Iran has a long tradition of protest movements demanding economic, social, and political change. From the mid-19th century Babi uprising against religious persecution and violence to the nationwide demonstrations of the late 1970s that ended the monarchy, Iranians have repeatedly taken to the streets to express grievances and claim their rights.
The months after the 1979 revolution also saw widespread protests against the creation of a theocracy and the monopolization of power by revolutionary leaders. Citizens spoke out against the mandatory veil, political violence, censorship, religious discrimination, and the denial of their rights to political participation and self-determination.
Despite the heavy price paid by protesters and their families, protests in various forms have continued for more than four decades. The Islamic Republic has consistently responded with punitive policies and violence, including systematic and arbitrary killings.
This webpage and its interactive map seek to fill a major gap in knowledge by documenting hundreds of protests over 45 years. The Abdorrahman Boroumand Center memorializes victims of state violence, highlights the grievances that drive Iranians to protest, exposes the regime’s systematic denial of the right to protest, and outlines the internationally recognized rights to freedom of assembly and expression.
