Thousands of Iranians celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Iranian Revolution on February 10, by rallying in Tehran and other major cities in Iran.
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the Iranian president, delivered a speech [1]on this occasion praising the revolution's achievements and calling Iran a superpower.
Several Iranian bloggers, both citizens and politicians, blogged on this topic.
Potin has published [2] several photos of the revolution anniversary rally in Tehran where people carried the Islamic Republic's flag [3], revolutionary posters [4] that praise “30 years of freedom”, and anti-USA/Israel/United Nations symbols (above).
Contrary to the opinions of those who participated in these rallies and the Iranian authorities, Ghomar Asheghaneh, an Iran-based blogger, does not believe that Iran is a “free country”. He rejects Ahmadinejad's claim that there is “unique freedom” in Iran and says [5] [fa]:
همه بهره‌یی داریم از این نعمت سی‌ساله؛ وبلاگ‌نویس‌اش باشی، نشانی‌اش امیدرضا میرصیافی‌ی ساکن اوین و مجتبا لطفی‌ی ساکن زندان قم، معلم‌اش اگر باشی، روی تخته سیاه طناب برای‌ات می‌کشند و می‌شوی فرزاد کمانگر، دست‌های‌ات اگر از سختی‌‌ی کار پینه بسته باشد و کار به کارگری کرده باشی، منصور اسانلو می‌شوی و تبعیدی به زندان رجایی‌شهر…
Mohammad Ali Abtahi, the former reformist-vice president and blogger considers that the Islamic Revolution was a good thing. He writes [9] [en] (sic):
Most of the events that happened and are happening in the country's administration can be acceptable or inacceptable for revolution generation and it is possible that current generation have different wills because of passing 30 years and new achievements in the world in the 30 years and communication will be the most important of them, but we should not forget that events should be reviewed in its exact time. Our generation is proud to their revolution which had happened 30 years ago and nothing can deny past events. If today's generation denies their predecessors of course future generation will deny them too and such chain will be continued for all generations. Also our generation should not be ignoring wills of next generation.
Mr.Behi belongs to a new generation who did not experience the revolution and wants “another Iran”. He writes [10] [en]:
I was only one when Iran revolted in hope for change. Now I look back and wonder about those who made it happen. I can't put myself in their shoes though as my world is very different from theirs. Chanting ‘No East, No West’ is no longer valid for me. I am neither ready to change my life for an ideology. If they wanted Iran to change the world with revolution, I now want it to embrace the world with open arms.
Ahestan published [11] [fa] several links to Ayatollah Khomeini's speeches and revolutionary songs. The blogger reminds readers that political prisoners were tortured under Shah's regime.
Channel 4 News online in the United Kingdom has also published [12] a report on Iranian bloggers’ posts about the Islamic Revolution, 30 years later.