Iran’s Cultural Resistance

As Iran’s economic and social crises deepen, the government has intensified its repression, with a particular focus on restricting women’s freedoms, including the enforcement of compulsory hijab laws. In response, artists and activists—both inside and outside Iran—are using music and other cultural expressions to resist these pressures.

A Regime in Crisis

The Islamic Republic is grappling with a severe budget deficit. Inflation is surging, with food prices soaring by 35% last month alone. In the healthcare sector, many Iranians can no longer afford essential medicines, and severe shortages have driven drug prices to unprecedented levels.

Industries are also bearing the brunt of this crisis. Frequent power and gas outages have forced many factories to scale down production or lay off workers. The energy crisis has also impacted households, with residents in cities like Tehran experiencing daily blackouts lasting two to three hours.

Economic stagnation has affected all segments of society. Even the wealthy are anxious about the future. Many Iranians, across social classes, have withdrawn their savings from banks, converting them into foreign currencies—especially U.S. dollars—or gold, and storing them at home rather than in financial institutions, reflecting deep distrust in the banking system. Amidst this fragile economic landscape, Iran’s Supreme Leader declared that the country would engage in no negotiations with the U.S. This stance has triggered a dramatic depreciation of the Iranian rial: in early 2018, one U.S. dollar was worth 45,000 tomans; today, that figure has nearly doubled to 98,000 tomans.

Government officials, including President Masoud Pezeshkian, have acknowledged a severe shortage of foreign currency, disrupting the import of essential goods, including pharmaceutical ingredients and staple foods. Meanwhile, widespread protests by groups such as nurses, factory workers, and retirees continue to escalate. These demonstrators regularly gather outside government offices to express their outrage over deteriorating economic conditions.

Repression Instead of Reform

Rather than addressing economic grievances, the regime has doubled down on social repression. One of its latest efforts to enforce compulsory hijab was the introduction of a so-called “Repentance Room” at Tajrish Metro Station, one of Tehran’s busiest transportation hubs. Designed to resemble a shrine, the space was adorned with images of “martyrs” like Qasem Soleimani, the commander of Iran’s Quds Force, and Yahya Sinwar, the Hamas leader in Gaza. Veiled women were tasked with approaching unveiled women, showing them religious videos and images, and encouraging them to “repent” and wear the hijab again.

However, much like the infamous morality police patrols, this initiative failed. The Repentance Room lasted only about ten days before being abandoned, as most women ignored it. While the government has enacted stricter hijab laws, enforcing them has proved difficult. Even President Pezeshkian has voiced opposition to the hardline approach, warning that such measures only exacerbate tensions. Yet, ultraconservative factions persist in their agenda, mobilizing groups of women to promote compulsory hijab under the guise of “protecting family values” and even providing financial support for their activities.

The Power of Cultural Resistance

Since the inception of the Woman, Life, Freedom movement in September 2022, artists and musicians have played a crucial role in amplifying the voices of protesters. Shervin Hajipour’s song Baraye, inspired by the grievances of ordinary Iranians expressed on social media, became the anthem of the movement and won the first-ever Grammy Award for Best Song for Social Change. Another key figure in this movement is pop singer Mehdi Yarrahi, known for his socially and politically charged music. In 2023, he released the song Rusaritou (Your Headscarf), openly opposing the hijab mandate and expressing solidarity with Iranian women. The song infuriated authorities, leading to Yarrahi’s arrest and sentencing to two years in prison, a hefty fine, and 74 lashes.

Resistance to repression is not limited to well-known artists. At Tajrish Metro Station, a young musician performed a modified version of a song by Mahasti, a beloved Iranian singer who emigrated after the 1979 revolution. His rendition, laden with themes of public discontent and political criticism, resonated deeply with commuters. However, authorities forced him to publicly retract his performance and declare allegiance to the regime, blaming Iran’s problems on U.S. sanctions.

A Regime Against Change

The government attempted to scrub videos of such performances from social media, but thanks to VPN technology, these clips continued to spread widely, particularly on Instagram. Cultural resistance through music, art, and other creative expressions remains a powerful force in the Iranian people’s struggle against state repression.

This battle is unfolding not only in the streets but also in metro stations, digital spaces, and the songs that people sing. The divide between a regime fighting for survival and a nation yearning for change grows deeper by the day.