In Iran, it's not always about religion

After the presidential elections of 2005, many had tried to explain Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's surprising victory by pointing to his promises on solving the economical problems in the country. After all, the only thing that mattered to the common people were not ideological issues, nor the veils, but the very basic needs of mankind: enough food, clothes and a shelter.

You shouldn't think that this is recent problem in Iran. Academicians have argued that the underlying cause of the revolution against the Shah in 1979 was not really his authoritarian rule or his Westernist policies, but the bad economical conditions. Yet, the mullahs were no saviors, nor economists, so the situation remained.

If I had been a mullah (who I assume to be devout), I would have already left the country. I mean, the fact that the problems were continuing despite the rule of religion was surely a sign of Allah, wasn't it? Is there a better way to say "beat it you mullahs!"?

Ahmadinejad, the first non-mullah president of the Islamic Republic, has been in office for two years now, but has not succeeded in improving the conditions of the masses either. Instead, he has sought confrontation with Western governments and is facing harsh sanctions now. Well, you don't have to be an economist to see that this will aggravate the economical situation even more.


Iranians burn a gas station / AP

The decision to ration gasoline is the first measure of the government to deal with the threat of sanctions. The riots after the declaration of this decision, however, seem to be the first signs of public opposition against the government.