Azadi Tower is seen during the 44th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution in Tehran, Iran, February 11, 2023. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia 黑料社 Agency) via REUTERS
The Islamic Republic marked the 44th anniversary of the Iranian revolution on Saturday with state-organized rallies, as anti-government hackers briefly interrupted a televised speech by President Ebrahim Raisi.
Raisi, whose hardline government faces one of the boldest challenges from young protesters calling for its ouster, appealed to the 鈥渄eceived youth鈥� to repent so they can be pardoned by Iran鈥檚 supreme leader.
In that case, he told a crowd congregated at Tehran鈥檚 expansive Azadi Square: 鈥渢he Iranian people will embrace them with open arms鈥�.
His live televised speech was interrupted on the internet for about a minute, with a logo appearing on the screen of a group of anti-Iranian government hackers that goes by the name of 鈥淓dalate Ali (Justice of Ali). A voice shouted 鈥淒eath to the Islamic Republic.鈥�
Nationwide protests swept Iran following the death in September of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in the custody of the country鈥檚 morality police.
Security forces have responded with a deadly crackdown to the protests, among the strongest challenges to the Islamic Republic since the 1979 revolution ended 2,500 years of monarchy.
As part of an amnesty marking the revolution鈥檚 anniversary, Iranian authorities on Friday released jailed dissident Farhad Meysami, who had been on a hunger strike, and Iranian-French academic Fariba Adelkhah.
On Sunday, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issued an amnesty covering a large number of prisoners, including some arrested in recent anti-government protests.
Rights group HRANA said dozens of political prisoners and protesters, including several prominent figures, had been freed under the amnesty but that the exact conditions of their release were not known.
Rights activists have expressed concern on social media that many may have been forced to sign pledges not to repeat their 鈥渙ffenses鈥� before being released. The judiciary denied this on Friday.
HRANA said that as of Friday, 528 protesters had been killed, including 71 minors. It said 70 government security forces had also been killed. As many as 19,763 protesters are believed to have been arrested.
Iranian leaders and state media had for weeks appealed for a strong turnout at Saturday鈥檚 rallies as a show of solidarity and popularity in an apparent response to the protests.
On the anniversary鈥檚 eve Friday night, state media showed fireworks as part of government-sponsored celebrations, and people chanting 鈥淎llahu Akbar! (God is Greatest!)鈥�. However, many could be heard shouting 鈥淒eath to the dictator!鈥� and 鈥淒eath to the Islamic Republic鈥� on videos posted on social media.
Reuters could not verify the social media posts independently.
Government television on Saturday aired live footage of the state rallies around the country.
In Tehran, domestic-made anti-ballistic missiles, a drone, an anti-submarine cruiser, and other military equipment were on display as part of the celebrations.
鈥淧eople have realized that the enemy鈥檚 problem is not woman, life, or freedom,鈥� Raisi said in a live televised speech at Tehran鈥檚 Azadi Square, referring to the protesters鈥� signature slogan.
鈥淩ather, they want to take our independence,鈥� he said.
His speech was frequently interrupted by chants of 鈥淒eath to America鈥� 鈥� a trademark slogan at state rallies. The crowd also chanted 鈥淒eath to Israel.鈥�
Raisi accused the 鈥渆nemies鈥� of promoting 鈥渢he worst kind of vulgarity, which is homosexuality鈥�.
Adelkhah, who had been in prison since 2019, was one of seven French nationals detained in Iran, a factor that has worsened relations between Paris and Tehran in recent months.
She was sentenced in 2020 to five years in prison on national security charges. She was moved to house arrest later but in January returned to jail. Adelkhah has denied the charges.
Meysami鈥檚 release came a week after supporters warned that he risked dying because of his hunger strike. He was arrested in 2018 for protesting against the compulsory wearing of the hijab. read more
In announcing Adelkhah鈥檚 release on Friday, the French foreign ministry called that her freedoms be restored, 鈥渋ncluding returning to France if she wishes.鈥�
鈥淟egally, her file is considered completed, and legally there should be no problem to leave the country, but this issue has to be reviewed. So 鈥� it is not clear how long it will take,鈥� said her lawyer, Hojjat Kermani.
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