The Islamic Republic's attempt to kill Iranian identity on "Cyrus Day"

Soheila.Sh.FCNN News Agency: Today, the unmarked dirt roads leading to Pasargadae are opening their arms to welcome Iranians eager to reach the tomb of Cyrus. Some of our compatriots began their short but anxious journey yesterday and have spent the night in the middle of the road and in tents. Perhaps they will find a way to attend the spontaneous and popular ceremony of Cyrus Day.

The roads are filled with officers who are tasked with blocking people's paths. The Shiraz-Isfahan highway has also been closed under the pretext of repairs. Thus, it is feared that this year's "Cyrus Day" ceremony will have a more bitter fate than last year, when more than seventy people were sent to detention centers.

Last year, thousands of Iranians marched to Pasargadae. The presence of young people among the gathering at the Cyrus celebration was impressive. But the detainees were tried and sentenced to prison without access to a lawyer. Judge Salavati in Shiraz made their pardon and release conditional on repentance and commitment.

This is the state of affairs of Iranians who are indebted to the love of their ancient king. The king who, as history bears witness, issued the world's first declaration of human rights. His name was immortalized in world history with the reconstruction of the House of God in Jerusalem and the liberation of the Jewish people.

But Iranians must pay a heavy price for a day of gathering at the tomb of this king, and the price increases every year.

The 7th of Aban, coinciding with the 29th of October, has been designated as International Cyrus Day. According to historical evidence, this day commemorates the capture of the Babylonian Empire by the army of the Persian Empire in 539 BC.

On this day, Cyrus the Great, after opening the gates of Babylon, entered the city. But unlike all the victors of such wars, he treated the people differently. Instead of plundering, killing, and encroaching on the lives, property, and women of the Babylonians, this Achaemenid king decreed freedom and equality. A decree that was recognized by the United Nations in 1971 as the first (charter) of people's freedom in the world. This decree emphasized the elimination of racial and national discrimination and the legitimacy of the freedom of all nations to choose their place of residence, freedom of religion, and efforts for lasting peace.

After conquering Babylon and taking the throne in this land, Cyrus the Great declared all indigenous religions free. He did not enslave any human group and prevented his soldiers from encroaching on the property and lives of the subjects. He gathered all those who had been taken captive to Babylon and returned them to their homes. Cyrus also freed the Jewish people from captivity and slavery in Babylon. By Cyrus' order, the description of events and his orders were written on a clay cylindrical tablet and placed in the temple of Marduk, which is his charter.

This document is considered by many to be the first human rights bill, and in 1971, the United Nations published it in six official languages.

 Fruitless efforts to eliminate Iranian identity

According to FCNN, the Cyrus the Great Mausoleum is located in the city of Pasargad in Fars Province, 135 kilometers from Shiraz. In recent decades, the authorities of the Islamic Republic have made many efforts to discredit the historical site of Pasargad and the Cyrus the Great Monument. The construction of the Sivand Dam and the submergence of more than 130 ancient sites was one of these efforts.

The leaders of this regime did not even pay attention to the protests and public gatherings during the filling of the dam. People who were concerned about their historical identity and were sure that in addition to the destruction of these ancient sites, some of which were related to prehistoric times, the tomb of Cyrus would also be destroyed. Because the unauthorized increase in humidity was inevitable in this project. In response to the public protests in 2007, the authorities of the Islamic Republic said that the protesters were supporters of global domination and foreign enemies and threatened them.

Recently, news about the construction of the Tomb of the Unknown Martyrs in the second-class zone of this historical site was published in the media. According to the latest news, the details of this plan have not yet been approved, but excavation has begun and preparations for the work are underway, regardless of public protests.

While the historical site of Pasargadae was registered on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2004, such actions are globally prohibited. This historical site includes the tombs of Cyrus and Cambyses and the remains of several palaces, fountains, and royal gardens dating back more than 2,500 years.

We have witnessed the same reaction in recent years, and the regime's leaders resort to these same excuses to confront the commemoration of Cyrus Day. To the point of ignoring all historical and world-honoring evidence. Because they are concerned about the shaking of the foundations of a government that relies on the violation of people's human rights. And they are well aware that this is contrary to the character of Cyrus the Achaemenid King and the Iranian Empire.

