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Report In Hindi Daily 'Dainik Jagran' Describes Iran Before Islamic Revolution: 'Then One Day, A Revolution Took Place, And ... A Modern And Developed Nation Was Transformed Into An Islamic State'
Amid the Iran-Israel war, India's leading Hindi-language daily Dainik Jagran published a report explaining how relatively liberal pre-revolutionary Iran transformed under the Islamic Revolution into a place where women's individual rights are limited and they are forced to cover their heads.
In the report, titled "How Did One Piece Of News In Iran Bring About 'The Islamic Revolution,' Confining Women To Their Homes And Turning Israel Into An Enemy," journalist Mahen Khanna traced the origins of the 1979 Islamic revolution, the theocratic regime led by Ayatollah Khomeini, and Iran becoming an enemy of Israel.
"[Girls] were also free to wear skirts and walk around with dark lipstick. Then one day, a revolution took place, and the entire country changed. A modern and developed nation was transformed into an Islamic state," Khanna narrated.
Iranian women's football team in 1976 (image courtesy: X)
Following are excerpts from the article:[1]
"Girls Had The Right To Study... To Vote And Contest Elections – They Were Also Free To Wear Skirts And Walk Around With Dark Lipstick, Then One Day, A Revolution Took Place, And The Entire Country Changed: A Modern And Developed Nation Was Transformed Into An Islamic State"
"Amid the conditions of war, discussions have arisen about how life was much more prosperous in Iran when it was known as Persia.[2] Girls had the right to study and go to school, the right to vote and contest elections. They were also free to wear skirts and walk around with dark lipstick. Then one day, a revolution took place, and the entire country changed. A modern and developed nation was transformed into an Islamic state.
"Now the question arises: What exactly was the 'Islamic Revolution of Iran' that changed the face, character, and fate of an entire country – turning the open-minded Persia into the Muslim nation of Iran? Let us tell you... This story is long, but we will try to explain it to you in simple words and in a short time.
"Exactly 47 years, five months, and 14 days ago, that is, on the morning of January 6, 1978, a major shift began in the lives of the Iranian people. That morning, people read the newspaper, some tore it up, others threw it away, and some even burned it. That was the spark that ignited the Islamic Revolution, and without much thought, people flooded into the streets.
An Iranian air hostess before the Islamic Revolution (image courtesy: X)
"Now the question arises: what exactly was published in the newspaper that compelled people to take to the streets.
"One News Report And 20 Deaths
"In those days, one of Iran's biggest newspapers, Ettelaat, published a news report that read: 'Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini is a British agent. He is serving colonial interests.' Not only that. The report also questioned Khomeini's Iranian identity and accused him of living an immoral life. Within 12 hours of the article's publication in Ettelaat, it was as if the country caught fire. The police were ordered to shoot rioters on sight. And so, 20 people were shot dead by the police. Several newspapers were placed under censorship."
"[Ayatollah Ruhollah] Khomeini Had A Connection To India: His Grandfather, Sayyid Ahmad Musavi, Was Born In The Village Of Kintoor In Barabanki In [The Northern State Of] Uttar Pradesh"
"Who Was Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini?
"Who was Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, about whom one news article caused such an uproar that Iran became an Islamic nation? Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini was an Islamic cleric... During the 1960s and 70s, he held considerable influence in religious seminaries.
"Also, Khomeini had a connection to India. His grandfather, Sayyid Ahmad Musavi, was born in the village of Kintoor in Barabanki in [the northern state of] Uttar Pradesh, and was a resident there. At the age of 40, he traveled to Iraq to offer prayers at the shrine of Imam Ali – also known as the Mosque of Ali.
"From Iraq, he reached Iran and settled in the city of Khomein, where he chose to stay permanently. Sayyid Ahmad Musavi added Hindi as a suffix to his name, after which he came to be known as Sayyid Ahmad Musavi Hindi. In 1902, Musavi's grandson, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, was born – who later went on to become a learned cleric."
"In 1936, The Hijab And Burqa Were Banned... Women Were Allowed To Wear Western Clothes; In 1950, Child Marriage Was Prohibited, And The Legal Age For Marriage Was Set At 18; In 1963, Women Were Granted Voting Rights And The Right To Contest Parliamentary Elections"
"What Is The Story Behind Iran Becoming An Islamic Nation?
