols and context which should be studied.[172]. On September 8 the regime imposed martial law, and troops opened fire against demonstrators in Tehrn, killing dozens or hundreds. Culture in Iran (Pre-Revolution 33 Learn about Prezi MD Marvin DeVera Thu Apr 21 2016 Outline 21 frames Reader view In the 1950's and 60's, art in Iran was quite modern and contemporary Iran art includes architecture, painting, weaving, pottery, calligraphy, metalworking and sculpture. Angered, Bakhtiar made a speech of his own. He established a constitutional monarchy, deposing the last Qajar Shah, Ahmed Shah, in 1925 and being designated monarch by the National Assembly, to be known thenceforth as Reza Shah, founder of the Pahlavi dynasty. But the oil wealth was unevenly distributed, and led to discontent among the nation's poorest, who were increasingly marginalized. In these "Ten Nights" (Dah Shab) 57 of Iran's most prominent poets and writers read their works to thousands of listeners. [265], After the U.S. sanctions were tightened and the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Russian Federation and the People's Republic of China became the main principal allies for Iran. In PPP terms, GNI per capita has increased from Int. [56] Most Iranians lived in poverty while the wealth generated from Iranian oil played a decisive role in maintaining Britain at the top of the world. [9][116][133] In effect, the Shah intended to restrain the military government (which he described as a temporary caretaker government) from carrying out a full crackdown. Women could wear whatever was fashionable at that time, as a freedom. In September 1980, Iraq took advantage of the febrile situation and invaded Iran. [137] Even in his years in exile, Khomeini remained relevant in Iran. He wanted to create a state modeled after Westernism and Europeanism. Perhaps Mesopotamian influence, so noticeable in the pottery of Susa of that time, was also responsible for the striking differences from the moufflon demon in the conception of the ibex demon in this seal. Azadeh KIAN - Social and Cultural Change and the Women's . I appoint the government, I appoint the government in support of this nation". "[180] During 1978 and 1979 there were many gatherings in women's homes where they exchanged interpersonal news and anecdotes. [6][101][109][143] Ambassador Sullivan disagreed, and attempted to pressure Huyser to ignore the military and work directly with Khomeini's opposition. In the decades before the Islamic revolution of 1979, Iran was ruled by the Shah, whose dictatorship repressed dissent and restricted political freedoms. In the 1950s he was given the title of an ayatollah, which is a major religious leader among Shiites. Bakhtiar would be appointed prime minister (a return to civilian rule), while the Shah and his family would leave the country. [66] However, anti-revolutionary sources conjectured that just 32 were killed.[67]. Pre-Revolution Iranian Cinema . During his time as shah, Mohammad Reza carried out a national development program called the White Revolution with the help of the United States. [1] Hojjatol-Islam Mohammad Khatami was appointed as a member of the High Council for Cultural Revolution[21] in 1996[22][citation needed] and became its head in 1997.