A History of Dissent: Major Iranian Protests (1979–Present)

The landscape of Iranian protest has shifted from seeking a new form of government to demanding specific civil liberties, and eventually, to calling for systemic change.

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Era	Movement	Primary Catalyst
1977–1979	The Islamic Revolution	Widespread opposition to the Shah’s monarchy, economic disparity, and Western influence.
1999	The Student Protests	The closure of the reformist newspaper Salam and a violent raid on Tehran University dormitories.
2009	The Green Movement	Allegations of massive fraud in the presidential election (“Where is my vote?”).
2017–2019	Economic & “Aban” Protests	Sudden spikes in food and fuel prices; evolved into anti-government slogans.
2022–2023	“Woman, Life, Freedom”	The death of Mahsa Amini in morality police custody; focused on women’s rights and bodily autonomy.

Key Turning Points

• The 1999 Student Uprisings: This was the first major challenge to the post-revolutionary establishment. It was led by the youth and signaled a growing rift between the “revolutionary generation” and their children.
• The 2009 Green Movement: Utilizing social media for the first time, millions took to the streets of Tehran. This was largely a middle-class movement seeking political reform within the existing system.
• The 2019 “Bloody Aban”: Triggered by a gas price hike, these protests were notable for being led by the working class and for the severe government crackdown that followed.
• The 2022 Mahsa Amini Protests: Unlike previous movements, this was led by women and Gen Z, crossing ethnic and provincial lines with the slogan “Jin, Jiyan, Azadi.”

The Common Thread

While the triggers vary—from election results to the price of eggs or the mandatory hijab—the underlying theme over the last 50 years has been a persistent push for accountability and social agency.