"Persia – that is, present-day Iran and the Persian Empire. This dates back to the time of the First World War. Britain wanted to make Persia its protectorate, but one of the young men in the Persian army, Reza Shah, did not let that happen.
"Reza Shah gradually rose through the ranks within the military and was given important responsibilities in the army. Reza Shah was obsessed with strengthening Iran's national identity. For this reason, he adopted the ancient language name Pahlavi as a surname.
Iranian women before the Islamic Revolution (image courtesy: X)
"In 1925, Reza Shah took on the title Pahlavi, marking the beginning of the Pahlavi dynasty. Reza Shah Pahlavi ruled Persia until 1941. By the end of his reign, Persia had undergone significant transformation. Among the most notable changes was the renaming of Persia to Iran. It is said that the local people had long referred to the region as Iran, so Reza revived this historic name after many years and officially changed Persia to Iran.
"Reza Shah Pahlavi tried to establish Iran as a centralized, Western-style secular state and one that was pro-women. He brought about several reforms in the interests of women, including in education, politics, employment, clothing, and by raising the legal age of marriage.
"What Rights Did Women Have In Iran During The Pahlavi Era?
"Girls and women were given the right to attend schools and universities.
"In 1936, hijab and burqa were banned. Women were allowed to wear Western clothes.
"In 1950, child marriage was prohibited, and the legal age for marriage was set at 18.
"In 1963, women were granted voting rights and the right to contest parliamentary elections.
"Women could become judges, ministers, doctors, lawyers, stewardesses, soldiers, and teachers.
"Reza Shah ruled Iran until 1941. After him, his son Mohammad Reza Pahlavi became the Shah of Iran. From 1925 to 1953, Iran functioned as a constitutional monarchy, with a Prime Minister as head of government and a Supreme Commander as head of state. Reza Shah and later his son typically held the position of Supreme Commander themselves."
"In 1964, Anti-Government Protests Took Place, In Which [Ayatollah] Khomeini Was At The Forefront – Referring To Shia Islam, He Presented Himself As A Protector Of The People's Interests – He Soon Gained The Support Of Many Islamic Clerics"
"Under The Leadership Of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi
"*In the 1960s, Iran witnessed the White Revolution.
"*Land reform laws were introduced
"*Education and healthcare reforms were implemented.
"*Women's rights were expanded.
"*Measures for industrialization were carried out.
"Why Did Public Discontent Grow In Iran?
"Mohammad Reza Pahlavi introduced many reforms. Yet, instead of decreasing, economic inequality in the country grew. The rich became richer, and the poor became poorer. Unemployment and inflation reached extreme levels. This gave rise to public anger.
An Iranian woman by the seaside (image courtesy: X)
"And as history has often shown, when people grow discontented, a new leader emerges. In Iran's case, that leader was Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, who was mentioned earlier.
"In 1964, anti-government protests took place, in which Khomeini was at the forefront. Referring to Shia Islam, he presented himself as a protector of the people's interests. He soon gained the support of many Islamic clerics."
"Khomeini Used Reza Shah's Alliance With America As A Weapon To Provoke The Public – He Fiercely Criticized Both America And Reza Shah, And He Opposed The Diplomatic Immunity Granted To American Soldiers"
"How Did The Pahlavi Era Collapse
"Mohammad Reza Shah had established good relations with Israel and the United States. Israel's first prime minister had believed that, due to Israel's enmity with Arab nations, friendship with Iran would be difficult. Yet Reza Shah extended a hand of friendship, and the two countries became allies.
"At that time, American military personnel stationed in Iran were granted certain diplomatic privileges. One such provision stated that if any American soldier was involved in a criminal case during their deployment in Iran, they would be tried in an American court, not an Iranian one.
"Khomeini used Reza Shah's alliance with America as a weapon to provoke the public. He fiercely criticized both America and Reza Shah, and he opposed the diplomatic immunity granted to American soldiers. As a result, Khomeini was arrested in November 1964 and imprisoned for six months.
"Khomeini Disappeared For 14 Years After His Sentencing
"After being released from prison, Khomeini was brought before then-Prime Minister Hassan Ali Mansur. The Prime Minister asked Khomeini to apologize. When Khomeini refused, an enraged Mansur slapped him hard across the face.
