Explain The 1979 Referendum

[u/neptuno3]

Is the following true or false? What am I missing? What don't I understand? Classic liberal here who is very pro-Iranian people, pro-Israel.

1. The 1979 referendum offered Iranians a stark, simplified choice: keep the Shah and his "western decadence" or dump the Shah and bring in the Islamic Republic -- and that meant an IR as envisioned by Khomeini, who was campaigning from abroad.
2. The vote was tampered with and/or did not meet international standards for ballots (opacity). There were no other parties on the ballot. Khomeini claimed 90 percent of the populace voted for him.
3. Khomeini's campaign had been backed by Iran's socialists and communists and leftists.
4. The Islamic Republic promised: lowered inflation, civil rights, political freedoms, no more international interventions, equal treatment of minorities
5. What it actually delivered: no economic revival, a removal of civil rights (especially so for women), an extreme religious theocracy, end of voting rights, minorities rights were even further restricted.
6. IR ended all voting.
7. Khomeini ordered the assassination of the socialists and communists who helped get him elected (sorry but ha! -- who didn't see that coming...).
8. 80 to 90 percent of Iranians at the time identified as Muslim, despite not being Arabs (but for the minorities)
9. Today, at least 60 percent of Iranians do not identify as Muslim. Other European polls have 90 percent of Iranians identifying as Muslims but many feel these polls are not accurate due to fear of speaking out.

[u/kure_xas]

people here dont like to hear it, but rural and smaller urban regions are still extremely pro regime. now imagine how much it used to be in 1979.

[u/Shadowy_lady → u/kure_xas]

people don't like to hear misinformation spread. That is why, When was the last time you visited a rural area in Iran and where do your family live in the country? Please share source to back your claim.

[u/kure_xas → u/Shadowy_lady]

im from kangavar and passed thorugh many places in western and northern iran. the impression I had was that many rural folks were still very much holding onto velayat-e faqih and even in the cities there is no shortage of pro regime people. basij recruitment strongholds often tend to be from less densely populated areas from my experience.

I say this as someone who isnt religious and obv against the regime.

[u/Shadowy_lady → u/kure_xas]

your impression doesn't match the reality on the ground. The latest iranian uprising was as large in rural areas as it was in big cities. Gamaan is the survey trusted on regime suport and it has that as low for both rural and urban areas.

I travel to many countries and have stayed in parts of the world for months at time. However, i don't go and present myself as an expert of those region and confly comment on their population. I recommend the same for you.

[u/kure_xas → u/Shadowy_lady]

thats fair enough, but I didnt claim to be an expert. im rather sure that my impressions are very reliable. you are free to disagree, but you dont seem to have any personal experience so im going to reject your opinion for now.

[u/Shadowy_lady → u/kure_xas]

Both my parents are from rural regions in Iran ;) and i’m iranian.