What started as a cry for liberation became one of the world's strictest theocracies. This is the untold story of how Ayatollah Khomeini outmanoeuvred secular democrats, leftists, and moderates to create today's Iran - where women like Mahsa Amini die for showing their hair. From the CIA coup of 1953 to the 444-day hostage crisis, our experts reveal how a fight for freedom turned into decades of oppression, and why today's Iranian women are still fighting for the rights their grandmothers once had.
Thursday, January 01, 2026
1979: How Iran‘s Fight for Freedom Was Betrayed
Dec 14, 2025 | Can you imagine Iran and the US as close allies? Just 50 years ago, Tehran looked completely different - women walked freely without hijabs, minorities thrived, and the country was one of the Middle East's most modern nations. Then came 1979, when millions of Iranians took to the streets fighting for democracy and freedom. They successfully overthrew their dictatorial Shah, but their revolution was hijacked.
What started as a cry for liberation became one of the world's strictest theocracies. This is the untold story of how Ayatollah Khomeini outmanoeuvred secular democrats, leftists, and moderates to create today's Iran - where women like Mahsa Amini die for showing their hair. From the CIA coup of 1953 to the 444-day hostage crisis, our experts reveal how a fight for freedom turned into decades of oppression, and why today's Iranian women are still fighting for the rights their grandmothers once had.
What started as a cry for liberation became one of the world's strictest theocracies. This is the untold story of how Ayatollah Khomeini outmanoeuvred secular democrats, leftists, and moderates to create today's Iran - where women like Mahsa Amini die for showing their hair. From the CIA coup of 1953 to the 444-day hostage crisis, our experts reveal how a fight for freedom turned into decades of oppression, and why today's Iranian women are still fighting for the rights their grandmothers once had.
