They came, as revolutionists usually do, seemingly out of nowhere. Something happens, a single thing, and suddenly the world is afire. In the case of Iran, that single thing was the death of a single woman in the custody of Iran’s so-called morality police. Her offense? Allegedly wearing her hijab improperly, or in a way the authorities deemed offensive.
While revolutions are lit by one lone match, their pyre is way high. Revolutions can only even hope to succeed if they are fueled by a list of grievances that is very old, very long, and very deeply felt.
So far of course the Iranian authorities have beat back, literally, and figuratively, the protesters. However, the demonstrations in Iran continue – and they continue to be led by women and girls. This is by no means the only wave of protests since the Islamic Republic was established in 1979. But even now it is arguably the most striking. Even now the protests have been relatively widespread and long lasting and, given how oppressed are women in Iran, to see them in the streets defying the authorities is as heartening as frightening.
Make no mistake about it. The regime has reacted harshly, even brutally to those at the forefront of this movement. Women of different ages have been arrested and beaten, and some have been killed. Journalists, meanwhile, those reporting on what’s happening, have been imprisoned by the dozens.
So far, participants in the protests have been, as I use the word, followers not leaders. They have no power, no authority, and up to now at least, insufficient influence to create meaningful change. But, if they turn not out to be successful revolutionists, not to bring down the regime they despise, they will almost certainly be foot soldiers in the slow, dreadfully difficult march from theocracy to democracy.
Followers always matter. They especially matter when they do something as opposed to nothing.