In the Iranian calendar year 1402 (March 20, 2023 – March 20, 2024), the landscape of protests across various cities in Iran was marked by significant fluctuations, embodying a year of intense dissent against the ruling clerics. This period witnessed a pronounced refusal from the populace during the sham elections in early March and the traditional Chaharshanbe Suri celebrations, signaling a broad discontent with the regime’s policies and actions.
Despite the widespread suppression, particularly targeting women, diverse social groups took to the streets to voice their grievances over the usurpation of their most fundamental rights. This movement was not confined to a single demographic but encompassed a wide range of professions and social classes, indicating a deep-rooted and widespread dissatisfaction with the current state of affairs in Iran.
Protests in numbers
The year 1402 saw a total of 3,363 instances of protest, covering a broad spectrum of society:
– Continuation of the 2022 nationwide uprising: 21 protest rallies
– Retirees: 1,457 protest rallies
– Workers: 746 protest rallies
– Bazaar merchants: 172 protest rallies
– Nurses: 105 protest rallies
– Educators: 77 protest rallies
– Farmers: 41 protest rallies
– Students: 37 protest rallies
– Lawyers: 17 protest rallies
– Doctors: 12 protest rallies
– Taxi drivers: 8 protest rallies
– Truck drivers: 8 protest rallies
– Livestock farmers: 5 protest rallies
– Bakers: 5 protest rallies
– Engineers: 3 protest rallies
– Poultry farmers: 2 protest rallies
– School students: 2 protest rallies
– Other groups: 645 protest rallies
Protest dynamics
The protests were characterized by their diverse nature, with different sectors primarily voicing sector-specific concerns. Yet, the overarching theme was a profound disapproval of government policies, mismanagement, and systemic oppression.
Significant events and themes:
– The suppression on the streets, particularly against women, ignited widespread protests across different sectors of society.
– During Chaharshanbe Suri, directly targeted Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in their slogans with phrases such as “Death to the dictator.”
– Many protests had a professional focus, highlighting grievances related to employment conditions, wages, and the lack of basic workplace amenities.
– In Zahedan, Friday protests became a regular occurrence following the Friday prayers, a tradition that persisted until October 2023.
– Retirees from various sectors mobilized in response to calls on social media, protesting against the non-implementation of employment regulations, poor living conditions, and the lack of parity in pensions.
Sector-specific protests
– Workers protested unfair dismissals, unpaid wages, lack of insurance, and job insecurity.
– Bazaar merchants voiced their concerns over a range of issues from student poisonings to the impact of new laws and taxes on their businesses.
– Nurses highlighted the dire working conditions, forced overtime, and low wages.
– Educators protested for job security and better employment conditions after years of service in deprived areas.
– Farmers demanded rights to water resources and protested the unfair purchase prices of their products by the government.
– Students stood against oppressive dress codes, the execution of protesters, and the overall security atmosphere within universities.
Observations
The data from the year 1402 reflect a nation in turmoil, with citizens from all walks of life standing up to demand their rights in the face of considerable adversity. The protests varied widely in their nature and objectives but were united by a common thread of dissatisfaction with the status quo. This period in Iranian history underscores a pivotal moment of collective action and solidarity among different sectors of society, indicating a broad-based desire for significant change and reform in the governance and socio-political fabric of the country.
As Iran steps into another year, the echoes of these protests serve as a powerful reminder of the people’s resilience and their unwavering demand for justice, equity, and freedom. While the regime used all its efforts to suppress, this number of formed protests promises a glorious year in the direction of advancing the resistance and achieving freedom. The situation has become so bad for the regime that experts on the state television are warning about the possibility of a revolution, something that is becoming increasingly possible as the organized resistance continues to gain momentum.
