History
Since 1925, Iran had been an absolute monarchy ruled by the Pahlavi dynasty. In 1978, resistance against the rule of the Shah intensified, with marches, demonstrations, and strikes paralyzing the country. Recognizing that he had lost control and suffering from ill-health, the Shah left Iran on January 16, 1979.
On February 1st 1979, Ayatollah Khomeini made a triumphal return to Iran and spearheaded the Islamic Revolution of 1979 to overthrow the remnants of the Shah's rule. Ten days later, the Pahlavi royal regime was defeated when Iran's military declared itself "neutral" after rebel troops overwhelmed those still loyal to the Shah (Office Holidays, n.d.).
Hence, the Islamic Revolution of 1979 put an end to the 2,500 years of monarchy rule by the US-backed Pahlavi regime in the country. Succeeding, the late Ayatollah Khomeini established a new political system based on Islamic values and democracy (“‘Resistance Culture’ A major component of Islamic Revolution’s power: Spanish analyst,” 2022).
Through the culture of resistance, deep patriotism of the Iranian people and deep faith in the rightfulness of the path they are pursuing, the Islamic Republic were able to withstand foreign pressures and other difficulties and continues to celebrate its independence every year (“‘Resistance Culture’ a major component of Islamic Revolution’s power: Spanish analyst,” 2022).
Celebrations
The Islamic Revolution Day is a ten-day celebration starting from February 1 until February 11 of every year which is celebrated by millions of Iranians across the country (“Celebrations at 60,000 Mosques in Iran marking the anniversary of Islamic Revolution victory,” 2022). It is to commemorate the anniversary of the Islamic Revolution of 1979 and the 10-day period from the return of Imam Khomeini until the revolution’s victory and is known as the Ten-Day Fajr (Dawn).
On the 11th February of every year, large rallies and marches take place throughout the boulevards of Iran's cities in remembrance of those who died for the struggle of independence and to pay tribute to Ayatollah Khomeini and his role in liberating the country. During this event, Iranian flags, and posters that contain revolutionary slogans are made and carried by the marchers. The marches end at Azadi (Liberty) Square, in Tehran, which has become the focal point of annual celebrations. The day is also marked by firework displays in the evening (Office Holidays, n.d.).
2022 Celebrations
The annual rallies on the 43rd Islamic Revolution Day (February 11, 2022) will be organized in 15,000 cities and 30,000 villages across the country. Due to the increase in coronavirus infections in some areas, people will attend the rallies in their cars and on motorcycles in cities designated as COVID-19 high-risk red zones according to Hojat-ol-Islam Mohammad Hossein Mousapour, head of the Islamic Propagation Coordination Council (“Celebrations at 60,000 Mosques in Iran marking the anniversary of Islamic Revolution victory,” 2022).
In addition to the traditional events to celebrate Islamic Revolution Day, the Iranian Cultural Center in the Central Asian country has organized a photo exhibition which will run for ten days, simultaneously with the ten-day celebration for Islamic Revolution Day in the capital of Turkmenistan, Ashgabat. According to Navid Rasouli, Iran’s Cultural Attaché, the exhibition showcases photos of the 43 years of the Iranian nation’s efforts and unity for the elevation of the country and its achievements in various fields. He also added that the exhibition aims to help the people to be familiarized with the friendly country of Turkmenistan with Iran’s developments (“Photo exhibition in Ashgabat showcases Islamic Revolution achievements,” 2022).
To officially start the annual ten-day celebration of the Islamic Revolution of 1979, an official ceremony was held at the mausoleum of Imam Khomeini, the late founder of the Islamic Republic, south of Tehran. Political, religious and military officials, leaders of different faiths and various groups of people attended the ceremony.
The ceremony began with recitation of verses from the Holy Quran by eminent qari Habib Sedaqat and the national anthem of the Islamic Republic of Iran was played after. The ceremony also included eulogy recitations performed by Mahmoud Alavi in praise of Ahl-ul-Bayt (AS), the martyrs of the Islamic Revolution, and Imam Khomeini.
Afterwards, Hojat-ol-Islam Mohammad Hassan Aboutorabifard, an interim Friday prayer leader of Tehran, delivered a speech in which he described Imam Khomeini (RA) as a figure who was raised in the school of the Holy Quran (“Celebrations marking anniversary of Islamic Revolution victory begin in Iran,” 2022).
Photos:
References:
- “Resistance Culture” a major component of Islamic Revolution’s power: Spanish analyst. (2022, February 7). International Quran News Agency. https://iqna.ir/en/news/3477721/%E2%80%98resistance-culture%E2%80%99-a-major-component-of-islamic-revolution%E2%80%99s-power-spanish-analyst
- Celebrations at 60,000 Mosques in Iran marking anniversary of Islamic Revolution victory. (2022, February 7). International Quran News Agency. https://iqna.ir/en/news/3477726/celebrations-at-60000-mosques-in-iran-marking-anniversary-of-islamic-revolution-victory
- Celebrations marking anniversary of Islamic Revolution victory begin in Iran. (2022, February 1). International Quran News Agency. https://iqna.ir/en/news/3477640/celebrations-marking-anniversary-of-islamic-revolution-victory-begin-in-iran
- Office Holidays. (n.d.). Islamic Revolution Day in Iran in 2022. Office Holidays. Retrieved February 8, 2022, from https://www.officeholidays.com/holidays/iran/islamic-revolution-day
- Photo exhibition in Ashgabat showcases Islamic Revolution achievements. (2022, February 2). International Quran News Agency. https://iqna.ir/en/news/3477658/photo-exhibition-in-ashgabat-showcases-islamic-revolution-achievements
