The Terrible Truth of Life Under the Ayatollahs

I live in a country where most of us have lived in fear since we were born. Since the Islamic Revolution in 1979, a repressive regime of Ayatollahs has ruled us, altering the country’s social, political, and cultural fabric. Promising to free the Iranian people from Western imperialism and establish a just society grounded in Islamic principles, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini and his successors have instead delivered a harsh reality: over four decades of oppression, economic mismanagement, and severe restrictions on freedom.

The regime, led by a strict interpretation of Shia Islam, enforces a theocratic system where the Supreme Leader—currently Ayatollah Ali Khamenei—holds absolute control. This structure severely limits freedoms such as speech, press, and assembly. Dissent is not tolerated, and those who dare challenge the regime often face imprisonment, torture, or even execution. The judiciary, dominated by hardline clerics, routinely silences journalists, activists, and political opponents. Independent media is virtually non-existent, and the regime tightly controls information, including internet access, monitoring and punishing those who voice opposition online.

Personal freedoms are also profoundly restricted. The infamous morality police enforce rigid laws that govern behaviour, mainly targeting women. The mandatory hijab law, for instance, forces women to dress according to the regime’s strict interpretation of Islamic modesty. Women caught violating this dress code face public humiliation, arrest, or physical punishment. These rules are just one aspect of the broader systemic gender discrimination that permeates Iranian society, where women are denied equal rights in education, employment, and the legal system.

Gender inequality under the Ayatollahs is often described as a form of gender apartheid. Despite Iranian women’s significant academic achievements, they are routinely excluded from key positions in government and business and face obstacles in public life. Laws regarding marriage, divorce, inheritance, and child custody overwhelmingly favour men. At the same time, a woman’s testimony in court is considered only half as valuable as a man’s. The state’s discriminatory practices extend into everyday life, from banning women from attending male sporting events to strictly regulating their behaviour in public spaces.

Economically, life under the Ayatollahs has been marked by hardship and decline. Despite Iran’s wealth of natural resources, including oil and gas, the country’s economy has been crippled by corruption, mismanagement, and international sanctions. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which not only acts as an enforcement arm of the regime but also controls vast swaths of the economy, operates with impunity. This has fostered a system of cronyism that leaves ordinary Iranians struggling with unemployment, inflation, and a lack of opportunities while the elite thrives.

International sanctions, primarily imposed in response to Iran’s nuclear ambitions and its support for militant groups, have further devastated the economy. While the regime presents itself as resilient in the face of foreign pressure, it is the Iranian people who suffer the most, with soaring inflation and the cost of basic necessities becoming increasingly unaffordable. Unemployment, particularly among the youth, has led to a brain drain, as many young, educated Iranians seek opportunities abroad, leaving behind a country they feel offers no future.

The regime’s human rights abuses are well-documented. Political prisoners face torture, arbitrary detention, and execution.  Iran consistently ranks among the top countries for executions per capita, with many of these carried out for crimes that, nowhere would not warrant the death penalty. The government continues to utilize public hangings as a tool of intimidation. The situation has been increasingly tense, particularly following the protests that erupted in September 2022 after the death of Mahsa Amini, a young woman who died in police custody after being detained for allegedly violating the country’s strict dress code. In response to the protests, the Iranian government has implemented widespread crackdowns, including arrests of protesters, activists, and journalists. The crackdown on protests, the constant the brutal repression and the killing of hundreds of protesters demonstrates the regime’s intolerance for dissent.

Religious minorities, including Baha’is, Sunnis, and Christians, face systemic persecution. The Baha’i community is mainly targeted, denied access to higher education and government employment, and frequently arrested or imprisoned. Christian converts from Islam also face severe punishment, as apostasy is considered a crime punishable by death under the regime’s interpretation of Sharia law.

Despite the repression, resistance continues. Protests led by women, students, and activists have highlighted the growing dissatisfaction with the regime. Women, in particular, have been at the forefront of resistance to the mandatory hijab and other restrictions, sparking international attention. These protests reflect a generational divide, with younger Iranians increasingly rejecting the theocratic rule that has dominated their lives. However, the regime’s tight grip on power, supported by the IRGC and an extensive system of surveillance, makes the path to change perilous.

The concept of Velayat-e Faqih, or guardianship of the Islamic jurist, underpins Iran’s theocratic system, where the Supreme Leader has ultimate authority over religious and political matters. This fusion of religion and state has suffocated freedom of thought and expression, silencing dissent even within the Shia majority. Religious police enforce morality laws, while those who oppose the state’s interpretation of Islam are systematically persecuted.

The courage of the Iranian people, especially the younger generation, shines through despite these challenges. The waves of protests against the regime, driven by economic despair, political repression, and frustration with theocratic rule, reflect a deep yearning for change. Women’s resistance, in particular, symbolizes a broader movement demanding justice, freedom, and equality in a society that has been systematically denied those rights for decades. Their resilience in the face of such adversity is truly inspiring.

Life under the Ayatollahs is like living in hell.  Only the unwavering determination of the Iranian people, their relentless protests, and their resounding calls for change suggest that the regime’s hold on power is not unassailable. It is crucial for the world to pay attention. Holding the regime accountable for its human rights violations and helping the Iranian people in their struggle for a more just and democratic future is not just crucial, it’s urgent, with the support of the international community. The ongoing battle for freedom and dignity remains, and the people of Iran are in greater need of global solidarity than ever before.

To see more articles related to this topic, follow this link.