Transcript Modern Iran by Nasrin Naraghi

Modern Iran
Political Islam- Culture &
Identity
And the Democratic
Movements
Nasrin Naraghi
City College of San Francisco
Wednesday October 27, 2010
Objective
• A More personal perspective about Iranian
people and culture by an IranianAmerican through study, travel, and
communication with Iranian people
• On going Issues and ChallengesTranscendental and contending values in
Iranian culture
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
Modern Iran Timeline
• Qajar Dynaty-1794- 1925
• 1906- Constitutional Revolution
• Pahlavi Dynasty- Reza Shah Pahlavi
(1925- 1941) Muhammad Reza Shah
(1953- 1979)
Multi-Ethnic Population
• Persians- More than 50%, speak Farsi, the
official language in Iran
• Azarbaijanis ( Turks), Kurds, Arabs, Lurs,
and Turkomans
Religion
• Shiite Islam: more than 88% of population
• 8%: Sunnis Islam
• 2%: Christians, Jews, Zoroastrians, &
Bahai’s
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.
Official Religion
• Shiite Islam the official religion in Iran
since the Safavid dynasty in the 16th
century.
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?
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.
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
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
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
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
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
Tehran: Four Seasons
Satellite dishes are illegal in Iran
The Inside Space- Secular
Women, Persepolis, Memoir
Women’s identity through clothing
Skiing in north of Tehran
Secular Women- Islamic hejab & Western
Clothing
Modern Religious Women- 60% of university
students are women
Bazar Tehran
A snowy day in Tehran
Tehran- Vali-e Asr Square
Gate of Tehran
Azadi Square
Milad Tower (Borj-e Milad)
• 435 meter tall
• Tehran International
Trade and Convention
Center
Alborz Mountain in Tehran
Skyline of Tehran
Tehran: Gate of Bagh Meli
Qajar architecture
Iranian National Museum
Tehran: Inside Bagh Meli
Column capital in Bagh Meli
Isfahan Bazaar
Ali Qapu in Isfahan
Isfahan Bazaar
Isfahan
Art & Cultural Center in Isfahan