Women participate as voters

The protests exposed tensions among Islamic, socialist, nationalist and feminist interpretations of emancipation.

Women workers, students and professionals organized meetings and marches despite harassment and political pressure.

Citizens were asked whether monarchy should be replaced by an Islamic Republic.

For supporters, the vote translated the revolutionary overthrow into a direct act of popular sovereignty.

Some groups endorsed the new republic, while others criticized the yes-or-no format or called for a boycott.

After the referendum count, 1 April was declared the founding day of the Islamic Republic.

The result ended the hereditary political order and replaced it with a republic grounded in the revolution.

Supporters understood the new republic as a break with foreign domination, especially the political legacy of the 1953 coup.

The proclamation opened a contested process over constitutional authority, participation and social justice.

The revolutionary court prosecuted a leading figure of the Pahlavi state for political repression and other offenses.