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MIDDLE EAST

Iran’s fossilized gerontocracy faces the youth in the street

In power since 1979, leaders of the Islamic Revolution are out of touch with the realities of young Iranians who are seeking a brighter future. 

Iran’s fossilized gerontocracy faces the youth in the street

Photo montage showing Iranian women killed during their participation in anti-regime demonstrations opposite Iranian officials, including Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. (Credit: @AlinejadMasih/via Twitter)

The sight of his gray beard protruding from behind a surgical mask and his dark-rimmed eyes set behind glasses was meant to silence rumors about his poor health from mid-September. But on Oct. 3, during his first official speech since the beginning of the nationwide protests, 83-year-old Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei spoke with a voice that seemed weaker than usual, almost fatigued.“Today, there is misleading propaganda aimed to suggest that the Iranian youth have lost their values ​​and have no hope for the future,” he said.With these words, Khamenei intended to sweep away the legitimacy of the demands made by the young Iranian women who took to the streets of their country, veils in hand, chanting the slogans “woman, life, freedom” and “death to the dictator. ”With absolute power and a repressive system that has so far upheld the...
The sight of his gray beard protruding from behind a surgical mask and his dark-rimmed eyes set behind glasses was meant to silence rumors about his poor health from mid-September. But on Oct. 3, during his first official speech since the beginning of the nationwide protests, 83-year-old Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei spoke with a voice that seemed weaker than usual, almost fatigued.“Today, there is misleading propaganda aimed to suggest that the Iranian youth have lost their values ​​and have no hope for the future,” he said.With these words, Khamenei intended to sweep away the legitimacy of the demands made by the young Iranian women who took to the streets of their country, veils in hand, chanting the slogans “woman, life, freedom” and “death to the dictator. ”With absolute power and a repressive system that has...