Six months have passed since Iran’s disputed presidential elections, and yet the desire of millions of Iranian citizens to challenge  Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s victory and the position of the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamanei on the streets shows no signs of abating. Iranian students came out in their droves on December 7 to voice their frustration and ladle insults on the authorities. The purpose of the date was established to commemorate the deaths of three students in 1953 at the hands of the former Shah. Ironically, the Islamic Republic has executed dozens of students over the decades.

This year, Iranian students made it crystal clear that the irony was not lost on them. Despite the heavy Baseej presence on the ground and the threat of baton charges, tear gas and pepper spray, thousands of students came together to denounce the Supreme leader and Ahmadinejad. They shouted: “Khamenei is a murderer, his Jurisprudence is illegitimate”, “Death to Khameini”, and “Down with the Dictator” amongst other expressions.  The crackdown was swift as usual, but it only fuelled the flames as students rushed to support those who were arrested. One student leader Majid Tavakoli was arrested and in order to humiliate him the authorities snapped a picture of him dressed in a chador. The move backfired because thousands of pictures sprung up on the internet of men donning chadors as a way of showing their solidarity.

The Iranian regime is desperate to return to a state of “normalcy” or at least a state of affairs that closely resembles pre-election Iran. Khamenei refuses to offer even the smallest concession to the civil reform movement. He is intent on playing fire with fire believing that brutal repression and draconian laws are all that is required to nip dissent in the bud.

The authorities are pushing for increased Islamicization in the education system and other public sectors. Ahmadinejad recently announced on a visit to Isfahan that he would double the amount allocated to religious affairs. The education ministry has ordered that management of state-run schools in cities such as Tehran and Qom to be transferred to religious seminaries. There are hopes that the entire education system will eventually come under the instruction of such bodies. One of Khamenei’s representatives at a Tehrani university commented that mixed-gender universities are a disgrace: “Allowing male and female students to go to the same university is like throwing a piece of meat to a hungry cat. Both men and women lust after members of the opposite sex, it’s a natural instinct.” There has been a resurgence religious opposition on behalf of numerous clerics who are loyal to the Supreme leader.

In a recent article by Amir Taheri, he mentions that there are rumours circulating that Ahmadinejad, on the basis health reasons, may be deposed after the Iranian new year of Nowruz. It is unlikely to simmer down tensions as it is Khamenei who is the target of choice for the opposition. Recently photos of Ayatollah Khomeini were found torn up at Tehran University, and the government seized the opportunity to blame the opposition. However, there is reason to suspect that authorities were behind the incident in order to justify harsher measures against the protestors. In turn, they have responded by waving pictures in support of Khomeini.

The more protests there are--and there are expected to be plenty, both at the end of December and the beginning of the New Year —the more the regime will face corrosive elements from its own citizens. A policy of “talebanization” will only increase hostility and misery for millions of people who cope with high inflation, unemployment and few prospects. Khamenei’s own position as an aloof apolitical figure has weakened enormously since June. His protégée has caused him embarrassment that only he can undo. Khamenei is fighting for his political survival and it is down to the thuggish behaviour of the Baseej on the ground that is keeping him safe for the time being. Witnesses are reporting that policemen are no longer putting up the same fight as they did back in June. A photograph surfaced on the internet recently of policemen giving V for insurrection victory signs to the camera. Could these be tentative signs of an insurrection? We can only hope.

Nora Eskel