Signs of Dissent Emerge in an Iranian Power Base
New York Times
04-Aug-2009 (2 comments)

The region’s relative insularity and lack of access to the outside world has led to a public silence that suggests that antagonism to the government is mainly limited to the large urban centers. But a recent four-day trip to the region turned up signs that growing segments of these rural populations, particularly the young and the educated, have lost faith in the current government.

“I voted for Moussavi because I want change,” said a 24-year-old recent university graduate who was visiting his hometown, a mud-brick village southwest of Qum that is accessible only by an old tractor trail. “All the young people like myself moved away because we do not believe in this lifestyle anymore,” he said, speaking anonymously for fear of reprisals.

The ruling conservative faction still draws most of its support from such remote and religious strongholds; a 55-year-old farmer said a government official told him villagers overwhelmingly voted for Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in the disputed June 12 presidential election. Colorful murals extolling the virtues of the Islamic republic and its founder, Ayatollah >>>

Shifteh Ansari

Does Qum have protesters too?

by Shifteh Ansari on

Whether or not there is dissent in Qum, it won't be conveyed through any protests to be sure.



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gol-dust

It couldn't be Qom, it must be Abianeh where villagers go univ.

by gol-dust on

in tehran. You don't find any young men there, almost any! They are educated and they are pure cultured persians spared from the Arab invasions!