Iran Police Prevent Iranian Citizens from Entering Persepolis During Nowruz

Reports from Iran indicate that police have prevented people from entering the Persepolis complex, a palace remaining from the Achaemenid era, coinciding with the Nowruz New Year celebration.

A report submitted by one of Voice of America’s audience members shows that Iran’s law enforcement has barred visitors from entering the Persepolis complex to celebrate the New Year.

In recent years, Islamic Republic authorities have demonstrated particular sensitivity regarding Pasargadae and Persepolis, and especially prevent Iranian citizens from being present on Cyrus Day. In previous years, hundreds of Iranians who intended to visit Persepolis and Pasargadae on Cyrus Day have been arrested and sentenced to imprisonment.

Construction of Persepolis began in 518 BCE as the new capital of the Achaemenid Empire in Parsa. Darius the Great was the founder of Persepolis.

Donald Trump, President of the United States, also referenced the famous prayer of Cyrus the Achaemenid in his Nowruz greetings for 1397 (2019), in which Cyrus had asked God to protect Iran from the evil of hostile armies, drought, and lies.

President Trump considers the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to be the representative of all three of these.

Source: Voice of America