Iran Marks 42nd Anniversary of Islamic Republic
TEHRAN (Dispatches) -- Iran on Thursday commemorated the 42nd anniversary of the establishment of the Islamic Republic on the back of a historic referendum, in which Iranians voted overwhelmingly in favor of departure from monarchical rule weeks after the collapse of the U.S.-backed Pahlavi regime.
In a landmark two-day referendum held on March 30-31, 1979, more than 98.2 percent of eligible Iranians voted "yes” to the establishment of an Islamic Republic in the country.
The vote, which was held less than two months after the victory of the Islamic Revolution, is considered a turning point in the modern history of Iran.
Since then, the nation annually celebrates Farvardin 12 (April 1) on the Iranian calendar as the Islamic Republic Day.
The Islamic Revolution, led by the late Imam Khomeini, culminated in the overthrow of Muhammad Reza Pahlavi and put an end to 2,500 years of monarchical rule in Iran.
In a post on his Twitter account, Iranian Parliament speaker Muhammad Baqer Qalibaf said the Islamic Republic has put an end to the era of "occupation and coup d’état” and started instead to rely on the people’s power.
He added that the Islamic Republic is the manifestation of the people’s will to end the disgraceful era of monarchs, who took pride in handing over Iranian territory to outsiders.
The Iranian youths have made great sacrifices to protect every inch of this soil, the top parliamentarian tweeted.
Meanwhile, in a statement, Iran’s Constitutional Council said the Islamic Republic Day is "undoubtedly one of the most important and decisive days in the history” of the country which "put on display religious democracy in the modern world.”
It added that the Islamic Republic Day is the beginning of the "real life of the Islamic Revolution and the first step towards the foundation of an establishment based on true popular vote.”
In its statement, the body congratulated the Iranian nation on the occasion and renewed its allegiance to Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.
It also stressed the importance of
maintaining national unity and convergence and playing an active role in implementing the Islamic Revolution’s high ideals.
The materialization of true democracy and the foundation of a justice-based establishment turned Iran into a powerful country and a prestigious nation in the world, the Council said.
Ayatollah Khamenei on Tuesday hailed those who sacrificed their lives to help foil the conspiracies of Iran’s enemies and pave the way for the Islamic establishment to achieve its goals, saying the martyrs should serve as a role model for the country’s young generation.
He made the remarks during a meeting in mid-March with those in charge of a summit in commemoration of 4,000 martyrs of central Yazd Province.
"Martyrs enjoy a special life in the purgatory world and their important message to those who follow their path is a promise that they will be safe from fear and agony,” the Leader said.
"The motive of martyrs for their presence in the field of Jihad (endeavor for the sake of God) was to support the [1979] Revolution, the ideals of [the late founder of the Islamic Republic] Imam Khomeini, and hijab, and to repel the enemy’s evil and pave the way for the establishment to achieve its goals,” he added, calling for efforts to protect these ideals against attempts to distort them.
Ayatollah Khamenei further warned against plots being constantly hatched by the enemies to disappoint the Iranian youth and divert them from the path of the Revolution, saying the enemies should not be allowed to influence the youth and use them to advance their own objectives.
The martyrs that carry high honors should be introduced to the students so that they will get to know the great achievements of their previous generation, Ayatollah Khamenei said.
The Leader further expressed regret that there are people who are living in this country in peace and security, a fruit of the martyrs’ sacrifices, but work against the ideals of those who lost their lives for their homeland.
"In the face of such attempts, you should double the hard work on the path of truth and martyrs,” the Leader advised.
In a landmark two-day referendum held on March 30-31, 1979, more than 98.2 percent of eligible Iranians voted "yes” to the establishment of an Islamic Republic in the country.
The vote, which was held less than two months after the victory of the Islamic Revolution, is considered a turning point in the modern history of Iran.
Since then, the nation annually celebrates Farvardin 12 (April 1) on the Iranian calendar as the Islamic Republic Day.
The Islamic Revolution, led by the late Imam Khomeini, culminated in the overthrow of Muhammad Reza Pahlavi and put an end to 2,500 years of monarchical rule in Iran.
In a post on his Twitter account, Iranian Parliament speaker Muhammad Baqer Qalibaf said the Islamic Republic has put an end to the era of "occupation and coup d’état” and started instead to rely on the people’s power.
He added that the Islamic Republic is the manifestation of the people’s will to end the disgraceful era of monarchs, who took pride in handing over Iranian territory to outsiders.
The Iranian youths have made great sacrifices to protect every inch of this soil, the top parliamentarian tweeted.
Meanwhile, in a statement, Iran’s Constitutional Council said the Islamic Republic Day is "undoubtedly one of the most important and decisive days in the history” of the country which "put on display religious democracy in the modern world.”
It added that the Islamic Republic Day is the beginning of the "real life of the Islamic Revolution and the first step towards the foundation of an establishment based on true popular vote.”
In its statement, the body congratulated the Iranian nation on the occasion and renewed its allegiance to Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.
It also stressed the importance of
maintaining national unity and convergence and playing an active role in implementing the Islamic Revolution’s high ideals.
The materialization of true democracy and the foundation of a justice-based establishment turned Iran into a powerful country and a prestigious nation in the world, the Council said.
Ayatollah Khamenei on Tuesday hailed those who sacrificed their lives to help foil the conspiracies of Iran’s enemies and pave the way for the Islamic establishment to achieve its goals, saying the martyrs should serve as a role model for the country’s young generation.
He made the remarks during a meeting in mid-March with those in charge of a summit in commemoration of 4,000 martyrs of central Yazd Province.
"Martyrs enjoy a special life in the purgatory world and their important message to those who follow their path is a promise that they will be safe from fear and agony,” the Leader said.
"The motive of martyrs for their presence in the field of Jihad (endeavor for the sake of God) was to support the [1979] Revolution, the ideals of [the late founder of the Islamic Republic] Imam Khomeini, and hijab, and to repel the enemy’s evil and pave the way for the establishment to achieve its goals,” he added, calling for efforts to protect these ideals against attempts to distort them.
Ayatollah Khamenei further warned against plots being constantly hatched by the enemies to disappoint the Iranian youth and divert them from the path of the Revolution, saying the enemies should not be allowed to influence the youth and use them to advance their own objectives.
The martyrs that carry high honors should be introduced to the students so that they will get to know the great achievements of their previous generation, Ayatollah Khamenei said.
The Leader further expressed regret that there are people who are living in this country in peace and security, a fruit of the martyrs’ sacrifices, but work against the ideals of those who lost their lives for their homeland.
"In the face of such attempts, you should double the hard work on the path of truth and martyrs,” the Leader advised.