A Review of the Historical Views of the Mullahs of the Islamic Republic

To understand the position of Iran and Iranian historical identity among the leaders of the Islamic Republic, it is appropriate to review some of the statements made by some:

Nowruz 96 message from the Leader of the Islamic Republic: "The ancient Nowruz was the Nowruz of kings. It was an opportunity for sultans and despotic rulers to show off their glory and apparent greatness to the nations. To sit and accept gifts from them."

 Ali Asghar Dastghayeb, a Fars representative in the Assembly of Experts: “The sworn enemies of the Islamic Republic and the people of Iran, led by the criminal America, are raising fake issues, including November 7, which have no historical evidence, by creating false trends in cyberspace through the hands of their bankrupt, foreign-based monarchy.”

Imani, Friday Imam of Shiraz: "For several years, Fars province has been involved in the fake occasion of Aban 7, while it has no historical roots and is only written in the Israeli Torah. Unfortunately, most people easily accept these false rumors because they are not like the Ahl al-Bayt and the Muslim Imams who are good at research and investigation."

Friday Imam Eqlid: "Cyrus, Pasargadae, and Haft Aban are part of America's games for their own interests and to protect Israel, the usurper. They say Cyrus was against slavery, but part of the historical books written during the Sasanian era are dedicated to the laws of slavery."

 By examining these few comments, we clearly understand that for Iranian clerics, the historical identity of this land is meaningless. Friday Imam Eqlid is not even aware of Cyrus's belonging to the Achaemenid dynasty, but claims that our ancient history is fake.

Historical and global documents

This is despite the fact that Cyrus is known throughout the world, according to historical evidence, as a leader of peace and a defender of human rights.

In the famous book by Xenophon, a student of Socrates and contemporary of Plato, entitled "Cyrus Pedi" or "The Education of Cyrus," Cyrus is portrayed as an ideal king and the embodiment of true wisdom, prudence, and justice that the Greeks should emulate. In another book by him, entitled "Athabasis" or "The Return of the Ten Thousand Greeks," Persian law and the rule of law in Iranian society during the early Achaemenid period are discussed.

The name of Cyrus and his obedience to God are also recorded in the Bible.

In a chapter of the Book of Ezra, one of the Old Testament books of the Bible, there is a proclamation by Cyrus the Persian. This proclamation was issued to fulfill the word of God spoken through the prophet Jeremiah in the first year of Cyrus the Persian. In part, this proclamation quotes Cyrus as saying, “The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has appointed me to build him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah.”

In another part of this declaration, Cyrus commands his people to support the Jews remaining in Iran by giving them silver, gold, property, and livestock, along with voluntary offerings for the house of God in Jerusalem.

This book states that King Cyrus gave the vessels of the house of the Lord, which Nebuchadnezzar had brought from Jerusalem and placed in the house of his gods, to Mithredath the treasurer, to be delivered to the leader of Judah and transported there along with the captives who were going from Babylon to Jerusalem.

The historical decree of Cyrus at the time of the conquest of Babylon, which represented the liberation of the Jewish people from captivity and exile in this land and their freedom to return to their cities, is mentioned in all historical books. This decree, which is also mentioned in the Holy Bible, tells of the position of this man of God and his ways.

In addition, historical evidence indicates that Cyrus, King of Persia, issued a decree to rebuild the House of God in Jerusalem.

The Holy Bible, "Ezra 6:1-5", also mentions this. According to these verses, King Darius, after searching the library of the treasures of Babylon in the capital of the Median state, obtains the decree of Cyrus. Part of this decree emphasizes the rebuilding of the house of God in Jerusalem and the restoration of its foundation, and even the complete specifications of the building are mentioned. The return of the treasures of this house from Babylon to Jerusalem was also ordered in this decree.

According to these verses and historical documents, Darius ordered his officials to carefully implement these orders of Cyrus. In this way, all those involved completed the construction of the house of God in Jerusalem by the command of the God of Israel and the command of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes, kings of Persia. So that its description will remain forever in history and the holy books.

There is no doubt that ignoring these historical documents by the leaders of the Islamic Republic will not change reality, but the regime's mullahs' efforts to suppress people who are trying to preserve their identity will be recorded in history. Without a doubt, the world will condemn all tyrants and destroy the foundations of their power.