Iran.

 This two part programme on BBC Two: Rage Against the Regime:Iran is a must watch. Where to start? The most important thing is the survival of the Iranian Regime, everything is subservient to this project. Moreover the Supreme Leader, is akin to god and must be obeyed - without question. After the 1979 Revolution it’s been - down hill since then. Every now and again the people revolt as they’ve had enough of the rampant corruption of the regime. The only part of the economy that has grown is the Revolutionary Guard who protect the Supreme Leader. The 2009 election was stolen as the clear winner was a - democratic and therefore a direct threat to the system. In November 2019 there were further demonstrations and many people were arrested or were deliberately shot. Some have suggested more than 1500 were killed. The capital of Iran is Tehran and this is the centre of protest against the repressive regime. 

The second episode was just as disturbing but also empowering. This time the role of woman in Iran. One woman said “they want to control our bodies”. Under the repressive autocratic and authoritarian regime - men must be obeyed. They were the subjects of their husbands and by implication being - if they demonstrated on the streets - you are not in charge of the woman in your home. Football became a test where it was strictly forbidden for women to go to see a match. Would they dare? One young woman described the thrill of - seeing a live game for the first time. She nevertheless had to go in disguise as a man in order to get into the stadium. In the summer of 2022 - the morality police murdered a young woman for breaching the strict dress code. There was national outrage - which caused anxiety in the regime. A woman defiantly said “setting yourself on fire is easier than living in Iran”. What an extraordinary statement about your country and its leadership. Underpinning this system is of course religion and male fears of female sexuality and freedom. This is what - must be controlled at all costs - otherwise they have lost control of the people and thereby the system. Adam and Eve all over again. Its female sexuality that banished men from the Garden of Eden and women have been punished ever since.