Iran's Identity Crisis: From Pahlavi's Hijab-Free Era to Today's Street Protests

• Iran is currently witnessing widespread protests against inflation, economic hardship, and the Islamic Republic, with slogans like "Death to the Dictator" echoing.
• The protests have brought back memories of the Pahlavi dynasty (1925-1979), when women openly walked without hijabs and Tehran was known as the 'Paris of the Middle East'.
• During the Pahlavi era, Iran underwent modernization, with European fashion and Western suits for the king, though the regime was strict and crushed political dissent.
• The 1979 Islamic Revolution, led by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, transformed Iran into an Islamic Republic, making hijab mandatory and enforcing stricter religious laws.
• Today's youth, who did not experience the Pahlavi rule, are drawn to the perceived freedom of that era, with some protests even featuring slogans supporting Reza Pahlavi.

Why It Matters: Iran grapples with a profound identity struggle, contrasting its liberal past with the current religious control.