Revolution Rallies: The Perfect Showcase for Today's Politics

February 11, 2015

1 min read

President Rouhani criticized the West for pressuring Iran, his critics for trying to sabotage nuclear negotiations, and former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for his failure to cope with sanctions.

Widespread affection for the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, was high on the agenda.

“I love Muhammad” banners could be seen everywhere. The campaign started in mid-January, a very public reaction to the “Je suis Charlie” messages around the world after the Paris attacks.

Crowds showed support for Ayatollah Khamenei’s recent demands that the nuclear deal be a“one-stage” agreement.

Iranian officials participated in the ceremonies, including General Firoozabadi, Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, who appeared at a rally in civilian clothing.

Some carried posters depicting US Secretary of State John Kerry as a wolf, showing their anger at Foreign Minister Zarif’s now infamous walk with Kerry in Geneva.

Photographs of the Supreme Leader’s children and grandchildren were circulated widely on social media and in the Iranian press.

The Supreme Leader’s catchy “I am a revolutionary, not a diplomat” was a popular motto for the day’s celebrations.

The face of Ghassem Suleimani, commander of the expeditionary Qods Force, was also seen on banners.

Many took to social media to mock Fars News Agency. The outlet published a photograph of the 2009 demonstrations — but captioned it as a February 11 rally.

Insulting the US and Israeli flags is always in vogue.

Every year, photographs of Ayatollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic, become a little less prominent.

In recent years, women have taken to dressing more liberally during anniversary rallies, without fear of the Morality Police clamping down.

In Ahvaz, residents and local officials, including the leader of Friday Prayers, went out on the streets to celebrate, despite the dangerous levels of air pollution.

At this year’s rallies marking the anniversary of the Islamic Revolution on February 11, family selfies were all the rage. Morality Patrols were nowhere to be seen, and hardliner websites published photographs of women without hejabs, as they do every year.

There was more entertainment on offer this year, and more children than ever were out on the streets, smiling and wearing bright colors. Students, both girls and boys, wore outlandish masks, which have become more imaginative and surprising each year. And everywhere, people took photographs.

In recent years, celebrations marking the 1979 Islamic Revolution have become more and more like a Western festival: colorful, creative, fun. Of course, Iranian officials try hard to keep the political, anti-Western symbols going strong, from the burning of flags to chants of “Death to America” and “Death to Israel”. And this year, nuclear negotiations were thrown into the mix as well.