Iran's other youth movement

[maddezmom]

Iran's other youth movement
Across the divide from those clamoring for change are others like Morteza Amiri, of the hard-line Basiji militia.
By Ramin Mostaghim and Borzou Daragahi, Special to The Times
June 10, 2007

TEHRAN — On the fashionable streets of the city's north, young men and women in bluejeans and designer clothes sometimes smirk at Morteza Amiri, with his thick black beard and black shirt. They stare, sometimes mocking him with religious chants.

But Amiri, a pious 22-year-old from the south of Tehran, just smiles. He knows who he is and where he comes from. He rests easy in the comfort that he is not alone. Unlike those of his generation who clamor for social and political change, Amiri is a stalwart supporter of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. He is a proud member of the Basiji militia, which many say took part unofficially in a recent crackdown throughout the streets of the capital.

And he believes his side is growing.

"It's not only the bearded people who are true believers," said Amiri, who operates a small shop selling Islamic books and CDs in downtown Tehran. "Look at my customers. Many of them are cleanshaven and wear jeans."

Although Western analysts believe Iran's youthful population strives for change and can be coaxed to revolt, the country's conservative leaders have also been wooing their young.

more;http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-fg-basiji10jun10,1,3555363.story?coll=la-news-a_section

[David__77]

1. I wonder who really has how much support there.

I have no doubt that the president of Iran had some genuine support prior to his election because he championed populist economic policies. The other "conservative" Islamic forces want to privatize everything. I'm not sure that the position of the forces wanting detente with the US is too strong since the war against Iraq started. It has strengthened the clerical forces. There are few positive forces operating in the country. The left was crushed a quarter century ago.