The late 1990s and early 2000s marked a unique period in Iran known as the Reform Era, particularly under President Mohammad Khatami (1997–2005). The government’s relatively liberal policies allowed for greater cultural expression, and many artists—including Parchami—took advantage of this environment to push creative boundaries.
However, by the mid-2000s, as the conservative faction regained control of the government under Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, cultural restrictions tightened once more. Artists, filmmakers, and journalists faced increased censorship, and several were arrested or banned from working. It was during this shifting political climate that Ramin Parchami’s life took a dramatic turn.
The 2009 Election and the Green Movement
The Iranian presidential election of June 12, 2009, became one of the most controversial elections in the country’s history. The declared victory of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad led to widespread allegations of fraud, sparking mass protests known as the Green Movement (Jonbesh-e Sabz). Millions of Iranians, especially in Tehran, took to the streets demanding “Where is my vote?”—a slogan that became a symbol of civil resistance.
