Oral History of February 11 Rally
Mohammad Ali Fatemi
Translated by Soheila Heidari
2017-02-14
February 11, 1979, refers to the day that Iranians led Islamic revolution to victory with their massive presence in the final struggle scene with Pahlavi reign.
From that day on its 38 years today that Iranians come to the streets and rally to commemorate the anniversary of that day and recall their historic presence.
For those who use oral history to record contemporary or historical events, during the anniversary of Islamic revolution’s victory and the most important event of these days, February 11, it is natural to ponder if the history of rallies on this day has been recorded?
The answer to this question is positive to an extent because the information, the viewpoints and the reports covering the Feb. 11 rally of every year exist in the press and other media of that year.
But from the other aspect, the answer is negative. Because the historical recording of annual event like Feb. 11 needs collected information in written form at the time of rally, a comparative study of all information and collected untold information through oral history.
The subject is an annual nationwide rally which is held by the organizer of anniversary of the Islamic revolution’s victory affiliated to the Islamic Propagation Coordination Council.
This rally has had different features from the first time of happening up to now; these features have been accompanied by quantitative and qualitative changes over time. Even the way and the manner people participate in this rally have been updated overtime. All narrations told by those who have been involved in arranging all preparations for this rally (whether of the people or institutional) and all feedback which they received, shape the oral history of Feb.11.
At the end of this text, two samples regarding Feb. 11 of the first anniversary of Islamic revolution’s victory are mentioned.
During those days Imam Khomeini was hospitalized due to heart-disease. He congratulated the anniversary of victory of Iran’s great revolution to the Muslims and the poor of the world and the noble and brave people of Iran through a message and remarked that: “I unfortunately couldn’t participate in the ceremony and watch military parade because the doctors prevented me from attending, but I accompany nation and Islamic-national Army with all my heart.
The press of Islamic Development Center and the press of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance regarding the rallies of the first anniversary of revolution’s victory in a book titled “the rallies of revolution from Sep.4, 1978 to Feb. 11, 1979[1]” has cited that:
A special ceremony in commemoration of the first anniversary of Iranian splendid revolution’s victory was held in all over the country On Monday Feb. 11, 1980 and millions of Iranians cherished the memory of that great historic day by rallying and holding ceremony.
In Tehran, despite of cold and rainy weather, from the beginning hours of morning, different groups of people while chanting slogans went ahead Azadi square.
At 11 a.m. Mohammad-Ali Jenah Highway, Azadi square and Enghelab Street were filled by a crowd of 2 million. Almost 300 foreign guests, who had travelled to Iran from different Islamic countries to participate in revolution ceremony, plus 50 representatives of Americans who came to Iran at the invitation of student followers of Imam Khomeini’s line, attended the ceremony.
Military parade was started at 13:30 and it held by different units of Islamic republic of Iran Army, Armed Forces and Army of the Guardians. A placard illustrating Dr. Ali Shariati and martyrs of revolution with this slogan “we sacrificed ourselves, we wrote with our blood, either death or Khomeini” was carried ahead of the marchers.
At this ceremony, military police, the students of military university, the Army of the Guardians, the members of the committee and national army paraded in order while carrying pictures of Imam Khomeini, and people expressed their feeling by chanting slogans.
The slogans of the revolution anniversary rally:
- Allah, Allah, Allah / heal Rouhollah
- Khomeini, Khomeini, God bless you / may hypocrite, your bloodthirsty enemy die
- Nation sacrifices for Army
- Our army is Hosseini, Our leader is Khomeini
- Armed forces, Guardian, God bless you
- Khomeini, Khomeini, God bless you / 20 million armed forces obey your command
- You, the Quran's guard, God bless you
[1] A version of this book is kept in the library of Islamic Revolution and Contemporary History of Iran in Islamic Revolution Literature Bureau of Academy of Art.
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