Iran: Struggle for Democracy

Citizens of Iran are demanding democracy after twenty-five years of Islamic theocracy. In the 1950's Mossadeq was the prime minister that gained control from the Shah. Shah's pro-Western regime was reinstated but portrayed as benefiting Western powers, the United States. Opposition arose against Shah and Khomeini was founded the new influential cleric. He declared the country the Islamic Republic of Iran and called for a new religious government based on the strict principles of Shi'iah Islam. He died in 1989 and lower-level clerics controlled everyday political operations. Members of the opposition could expect imprisonment, torture and even execution. The ruling clerics possessed the countries wealthy while citizens experienced unemployment with a rising cost of living. Young people, three-quarters of the population, couldn't listen to Western music, criticize rulers or be involved with the opposite sex.

Mohammad Khatami was elected president in May of 1997. He was a moderate cleric that represented a voice for the young people, university students, and women in the demand for increased democratic freedoms. Reformist newspapers began to circulate as the opposition movement had begun. The conservatives tried to stop the advancements of reform; a clerical regime sent police forces to attack the Tehran University dorms leaving three dead and many injured or arrested. Clerics were moving to protect their conservative ideas by closing reformist newspapers, torturing opposition leaders and having Bassijis break up student demonstrations. Reform seemed to disappear. "The growing political crisis in Iran garnered worldwide attention" and has grabbed the attention of the United States specifically. The citizens and some officials in Iran are torn on whether or not they want U.S. intervention leaving our country to face the difficulty in compiling a strategy for facing the Islamic Republic of Iran.

After reading this article it seems obvious that the first step in solving any problems would be for Iran to figure out their governmental situation. With political crisis occurring throughout the country that remains the number one priority before solving problems with nuclear factories.