Why it matters:
A crucial point about the Islamic Republic Day in Iran is the enduring resilience and unwavering presence of the Iranian people during pivotal moments in history. From participating in Quds Day rallies and commemorations of the Islamic Revolution to the early presidential elections of 2023, their steadfast involvement underscores the essential role of the populace in upholding the nation's stability and strength.
Flashback:
It was on March 31, 1979, 50 days after the fall of the Shah's regime in Iran and the victory of the Islamic Revolution, when a nationwide referendum was held to establish the Islamic Republic as a governance system as the country's national sovereignty. 98.2% of the Iranian people voted for the system.
- An overwhelming 20,286,353 votes were cast in favor of the Islamic Republic, accounting for 99.24% of the total ballots.
- Meanwhile, 153,755 "No" votes came out of the ballot boxes, accounting for 0.76% of the turnout.
- Ilam Province, located in the western borders of the country, recorded the highest support for the Islamic Republic with 161,942 "yes" votes and only 16 "no" votes, achieving 99.99% approval among the provinces across the country.
- Tehran, the capital, had the lowest approval rate, with 3,462,449 "yes" votes, equating to 97.94%.
Zoom in:
From memoirs authored by Fazlollah Farrokh, one of the campaigners of the Islamic Revolution movement:
"This referendum was truly an epic event, as even elderly and ill individuals were assisted to come and cast their votes. Teenagers who had not yet reached the legal voting age were also eager and pleaded to be allowed to vote."
"Imam Khomeini was informed that these teenagers, unable to vote, had come to seek his permission to cast their votes. Imam graciously addressed them, saying, 'It is not that we disregard you; we accept your votes and value you. However, the law is structured in this way …'"
But, the independence has bothered some arrogant global powers, led by the U.S., such that they resorted to any trick to subvert the Islamic Republic. Here are just samples:
- Nojeh Coup in 1980
- Separationist movements in the borders of Iran from Kurdistan in the west to Turkmen sedition in northeast
- Waging an 8-year war on Iran
- Blind assassination in the post-Revolution era led by the West-backed MKO
- Conducting color revolutions like what happened in 1999 and 2009
- Assassination of top scientists, including nuclear science professors
- Ongoing sanctions culminated in the U.S. "maximum pressure policy" in 2018
- Improvising Daesh terrorist group
- Signing an international deal with Iran (JCPOA) and then scraping it
- And, successive military threats
State of the play:
Islamic Republic system brought numerous political achievements for post-Shah Iran over 47 years. The improvements have added to the independence of Iran, something that is unpleasant for colonialist powers. Some of the significant achievements include:
- Establishment of an Islamic system based on religious democracy
- High public participation in elections
- Enduring political independence
- Active and free participation of women in politics
- Increased engagement of political parties and civil activities
- Challenging the hegemony of the U.S. in the world
Anyway, after a longstanding animosity and sabotage against the Islamic Republic and the West, led by the U.S., has suffered such a fiasco to subvert the system through the dichotomy of 'either negotiation or war'.
The bottom line:
You are hearing our voice from the Islamic Republic of Iran on April 1, 2025. The people still stand by the Islamic Republic.
seyed mohammad kazemi
