Every revolution has its own victims. A political revolution
terminates the regime in charge in favor of a new regime. This change dramatically
affects every facet of life, as it outmodes and prosecutes old values to be
replaced with new ones. Those who belonged to the old system, especially ex-government
officials in high ranking, are surrendered or sacrificed in the process. One of
the early victims of the Islamic Revolution was joy, or celebration, and happiness
in general! For instance, it was forbidden to clap hands in response to an atmosphere
of delight, or in appreciation of. As Islam (categorically Shia) is the
religion of weeping and mourning, anything that would elate someone was banned.
Among the first instruments of joy were musical and game apparatuses, as they
have traditionally been forbidden by Islam. Of course Islam’s attack on women
was almost at the same time. Ironically, no matter how much Khomeini and his
followers tried to keep women hidden in a sack, and in spite of daily violence
against them, women in Iran are considered exemplary for all women in the
Middle East. In addition to their success in education and music, they have
changed the rigid hijab decree by many fashionable forms, and as of today they
are still fighting against the roots of it. A speech was distributed in social
media of the most reactionary and fossil brain mullah who professed what
Khomeini and other mullahs have always had in mind, but they have never dared
to verbalize it. He said: “God created three kinds of animals. One that is for
carrying human’s load, such as donkey, mule, and horse. A second kind for
humans to eat, such as cow, sheep, and chicken. And finally he created a third
kind for men to enjoy, called women. Of course, in order for human being not to
get scared of them, He created them like humans! There should be (or there may
be) another book specifically about this subject, however it was mentioned
briefly here since women have been more involved in music, and its sanction has
impacted them more. But, like other liberties that Islamists tried to impede
and did not succeed, music, film, and other expressions of art which were not
approved by Khomeini at the beginning, found new ways of expressing themselves,
and continues to expand.
