Rallies marking the 47th anniversary of Iran’s Islamic Revolution will be held in more than 1,400 cities nationwide, with some 7,700 domestic and foreign journalists set to cover the events, an official said.
Kamal Khodadadeh, Deputy for Ceremonies and Provincial Affairs at the Islamic Propagation Coordination Council, announced at a press conference on Tuesday that the media personnel will cover the nationwide rallies held annually on the anniversary of the Revolution, which falls on February 11.
This year, resident foreign media outlets, with around 200 journalists and cameramen, along with more than 7,700 domestic and international media personnel in total, will cover the 22 Bahman ceremonies across the country, he said.
“Furthermore, all IRIB channels, including more than 350 news teams, all international broadcasting networks, as well as all provincial networks, will provide live news and visual coverage of the ceremonies,” Khodadadeh added.
He noted that many radio and television networks from other countries — including ORF (Austria), NTV (Turkey), CBS News (USA), Al Mayadeen, Al Manar (Lebanon), Al Shams (Iraq), Al Jazeera, Al Iraqiya, RIA Novosti and RT News agencies (Russia), RTR (Luxembourg), RTL, APA and ZDF (Germany), EFE (Spain), CCTV and Xinhua (China), and Anadolu Agency (Turkey) — are also prepared to broadcast news reports and will cover the rallies from the streets and Tehran’s iconic Azadi Square.
He added, however, that “we must not forget that we are mourning the blood of nearly 2,400 martyrs and almost 3,000 injured across the country. The enemy sought to exploit the divisions that erupted and to break the people’s cohesion, because during the 12-day war [in June last year], unprecedented unity and sacred solidarity had emerged in the country,” Khodadadeh stressed.
Foreign-backed armed rioters and terrorists hijacked peaceful protests over economic grievances on January 8 and 9, causing widespread destruction of shops, government institutions, and public service facilities, and killing or injuring thousands, including civilians and security forces.
Iranian authorities confirmed that American and Israeli spy agencies were directly involved, providing funding, training, and media support to the perpetrators. According to a statement released last month by Iran’s Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs, a total of 3,117 people lost their lives during the riots, including 2,427 innocent civilians and security personnel.
“Of course, the enemy has once again begun boasting that it has multiple options, including military attack, on the table. But the Iranian people have shown in recent days that they also have many options, one of which is participation in the 22 Bahman rallies,” Khodadadeh said.
He added that this year’s anniversary rallies would be held at 1,400 locations nationwide.
On Wednesday, the ceremonies will begin at 9:30 a.m. local time along designated routes, and nearly 3,000 journalists and photographers from Iran’s younger generations will document the events, Khodadadeh noted.
“In Tehran, the aerospace sector and several military institutions will display their achievements along the rally routes, some of which will be unveiled for the first time,” he added.
The rallies commemorate the Iranian people’s overthrow of the Pahlavi dictatorship — which had full backing from the United States — in the winter of 1979.
Imam Khomeini returned from exile on February 1, 1979, receiving an enormous public welcome week after the shah’s departure in mid-January.
The downfall of the Pahlavi regime was sealed on February 11, 1979, when the military abandoned its allegiance to the shah and aligned itself with the Revolution.
Source: Press tv