At no other time of the year do the mountains that border the north of Tehran appear as imposing as the day after a heavy snowfall. The Alborz mountains dawn so white that they light up the eyes of those who drive on the highways that cross a city that is essentially pale, almost sad, due to the desert sand and the cream color that dominates its architecture. Yesterday was one of those days, but with an added element. Camouflaged in the pale landscape were dozens of predominantly white billboards that under the slogan "We together" seek to call for unity in Iran in the framework of the 44th anniversary of the Islamic revolution, which is celebrated today.
“We build together,” reads one of the banners, which depicts one of the Iranian drones that Ukrainian authorities blame for Russian attacks on its electrical infrastructure. "We together are proud", reads another of those announcements that seek to reinforce some of the actions of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who in the framework of these celebrations has spoken of "unity" to counteract enemy countries that seek to "sow divisions” among the population. Within the lists of prisoners who are released each year as a result of the amnesty that he decrees on these dates, he also included dozens of people imprisoned in the context of the protests.
The response of most of the women released, in another of the many acts of civil resistance seen these days in Iran, was to take photos without the veil as soon as they left the prison.
“That was coming. First they repress, kill and detain, and then they want to reach out and say that we are united. These strategies do not work, because there are also many people who died and many others who are still in prison, ”says a 27-year-old girl who asks that her name not be published. This morning she is waiting for the bus in front of one of those advertisements that talk about “unity”. She has her long hair down and covers her head with a wool cap, “because of the cold, I usually go bareheaded”, she apologizes as if she is doing something wrong for not wearing her hair outdoors, as they do every time more women in recent months.
After some hesitation, he admits that he participated in the protests that broke out after the tragic death of Mahsa Amini on September 17. "Any of us could have been Mahsa," says this young woman who reproaches many older people who, although they supported the protests, did not take to the streets to support them. “That has made me doubt about the future that awaits us in Iran; nothing will change fast. Many are not happy with the situation, but they do not dare to raise their voices because they are afraid of losing what they have, ”she says.
Mujgan, a 32-year-old accountant, is the opposite side of this story. She is afraid every time she goes out without a veil, but she does it for the future of her seven-year-old daughter. “They can't live like us,” she says.
Nazgol is 24 years old and, like the young woman in the wool cap, she also took to the streets at the beginning of the protests. She was also attacked by the regime's militiamen, who managed to hit her and left part of her body covered in bruises. She managed to escape, but not so some of her friends, who ended up in prison. Most are free, but many of her families have had to put up their house as bail to let them go.
“I feel that the regime and those who support it are afraid, they feel insecure because more and more people have distanced themselves. That is why they try to create bridges, but they will never succeed, ”explains this young woman who, on her maternal side, comes from a traditional, religious family close to the regime. “They see women like me as a threat to their way of life. They think that if we win, they will be punished in the future. Just like they have done with us, ”says Nazgol, who wants to be a writer.
Mina is a psychologist. She is 36 years old and gives therapy to young people. Her clients include both pro-regime and anti-regime youth. “Those who support the system think they are right and believe they are the majority,” Mina explains in a cafe.
“This idea that they are a crowd is reinforced in celebrations such as the anniversary of the revolution, which is why this date is important for the authorities,” he adds. He does not wear a veil, he believes that the country has to change, but he assures that his experience has taught him that although many young people are ready for a change, they do not trust anyone.
“The experience of 44 years ago has been bad and many fear, or we fear, that it will be repeated again. They don't want to rush to choose a leader and then make a mistake," explains Mina, who acknowledges that what is interesting about this process is that young Iranians are also beginning to understand that they can no longer look for a "king or a leader as their savior."
"Historically, this country has created idols, now they are beginning to understand that a leader does not have to be perfect, that everyone has a weak point," explains Mina.
But even under this certainty, young people see the future as tangled as a maze of thorns. “Many of the people who could lead the change from outside the country fight among themselves, everyone attacks each other, and this definitely makes me think that the option has to come from within,” says Nazgol, the writer.
Mina thinks otherwise. She believes that the solution can come from outside, only if the different opposition figures manage to unite.
"We cannot expect something perfect, we must be realistic," he says, and concludes by stating: "Of course not, nobody believes in this campaign for unity. Not even themselves."
