Two years after the green revolution in Iran (2009 - 2010), my colleague Jörg-Christian Schillmöller and I had the opportunity to do various reports in Iran. We were mainly in Tehran and Isfahan, the two cities in which the green movement demonstrated on the streets almost every day for months. Their aim was to annul the 2009 election in which hardliner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was reelected president of the country.
Since 2005, Iran was led by conservative Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who first served as mayor of Tehran before being elected as president. Ahmadinejad's name was associated with human rights violations in the country, particularly with the use of violence. The list of these violations included the increased number of death penalties and problems with LGBT rights. According to Human Rights Watch, "basic human rights protection in Iran has deteriorated to new lows" under Ahmadinejad's first presidency as, for example, the number of executions increased by three times.
How did these young people live now? Did they come to terms with the regime or did they join in internal resistance? I met young people who only partially followed the government's instructions. There were places where young men and women sat openly together, held hands and played volleyball together. The headscarf requirement was interpreted very loosely. Women did sport in public. Men walked through the bazaars with long hair and tight-fitting trousers and shirts.
The Islamic religious police (Gascht-e Erschad) kept a low profile during the day. Raids were only carried out at night in places that were particularly popular with young people. As soon as the black minibuses of the Gascht-e Erschad approached, people ran away or tried to quickly put on a headscarf as required.
The economic situation for most people was tense. Money was being exchanged illegally everywhere. The dollar dominated business life. Many young people therefore picnicked in parks, sat on the river bank or met up for a chat at popular, historic buildings. Some talked about their friends who had gone abroad or who had been in prison since the demonstrations. From my perspective, the mood often changed abruptly between deep melancholy and exuberant joy. They tried to imagine a future in the midst of uncertainty.