In 1964 protests, Ayatollah Khomeini emerged as a defender of Shi'ite Islam (image: Jagran).
"Just two months after this incident, Prime Minister Mansur was brutally assassinated by unknown attackers on his way to parliament. The killing was attributed to a group of Khomeini supporters, which the government labelled an extremist group. Four people were sentenced to death for the act. Khomeini went underground and remained out of public sight for 14 years.
"During this time, Mohammad Reza Shah created a secret intelligence agency called SAVAK. It was widely whispered among the people that SAVAK was funded by the Americans. Khomeini-aligned clerics began to tell the public that SAVAK was responsible for worsening the situation in the country and suppressing people's voices.
"Gradually, anger against Mohammad Reza Shah grew. Protests became more frequent. In 1978, a massive arson attack occurred as part of the unrest, in which more than 450 people lost their lives. To stop such events, the Iranian government imposed martial law in September 1978.
"On September 8, 1978, a large religious demonstration took place in Tehran. SAVAK forces arrived at the protest site and opened fire, killing over 100 people. This day is remembered in Iran as the Black Friday Massacre. It is said that many of the demonstrators did not even know that martial law had been declared."
"By The End Of 1978, The [Shah] Government Appeared Increasingly Unable To Suppress The Mounting Opposition"; "Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi Left Iran On January 16, 1979"; "Khomeini Returned To Iran After 14 Years"
"The Shah Left, And The Khomeini Era Began
"Meanwhile, the Ettelaat newspaper published the controversial report labeling Khomeini a British agent, a piece that further fueled pro-Khomeini and anti-government sentiments. By the end of 1978, the [Shah] government appeared increasingly unable to suppress the mounting opposition.
"As the situation worsened, Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi left Iran on January 16, 1979. Most Iranian newspapers carried the headline: 'The Shah has gone.' In his place, the Shah left behind a weak leader named [Shapur] Bakhtiar.
In Tehran, women turned out in large numbers to protest against Khomeini's law requiring women to wear burqa
"On the other side, Khomeini returned to Iran after 14 years. In the capital city of Tehran, millions gathered to welcome him. Sensing the momentum and the shifting tide, even the Iranian armed forces declared their neutrality. With the support of both the public and the military, Khomeini led the establishment of an Islamic Republic in Iran, an event that came to be known as the Islamic Revolution.
"To eliminate any future possibility of opposition, Khomeini held a national referendum in March 1979, even before officially declaring the Islamic Republic. In this referendum, 98 percent of voters approved replacing the constitutional monarchy with an Islamic Republic, which led to the formation of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
"A new constitution was drafted in which Khomeini was declared the Supreme Leader. In the constitution adopted in December 1979, all democratic processes were ultimately placed under the authority of the Supreme Commander and the Council of Guardians [led by the clerics]."
"The Greatest Impact Of Iran Becoming An Islamic Republic And The Implementation Of The New Constitution Was Felt By Women"; "Wearing The Hijab And Burqa Was Made Mandatory, And The Legal Age Of Marriage Was Lowered"
"Who Was Most Affected?
"The greatest impact of Iran becoming an Islamic republic and the implementation of the new constitution was felt by women. Women were prohibited from attending schools, colleges, and universities, from working outside the home, and from practicing professions like law.
"Wearing the hijab and burqa was made mandatory, and the legal age of marriage was lowered. Women were banned from professional roles and were confined entirely to domestic responsibilities.
Iranian women before and after the 1979 Islamic Revolution (image courtesy: X)
"Seizure Of The American Embassy
"With the change in power in Iran, its international relations also shifted. Iran's ties with the United States, Israel, and other Western countries deteriorated. That same year, when Mohammad Reza Shah fell seriously ill and went to the U.S. for treatment, Khomeini's faction saw this as an American conspiracy to bring the shah back to power.
"As a result, in 1979, Khomeini's supporters seized the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, taking 52 diplomats hostage for 444 days.
"On the other hand, Iran aligned itself with the Palestinian movement, with the goal of eliminating Israel. Since then, tensions between Iran and Israel have persisted – frequently escalating and at times erupting into direct conflict, as seen in recent events."
