What Did the Student Movement Do for Khordad 2?

Twenty years ago, passionate young people in Iranian universities took to the streets in search of a bridge to freedom. It was during the late presidency of Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani and in the mid-1990s that the desire for modernization in Iranian society peaked. Following this, a large and enthusiastic group of youth in universities spoke of reforms, and in the new atmosphere of Iranian society and universities, the ideological discourse of the Islamic regime had faded, and it was this desire for 'freedom' that motivated the youth and students. In those eventful and fast-paced years, three political student organizations played a significant role in changing the social and political atmosphere, especially in universities. The Office for Strengthening Unity was a comprehensive organization affiliated with the left and reformist faction of the Islamic Republic, which conveyed its views and opinions to the student movement through Islamic associations across Iranian universities. The Islamic Students and Graduates Union was another student organization that, since 1994, had been vocal about its critical approach and justice-seeking stance through the weekly 'Payam Daneshjoo.' Finally, the National Students Union, a newly formed student group with a completely secular approach, aligned more with liberal and nationalist movements outside the regime. This newly formed nationalist student organization, shortly after the beginning of Mohammad Khatami's presidency, along with the Islamic Students and Graduates Union, formed the 'United Student Front.' Heshmatollah Tabarzadi, spokesperson for the Democracy and Human Rights Campaign in Iran and then Secretary-General of the Islamic Students and Graduates Union, tells us that during the months leading up to Khordad 2, 1997, student organizations had a very prominent role in political and social issues, and the government was caught off guard in facing these student organizations and could not seriously suppress them. These student organizations created the atmosphere that led to Khordad 2... Ali Afshari, a political activist and former member of the Central Council of the Office for Strengthening Unity, who has lived in the U.S. for years, says that the initial goal was the emergence of a reformist perspective within the Islamic Republic, which resulted in the rise of Khatami's government. According to him, a new generation of student activists had emerged, but public support for Khatami's presidency was unpredictable... However, Manoochehr Mohammadi, another student activist who has also lived in the U.S. for years, was among those who, along with his brother Akbar Mohammadi, founded the National Students Union. Mohammadi states that Khatami was seen by students and youth as a bridge to address the delayed demands of youth and students, including freedom and democracy. He notes that Khatami's attractive slogans garnered the support of students and youth... However, the student movement's support for the reformist government and Khatami took a critical turn two to three years after the establishment of the reformist government and the events of July 18, and students were no longer unconditionally supportive of him and began to critique the reformists close to the presidency. Heshmatollah Tabarzadi discusses this change in approach, stating that after the events of July 18, the weakness and inability of Khatami's government against the hardliners became evident... Ali Afshari shares a similar view, stating that as Khatami's government progressed, the level of demands increased, but Khatami's government lacked the necessary capacity to respond... However, the student movement distanced itself more each day from its support and hope for the reformist government before the end of Khatami's presidency. Manoochehr Mohammadi, who was imprisoned after the events of July 18 along with several other student activists, states that the reformists could neither utilize the social potential of youth and the student movement nor did they want to, as they did not consider us to be part of their own... Ali Afshari also mentions that ultimately, the obstruction by the powerful institution of the Guardian of the Jurist and Khatami's retreat altered the path of the student movement during the reform era. According to Afshari, a deadlock in opening matters had become apparent, but little effort was seen from the government to overcome this situation... Now, twenty years have passed since Khordad 2, 1997, and during these twenty years, the student movement has gone through various events, each of which requires a renewed look at the tumultuous history of the Iranian student movement.