The Iranian government initially announced it would close public parks on April 1, Sizda Bedar, the last day of the Nowruz holiday, when Iranians traditionally picnic outdoors, but later faced public opposition. Withdrawn.
This year, April 1 also marks the anniversary of the death of Ali bin Abi Talib, the first Shiite imam, which changes every year according to the lunar calendar, and the Islamic government is trying to prevent millions of people from dancing and revelling. The people of Shizuda Bedar. In addition to being the anniversary of Imam Ali's death, eating and drinking during the day is prohibited during Ramadan.
Governors in several states and local police have announced the closure of parks and recreational areas on spring picnic days, but the Ministry of the Interior denied any official instructions regarding such restrictions. However, during Ramadan, Iranians, even those exempt from fasting, are required to refrain from eating, drinking, and smoking in public places, even in their cars.
On Saturday, the state-run Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) News Agency, Ministry of the Interior Quoted Citing the death anniversary of the first Shiite imam and the “sanctity” of the month of Ramadan, it said all parks, public gardens and recreational areas would be closed in Sizda Bedar.
last year, Authorities closed parks and blocked roads. On the day, people head to the northern forests and other locations where they traditionally picnic, but videos posted on social media show large crowds singing and dancing despite the restrictions, as well as large crowds singing and dancing from picnic sites to government officials. The footage showed them chasing away the vigilante group they were supporting.
Local authorities in several provinces, including East Azarbaijan, Yazd, Qazvin, Mazandaran, Golestan and Gilan, announced that parks would be closed until sunset, when eating and drinking will be allowed. For example, Mehdi Amadeh, a public prosecutor in Dezfur, Khuzestan province, announced the creation of a “patrol and inspection team” to deal with what he described as “norm-breakers” in Sizda Bedar.
IRIB also reported that museums and historical sites under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts will be closed.
However, hours after the report was published, other state media reported that Deputy Interior Minister for Security Majid Mirahammadi denied the closure.
It is unclear whether the Interior Ministry actually made the decision to close the park or whether it is avoiding public responsibility for a decision that was previously communicated to state authorities.
This is not the first time that the closure of the Sizda Bedar park has become a source of controversy between the government and the public. For more than 40 years, since the Islamic Republic's early days, the religious dictatorship has opposed the celebration of ancient festivals such as the Persian New Year Nowrouz and Sizdah Bedar. Instead, they seek to replace it with Islamic calendar events such as Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, Mabas (the beginning of the Prophet Muhammad's mission), and the birthdays of the Prophet and Shiite imams.
But despite annual warnings and threats, the regime reluctantly tolerates some of the country's oldest festivals, such as New Year and Sizda Bedar, as they are extremely popular. Nevertheless, after the 1979 Islamic Revolution, religious establishments specifically objected to the “superstitions” implied in Sizda Bedar, so they renamed Sizda Bedar the Day of Nature. “Sizda Bedar” means good elimination up to the 13th day after Norouz.
However, most Iranians, even many religious families, have not abandoned their beloved ancient festivals and continue to celebrate them, sometimes in parallel with religious observances.
The government's attempts to regulate public conduct clash with the people's yearning to protect their cultural identity and embrace traditional freedoms, turning a simple picnic at Sizda Bedar into an act of civil disobedience. It happened.
According to an audio file sent by an Iranian international viewer, “The Islamic Republic is trying in every possible way to deprive the Iranian people of their joy. But no matter how small a place is, there is no place to celebrate Sizda Bedar. I plan on using it.”
