TEHRAN , Iran ( CNN ) -- Dancing in public is not allowed in Iran , but thousands could hardly contain themselves at a recent presidential campaign rally in the capital city , Tehran . Supporters hope Zahra Rahnavard will become Iran 's future first lady . On this day , the deafening cheers were not for presidential hopeful Mir Hossein Mousavi , but rather for his wife -- a woman some are calling Iran 's Michelle Obama . The comparisons to the first lady of the United States stem from the role Zahra Rahnavard is playing in her husband 's quest for the presidency . Never in the history of Iranian presidential elections has a candidate put his wife in the forefront of his campaign . Wherever Mousavi -- a centrist candidate -- goes , Rahnavard is usually nearby . Watch more about Zahra Rahnavard » . `` We look at her and we say , 'we want to be like her in the future , ' `` said Shakiba Shakerhosseie , one of 12,000 people who packed into Tehran 's indoor Azadi ( Freedom ) sports stadium to hear Rahnavard speak . Iran became an Islamic republic in 1979 after the ruling monarchy was overthrown and Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi was forced into exile . The revolution also ended the ceremonial role of first lady that the last queen , Farah , enjoyed . At this rally , Rahnavard -- a writer and art professor -- spoke for her husband , who was campaigning elsewhere . Wearing a floral headscarf and a traditional black chador -- a full-length loose robe that women in Iran wear like a cloak -- Rahnavard called for freedoms she says were lost during President Mahmoud Ahmadijenad 's term . `` I hope freedom of speech , freedom of the pen and freedom of thought will not be forgotten , '' she said . The crowd , which was clad in Mousavi 's trademark color green , cheered wildly . It waved placards with his picture and swayed from side to side , chanting and beating drums . The women sat on one side ; the men on the other . The overwhelming majority were young voters , many of whom said they attended because of Mousavi 's wife , a mother of three . Iran 's population -- estimated at more than 66 million -- has a median age of 27 . `` I am really angry here in Iran with the position of women , '' said Saghar Kouhestani , adding that she supports Mousavi because of his wife . Mousavi , a former prime minister , is considered a threat to Ahmadinejad , a hard-liner , in the June 12 elections . He is credited for successfully navigating the Iranian economy during a bloody eight-year war with Iraq in the 1980s . Over the weekend , the Iranian government blocked access to the social networking site Facebook , where Mousavi has a page with more than 5,000 supporters , the semi-official Iranian Labor News Agency ( ILNA ) said . Those attempting to visit Facebook received a message in Farsi saying , `` Access to this site is not possible . '' Political science professor Mohammad Marandi downplays Rahnavard 's impact . She may win over reformists and women , he says , but what will win the election is a solution to the floundering economy and a strong performance in the debates . `` If Ahmadinejad does well in the debates , I do n't think anyone will be able to defeat him , '' Marandi said . But try selling that to Rahnavard 's enthusiastic supporters . `` This is the first time after the Revolution we see a lady behind the president , '' said Farhad Mahmoudi . `` And this is why we 're so happy because we can have a first lady . ''
Wife of presidential hopeful Mir Hossein Mousavi generates huge crowds . Never in the history of Iranian presidential elections has a wife been in the forefront . `` This is the first time after the Revolution we see a lady behind the president '' Could draw young voters in Iran , where median age is 27 .