Thousands mark 13th anniversary of pro-Islamic Republic rallies in Tehran

Thousands of people have demonstrated in the Iranian capital of Tehran to commemorate the 13th anniversary of the 2009 nationwide rallies that put an end to post-election unrest back then and renewed the nation’s allegiance to the Islamic establishment.

According to Press TV, the demonstrators, in their thousands, gathered at Imam Hossein (PBUH) Square in Tehran on Thursday to denounce any acts of violence and sabotage by foreign-backed rioters and terrorists against the Islamic Republic.

The occasion, known as Dey 9 Epic, refers to the huge demonstrations held in Tehran and other cities on the ninth day of the Persian calendar month of Dey, which falls on December 30, in support of the Islamic Republic.

The million-strong rallies restored tranquility to the country after months of political wrangling and foreign-sponsored riots, and ended what the Iranian authorities described as sedition ensuing the presidential election in June 2009.

During the riots, a group of demonstrators offended the Iranian people’s sanctities on the Day of Ashura, which marks the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein (PBUH), the third Shias' Imam and grandson of the Prophet Muhammad (Blessings of God upon him and his progeny).

Each year, Iranians mark the occasion with rallies but the demonstrations in the past two years were held by cars and vehicles due to the coronavirus outbreak.

This year’s demonstrations coincided with the third martyrdom anniversary of Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani, former Commander of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), and his comrades in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad.

On January 3, 2020, the United States assassinated Lt. General Soleimani, as well as the Deputy Commander of Iraq's Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), Abu Mahdi Al Muhandis, in a drone strike near Baghdad International Airport.

Both commanders were admired by Muslim nations for eliminating the US-sponsored Daesh Takfiri terrorist group in the region, particularly in Iraq and Syria.

ME