Celebrating "Cyrus Day"; Prince Reza Pahlavi urged Iranians to show the world the image of a united, freedom-loving nation
On the eve of Aban 7, Cyrus Day, Prince Reza Pahlavi said in a message to Iranians: "By honoring the name and memory of Cyrus the Great in any way and wherever you are, try to show the world the image of a united, freedom-loving, and tolerant nation."
In the message, which he published on Thursday, he described Cyrus as "a kingdom that brought a message of dignity, greatness, peaceful coexistence, and tolerance" that "more than 2,500 years ago recognized freedom of belief and religion and upheld human dignity."
Reza Pahlavi considered the commemoration of Cyrus's memory and name "a reminder of the good civic and moral qualities of Iranians," which helps the Iranian people know what kind of Iranians they want to be.
Prince Reza Pahlavi described the desired Iran as "a proud, unified and united Iranian, composed of diverse ethnicities, religions and beliefs, and of course adorned with the praised features of the modern era such as democracy and secularism."
He considered Cyrus the Great "an inspiration to overcome the current corruption" and emphasized: "To get rid of the Islamic Republic, which from day one has sought to replace the Iranian nation-state with the 'Ummah of Islam'... we need to remember what Cyrus was and what he did."
In this message, Prince Reza Pahlavi also recalled the killing of protesters in November 2019 and described the Islamic Republic's officials as "criminals" who "have no connection with Iran's history and culture and are afraid of the name of Cyrus and his tomb."
Although there is no occasion called Cyrus Day in the official calendar of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the seventh day of Aban is unofficially dedicated to commemorating Cyrus.
Every year, as November 7 approaches, the authorities of the Islamic Republic of Iran try to prevent the Cyrus Day ceremony and the gathering of Iranian citizens in Pasargadae by closing the road leading to Pasargadae.
However, in recent years, large crowds have gathered around the tomb of this Achaemenid king in Pasargadae, located in Fars Province, on the occasion of Cyrus Day, keeping the memory of the "King of Kings" alive.
Source: Voice of America
