The ideological direction of the Islamic Republic has a decisive affect on Iranian emotional sphere. After 1979, Iran had dramatic ideological changes to the extent of cultural revolution. As a result, the Iranian citizen had to perform as ‘faithful Muslims’ in the public sphere. The institutional adoption of Sharia(the Islamic law) was diffused legal regulation to the private sphere and thus the dichotomy of public and private life in Iran was further exacerbated. Additionally, the public space has changed into ‘the street of martyrs’. Revolutionary art and aggressive slogans cover public walls, depicting the state as a giant figure of coercion and persuasion and the Iran-Iraq War was not over in the level of discourse. This paper aims to explore the meaning of private sphere and the legal and religious ground of controlling privacy.
Furthermore I explore main symbols and discourses that make Iran as Islamic society. The enemy, hero, martyr and myth of Ashura are the main constituents of government discourses and each constituent is strategically adjusted according to the historical context.