Iran grapples over social freedoms after war with Israel

Iran’s Masoud Pezeshkian, president, unveiled a “Gen Z adviser” about a month ago when he posed for a photo that went viral online.

Amirreza Ahmadi, the adviser, went so far as to share his mobile number, telling local media that he sees his job as listening to Iranian youth “from Tehran to the borders of this country.”

After being criticized by users who claimed Ahmadi didn’t “resemble” Gen Z Iranians, used bots to promote his social media accounts, and had no established connection to youth organizations or students who wanted change, he later blocked commenting on his social media profiles.

The appointment appears to have been a result of a moderate administration’s effort to connect with younger generations who have been promoting political change in Asia and around the world. The moderate administration has promised better social freedoms and lifted sanctions during election campaigns.

However, Pezeshkian and his administration have struggled because many young Iranians are indifferent to their offers and because many of the more hardline factions within the Iranian establishment are less interested in appeasing the young.

The Iranian state struggles to communicate in the language of a generation that was raised online and outside of its ideological framework, according to Sanam Vakil, director of Chatham House’s Middle East and North Africa program.

In this way, she continued, the hardline elite’s fear of losing control outweighs any concern about losing the young because its outreach “feels transactional rather than transformative and ultimately is directed to stave off unrest and protests.”

Iran is firmly rooted in repressive rather than renewal politics, according to the imbalance. She told Al Jazeera, “I believe the system will be stifled by contradictory messages, narratives, and policies.”

Gen Z youth are a large percentage of those who defy state controls because, like most Iranians, they are also depressed by corruption and mismanagement and the worsening economic conditions.

defining boundaries

Authorities say they understand that the public must support Iran in order to navigate difficult circumstances, including reinstated UN sanctions and the persistent threat of war, because Israel and its Western allies have publicly praised the regime change in Iran since the 12-day conflict in June.

Some officials, primarily those in the more moderate or pragmatic camps, were forced to advocate for lowering some social freedom restrictions as a result.

Former Iranian president Hassan Rouhani, a leader of the moderate camp, criticized hardline lawmakers and politicians last week for passing legislation that the majority of Iranians opposed, likely in reference to the contentious subject of the mandatory hijab.

The government has stated that it will not put the law into practice.

Tehran, Iranshahr

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However, hardline groups within the establishment have mobilized to reinstate as many restrictions as possible.

This week, a video that was shot in Tehran’s downtown became popular online that showed young people who exhibited disobedience to the theological establishment enjoying a performance by street musicians.

They have become more prevalent after years of musicians defying a state’s ban on street shows, but they still face reprisals if they attract too much attention.

Iranian authorities shut down at least one band member’s Instagram account, with the police claiming that the account had been closed in response to a court order for “publishing criminal content.”

The band member’s potential punishment has not been made clear by the authorities.

This week, hard-line, conservative media reported on yet another Tehran crackdown.

According to the state-run Fars news website, which is connected to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, ticket sales for a “disco that included naked women dancing with boys” in the Pakdasht neighborhood were stopped, and legal proceedings were brought against the organisers.

This was in reference to a week-long electronic music event that had been selling tickets legally after the authorities had granted the necessary permits.

Iranian authorities impose sanctions on dancing in public spaces, especially when it is done by both men and women at once.

Alcohol consumption is still prohibited in Iran, which makes it illegal for some Iranians to buy illegal goods or dangerous homemade goods. Numerous lives are still lost annually to ethanol- and other chemicals-contaminated alcohol.

Despite the restrictions, some cafes and restaurants still employ DJs and occasionally serve alcohol.

Authorities permanently closed a significant restaurant in Tehran’s Nahjol Balaghe Park in mid-September because of a video that showed theremen dancing to music inside and drinking alcohol there.

After holding events where young people danced in front of thousands of stores, a number of clothing stores and other vendors have recently been shut down.

Authorities also canceled a significant public concert at Tehran’s iconic Azadi Tower, which the government had intended to demonstrate national unity at the beginning of September.

The apparent contradiction between the positions of various establishment factions highlights Iran’s uniqueness, with the government not necessarily having the final say over conflicting issues and other forces like the Revolutionary Guard being able to defy government orders.

Online freedoms and hijab laws

The controversial hijab law, which punishes women and men with prison time, being lashed, or paying fines if the state determines their attire is improper, has been ordered by the Supreme National Security Council.

Following Mahsa Amini’s death while she was being held by the police for her hijab, she was killed in Iran during months of deadly nationwide protests in 2022 and 2023.

Despite Pezeshkian’s government claiming no money was being allocated to it, some so-called “morality police” vans have been seen in cities across the nation.

Women who ride motorcycles in Iran are another group who defy the Iranian government’s policy because they are still denied motorcycle licenses.

Despite having a record-low turnout in elections since 2020, the government still has to support legislation that would allow women to ride.

However, there are more women riding motorcycles all over the country, and there have also been a number of group rides in Tehran recently.

Another campaign promise was made by Pezeshkian’s government, which lifted draconian state bans on tens of thousands of websites and almost all social media platforms.

The government blamed Israel for the persistent enforcement of stringent internet restrictions, asserting that the restrictions would have been lifted had it not been for the June War.

As a result of their lack of significant offerings to them, New York University associate professor and author Azadeh Moaveni stated to Al Jazeera that she does not believe any particular faction of the state enjoys widespread support from the younger generation.

“Pragmatists in the state are just offering their own frustration, which is of no value, and at best pointing out, as the president has done, that he won’t enact laws like the hijab law, which the majority of the country opposes,” she said.

Source: Aljazeera