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Iranians Split on How Society Should Work
- Adults in Iran are divided on which path their country should take, according to a poll by Zogby International released by Reader's Digest. 36 per cent of respondents would prefer a more religious and conservative society, while 30.7 per cent would like Iran to become more secular and liberal.
In addition, 15 per cent of respondents believe Iranian society should stay as it is, and 18.3 per cent are undecided.
Iran became an Islamic Republic after the monarchy was abolished in 1979. The Ayatollah Khomeini commanded a group of Muslim clerics who controlled the country for the next decade, which included a devastating conflict with Iraq over a border dispute.
In June 2005, former Tehran mayor Mahmoud Ahmadinejad won the presidential election in a run-off over Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani with 61.6 per cent of all cast ballots. 41 per cent of respondents think reforming the economy should be the most important long-term goal for the Iranian government. 27.1 per cent of respondents pick developing a nuclear arsenal for defence, and 22.9 per cent choose expanding the freedoms of Iranian citizens.
After being branded as part of an "axis of evil" by U.S. president George W. Bush in January 2002, Iran has contended that its nuclear program aims to produce energy, not weapons.
Polling Data
Would you most like to see Iran's society become more secular and liberal, more religious and conservative, or just stay as it is?
More secular and liberal | 30.7% |
More religious and conservative | 36.0% |
Just stay as it is | 15.0% |
Not sure | 18.3% |
What do you think the most important long-term goal for the Iranian government should be?
Reforming economy so it operates more efficiently | 41.0% |
Developing arsenal of nuclear weapons for defence | 27.1% |
Expanding the freedoms of Iranian citizens | 22.9% |
None / Not sure | 9.0% |
Source: Zogby International / Reader's Digest
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 810 Iranian adults, conducted from May 18 to Jun. 1, 2006. Margin of error is 3.5 per cent.