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Nasleh Z in Iran

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Gen Z’s discontent with the political system is easy to explain. The existing political
system, or “nezam,” is decidedly lacking in terms of being free and fair. The illusion of choice
generated by the presentation of one candidate as a hardliner and the other as a moderate was
wholly rejected by thousands of Gen Z Iranians in the recent elections on June 28th of 2024 in
their decision not to vote, according to Holly Dagres of the New York Times. This stance is
rooted in the restlessness that has come to be typified in Iran’s youth.

Besides a fiery inclination towards protest and social justice, this generation has proved time and time again that their
fearlessness and ability to deftly coordinate civil disobedience has been a major strength in
undermining the systems put into place by the Islamic Regime.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Given that about 60 percent of
Iran’s 90 million people are under 30, which further represents the mass mobilization of an
enormous base of dissenters. (Dagres)

New technology and media play a crucial role in this process; offering new avenues of disseminating information or organizing protests.

For example, in “The Protest Inside Iranian Schools,” by Azadeh Moaveni, the details of WhatsApp
messaging and how it’s utilized among schoolchildren to cut class to protest the mandatory
hijab. The globally connected world is more conducive not only for a generational shift away
from the status quo, but for the movement becoming a global phenomenon. The story of
Shervin Hajipour embodies this especially well, with the existence of social media enabling the
protest song, Baraye, to receive worldwide acclaim. Hajipour’s stardom has been eclipsed by
the song’s universal plea of for normalcy, and as the anthem resonates among Gen Z’ers
around the world, it permeates even deeper than that culturally, spreading the cause to older
generations as well. This is all possible through the burgeoning youth culture in Iran and the
brave young people on the ground engaging in civil disobedience and using all the tools
available to them to speak out against undemocratic or repressive actions by the regime.

-Satchel Williams

References:
       “

      "No going back": Gen Z at the forefront of protests in Iran,” Ivana Saric, Axios; https://www.axios.com/2022/10/17/iran-protests-gen-z-mahsa-amini-deathLinks to an external site.
      “The Protests inside Iran’s Girls’ Schools,” Azadeh Moaveni, The New Yorker, 7 August 2023; https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2023/08/14/the-protests-inside-irans-girls-schoolsLinks to an external site.
      “Iran Gen Z is Still Waiting for Revolution,” Holly Dagres, The New York Times, 10 July 2024; https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/10/opinion/iran-gen-z-politics.htmlLinks to an external site.

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