In 2022, Atousa partook in sweeping demonstrations against the Iranian government which were later subdued by devoted followers such as Reza. The pair’s differing political beliefs persist even two years later, quite illustrative of the schism that could influence the presidential elections this week. At twenty-two years of age, Atousa announced that she will refrain from casting a vote in the upcoming election which is set to determine the successor to Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter accident. She views this democratic process with scorn. Meanwhile, Reza, a deeply religious 26-year-old member of the staunchly conservative Basij militia, plans on voting, demonstrating markedly disparate perceptions about the election’s value, highlighting the divide in Iran between those in favour of, and those against, the Islamic Republic which has existed for 45 years.
Out of 85 million residents, 60 per cent are below 30 years of age, and this demographic is targeted by all six electoral candidates – five of them being unyielding conservatives and one being a somewhat subdued moderate – who have been approved by a conservative oversight body, as they present their visions and campaign promises through social media.
Atousa has expressed her cynicism about the election. “I see this election as a show. Why should I vote if I want the government to fall?” she said, requesting anonymity for her safety.
She continued, “Even supposing these elections were transparent and fair, and if all were allowed to participate, the president in Iran lacks any real authority.”
In recent weeks, the usage of the hashtag #ElectionCircus has increased significantly on social media platform X by local Iranians as well as those overseas, who have been urging a boycott of the election.
In Iran’s theological system, the chosen chief executive manages the daily governmental affairs, however, his capacity is restrained by the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, a hardliner, who holds the final say in matters such as nuclear and overseas policy.
Atousa, amongst numerous other women and youths, took part in protests in 2022, prompted by the death of a young Kurdish woman, Mahsa Amini, while in police detention for allegedly contravening Iran’s compulsory Islamic dress code. These protests burgeoned into one of the largest demonstrations against Iran’s ecclesiastical leaders within the past few years.
During the demonstrations, Atousa, a student then, was taken into custody. Her aspirations of becoming an architect were crushed after her university expelled her as a disciplinary action for partaking in the protests. The Basij, a civilian branch of the esteemed Revolutionary Guards, assisted the uniformed security in suppressing the demonstrations with lethal force, during the 2022 tumult.
Rights organisations stated that the protests, quashed eventually by law enforcement, resulted in the deaths of over 500 individuals, including 71 young people, with hundreds more wounded and thousands put under arrest. Seven executions linked to the turbulence were carried out by Iran. Despite no official death toll being provided, it was acknowledged that several security personnel lost their lives in the upheaval.
Reza, residing in the economically disadvantaged Nazi Abad section of Tehran, expressed his willingness to lay down his life for the leader and the Islamic Republic. As per him, voting was not just his civic responsibly, but also a religious one. His active participation would fortify the Nezam, he claimed. He voiced his support for a candidate advocating for Khamenei’s “resistance economy”, interpreted as fiscal self-reliance and enhancing trade relations with bordering nations as well as promoting economic cooperation with Russia and China.
Reza held the protests responsible for the resulting increase in presssure from Western nations that enforced sanctions on Iranian law enforcement and officials for purported human rights violations. Iran blamed the Western powers for stirring the disturbance.
Discussing the demonstrations, Reza and Atousa, both born post the Islamic Revolution in 1979, expressed remorse for different reasons.
“I had hope”, expressed Atousa, looking back at that time with a heavy heart. She recounted that she thought the change she yearned for would finally arrive, and that she could live freely, devoid of suppression, in her homeland. Despite paying a steep price, she lamented that the regime still held their ground.