Iran Marks Revolution Anniversary
An estimated 500,000 Iranians filled Tehran’s Freedom Square on Friday to mark the 21st anniversary of Iran’s Islamic revolution, chanting in praise of God while helicopters showered the square with colored leaflets.
Some people in the crowd burned U.S. and Israeli flags and effigies of Uncle Sam. But overall, the celebrations were calm and free of violence. The dropped leaflets read “Happy Revolution Anniversary.”
Chants of “Allahu akbar! (God is great!)” filled the square, a symbol of Iran’s 1979 revolution that toppled the pro-Western monarchy of the shah and brought a clerical government to power.
Parachutists landed in the square while verses from the Koran, read over mosque loudspeakers, echoed throughout the capital.
“The revolution belongs to all Iranians, even the youth who were not present at the time of victory,” President Mohammad Khatami told the crowd. “Our revolution was a combat to fight and reject the dominance of foreigners.”
Khatami called on Iranians to turn out to vote in the parliamentary elections set for Friday.
“Today an Iranian can decide her or his own fate. The elections are the symbol of the people’s participation and your share in the authority of the system,” Khatami said.
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