Senior Vice President for Policy and Programs with the Center for Security Policy Fred Fleitz knows quite a bit about Iran. A former CIA analyst, Fleitz has studied the Muslim theocracy for years. He believes the recent protests in Iran may lead to changes.
In fact, some changes are already starting to appear:
Iran will no longer arrest women not wearing headscarves
Women spotted in Iran without head coverings will no longer be detained, the country’s police chief has revealed, marking a sudden shift in Iran’s stance on the issue.
Head coverings have been compulsory for women in the Middle Eastern nation for almost four decades and any seen not adhering to the dress code have historically been arrested by morality police.
Changing the culture can only happen when the government willingly lifts its iron fist or is forced to do so. That’s what’s happening in Iran today as protests continue despite harsh tactics used by the government. It’s these harsh tactics that Fleitz pointed out in an article for National Review:
“Most Iran experts believe there is huge discontent in Iran that the regime uses brutal oppression to keep under the surface.”
Source: National Review
Iran Protests & Economic Issues: Some Thoughts
There has been a second day of violent protests in Iran that have spread to at least 20 cities. The protests reportedly began over economic issues when Iranian officials raised food prices and the doubling of the price of eggs. Iran has huge economic problems with youth unemployment at 40 percent. There also is discontent over huge government spending on the military and the war in Syria. Over 60 percent of Iran’s population of 80 million is under 30 years old. Despite censorship and the mullah’s propaganda, Iranian youths yearn for the freedom and culture of the West.
