Why Iran’s opposition failed

Today marks the anniversary of the brutal slaying of 22-year old Mahsa Amini at the hands of Iran’s so-called morality police – a death that fuelled mass protests on a scale not seen since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Yet 12 months on from what briefly looked like an unprecedented threat to four decades of theocratic rule under the mullahs, the unpalatable truth is that the protesters have failed in their attempt to bring meaningful change to Iran. If anything, the ruling mullahs look more secure than ever. Iran’s opposition forces must buck up their ideas if they are to retain any hope of toppling the regime. 

It is all a far cry from the early heady days of protests last year. These followed a remarkable outpouring of public sympathy and anger at Amini’s death. She had been detained three days earlier by the police for displaying a few locks of hair – deemed a violation of Iran’s mandatory hijab laws.