15/12/2025
From the centralized, Western-oriented nation-state of the Pahlavi era to the religious-revolutionary Islamic caliphate of the Islamic Republic with a transnational leadership role - Part 2
âď¸ By Ghasem Rouhi
A central pillar of this order is the institutionalized gender hierarchy established since 1979, which systematically discriminates against women in nearly all spheres of life. This includes legal restrictions concerning marriage, divorce, custody, inheritance, and access to political office. The Islamic dress code, with its mandatory hijab, symbolizes patriarchal control over the female body and marks the boundary between âpublicâ and âprivateâ space. This gender order stabilizes the regimeâs political power by reinforcing patriarchal structures and keeping women politically marginalized.
Iranâs current condition is defined by severe repression. In 2025, more than 1,500 ex*****ons have been documented so far, placing Iran among the countries with the highest ex*****on rate per capita worldwide. Security agencies exercise political violence through arbitrary arrests, torture, and psychological intimidation. Womenâs rights advocates and young women in particular have become primary targets of state repression, facing arbitrary detentions, corporal punishment, and prosecution. Although women formally have the right to vote, their political participation and representation remain severely limited due to patriarchal structures and legal barriers, reinforcing the male-dominated state order.
Parallel to this political repression, Iran faces a deep economic crisis. Since 1979, the Iranian currencyâthe rialâhas lost over 18,000 times its value. Hyperinflation exceeding 40 percent has led to widespread impoverishment. Basic goods are unaffordable for large segments of the population. Sanctions, structural corruption, and state mismanagement further exacerbate the situation. The shrinking middle class and growing social inequality have significantly increased domestic pressure on the regime.
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