100 years of the Iranian people's struggle for freedom

100 years of the Iranian people's struggle for freedom

Women run from riot police during a protest over the death of Mahsa Amini, who had been detained for violating the country's conservative dress code, in central Tehran on September 19.

What started as spontaneous protests over the brutal murder of an Iranian Kurdish woman named Mahsa Amini by Iran's horrific morality police has now escalated into a massive nationwide revolt against the Islamic Republic. Iran has experienced three major revolutions over the last century - in 1979, 1953, and 1906. But it is the first of those revolutions, the Constitutional Revolution of 1906, that offers the best historical analogy, not just about how the current uprising succeeded in its ultimate goal of overthrowing the system, but as well as what the rest of the world can do to help with this issue.

At the dawn of the twentieth century, Iran faced a state of rapid economic and cultural decline. The country's natural resources were distributed to the British and Russians, and uncontrolled imports from Europe covered its textile and manufacturing industries. The people were left to fend for themselves as a succession of depraved kings - the Shah - steadfastly sold parts of the country to pay for their extravagance. The little protection the citizens had under the law was entirely on the Hua of any Shah sitting on the throne. For many Iranians, equity and social justice have been as elusive as bread and staple foods.

At this moment in history, a new generation of politically active men and women has risen to the challenge. Their solution to the intolerable situation in which the people found themselves was simple: to transfer power from the king to the nation, From little too much. In other words, democracy.

For a brief period, the Iranian Constitutional Revolution became the most successful anti-imperialist struggle in the world and drew the attention of the world press.

"Persia has a parliament!" The London Independent exclaimed.

"The merchants and the mullahs are forcing the Shah to grant reforms," ​​the New York Times chanted.

Unsurprisingly, the Shah uncontrolled violence, sending his forces to root out a revolution from every city and province. But the Iranians enjoyed the freedom of their first taste and weren't about to give it up without a fight. The revolutionaries withdrew to the remote city of Tabriz in the northwest of the country, and from there, they began sending urgent appeals to the four corners of the world, asking for help in their cause.

To all humanity lovers! They wrote. "To all who seek justice on the five continents. And if we Persians differ from you in religion and nationality . . . in humanity, justice, and the pursuit of righteousness, we are all alike ... Forget for a moment the blind fanaticism, the prejudice of nationality, and give us the justice of your impartial conscience ."

Almost overnight, the city of Tabriz became a rallying cry in every country struggling for freedom from persecution. Vladimir Lenin, living in exile in Europe, sent an urgent appeal to his fellow Bolsheviks to travel to Persia and join the struggle against the Shah. Support came from Russia, Georgia, and Turkey. Hundreds of women joined the revolutionary ranks. They took off the niqab, wore pants and jackets, cut their hair, carried guns, and fought with the men. Revolutionaries came from different countries, spoke other languages, and worshiped various gods. But none of that matters. They are all united in the fight against tyranny.