Modern Iran

1. Modern Iran Political Islam- Culture & Identity And the Democratic Movements Nasrin Naraghi City College of San Francisco Wednesday October 27, 2010

2. Objective • A More personal perspective about Iranian people and culture by an Iranian- American through study, travel, and communication with Iranian people • On going Issues and Challenges- Transcendental and contending values in Iranian culture

3. Iranian National Identity • Ancient Iran until defeat of the Sassanid: Persian culture and Zoroastrian religion hand in hand. • Safavid dynasty until 1979- Persian and Shi’a Islam • 1979 onward- Shiite Islam without monarchy

4. Modern Iran Timeline • Qajar Dynaty-1794- 1925 • 1906- Constitutional Revolution • Pahlavi Dynasty- Reza Shah Pahlavi (1925- 1941) Muhammad Reza Shah (1953- 1979)

6. Multi-Ethnic Population • Persians- More than 50%, speak Farsi, the official language in Iran • Azarbaijanis ( Turks), Kurds, Arabs, Lurs, and Turkomans

7. Religion • Shiite Islam: more than 88% of population • 8%: Sunnis Islam • 2%: Christians, Jews, Zoroastrians, & Bahai’s

8. Iranian Calendar • Solar Hejri: Hejri refers to when Prophet Muhammad migrated from Mecca to Medina with many of his followers. • Iranian New Year: March 21st, first day of spring, Spring Equinox.

9. Official Religion • Shiite Islam the official religion in Iran since the Safavid dynasty in the 16th century.

10. Life in Iran today • More than 70% of population in Iran is under 30. This generation is sometimes referred to as the “Children of Revolution.” What is this generation like? What are their views on the government? What are their goals and interests?

11. Iranian Revolution • Began in 1978 with massive demonstrations and strikes throughout the cities and the capital city, Tehran • Islamic Revolution: A grass-root, populist movement supported by masses of people mobilized through Islam; the only force that could fend off 2500 years of monarchy in Iran.

12. Important Dates • 1978- 1979: Islamic Revolution • The Leader of the revolution: Ayatollah Ruhallah Khomeini • January 1979: The Shah fled Iran and Ayatollah Khomeini returned to Iran

13. Important Dates • November 1979- January1981: Iranian Students seized the American embassy in Tehran • December 1979: The country approved a theocratic constitution • April 1979: Iranian people choose Islamic Republic in a national referendum

14. Important Dates • Iran- Iraq war, the imposed war or holy defense: 1980 to 1988 • Cultural Revolution- 1980- 1987 • June 1989- The death of Ayatollah Khomeini • 1997- 2005- Ali Mohammad Khatami, The Reformist President

15. Important Dates • 2005- Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the Hardliner, Champion of the poor • 2009- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is declared the landslide victor in presidential election against Mir Hossein Mousavi

16. Post Election Demonstrations & Riots- Demand for Democracy • Who were the dissidents, their demands- • Then & Now • The Crackdown within the government • Iranian Scholars: Reza Aslan, Abbas Milani, and Western Scholars

17. Tehran: Four Seasons

18. Satellite dishes are illegal in Iran

19. The Inside Space- Secular Women, Persepolis, Memoir

20. Women’s identity through clothing

21. Skiing in north of Tehran

23. Secular Women- Islamic hejab & Western Clothing

24. Modern Religious Women- 60% of university students are women

25. Bazar Tehran

26. A snowy day in Tehran

27. Tehran- Vali-e Asr Square

28. Gate of Tehran

29. Azadi Square

30. Milad Tower (Borj-e Milad) 435 meter tall Tehran International Trade and Convention Center

31. Alborz Mountain in Tehran

32. Skyline of Tehran

33. Tehran: Gate of Bagh Meli Qajar architecture

34. Iranian National Museum

35. Tehran: Inside Bagh Meli

36. Column capital in Bagh Meli

38. Isfahan Bazaar

39. Ali Qapu in Isfahan

40. Isfahan Bazaar

41. Isfahan

42. Art & Cultural Center in Isfahan