For the last few weeks, the Islamic occupying government in Iran has been trying its best to entertain the people in some way. This “entertainment” approach, which first started with Khamenei’s “Iran, Iran, sing,” has now reached a point where they have begun holding celebrations in every city (and even, in mosques). We have observed that participants in these programs include both organized groups of government supporters and individuals from less privileged backgrounds. The latter, some who may harbor anti-government sentiments, still seem eager to attend events that offer some degree of freedom and enjoyment, something they may have long anticipated.
Astonishingly, this death-perpetuating government’s recent initiative is organizing public celebrations for people. For the past 46 years, this government has predominantly focused on mourning ceremonies, and its leaders have historically considered clapping a sin, only permitting it at weddings.
The shift towards promoting joy among the populace is a stark contrast to their established practices. Most importantly, for the past 46 years, this government has suppressed the celebration of important national events. Currently, young people are being held in prison simply for celebrating Cyrus the Great Day. This underscores the profound longing for freedom that persists within the country.
The government’s recent actions are not surprising when taking a look at history. It appears that when dictatorial regimes face popular unrest and are on the brink of collapse, they often attempt to transform public anger into a semblance of joy or celebration. Almost like a powerful painkiller, these celebrations are designed to temporarily calm the populace.
This approach may be new in our country because, not only during the Pahlavi era but even during the Qajar era, celebrations that were supported by the government, as in European and American countries, were only national celebrations and not celebrations to silence the voices of the opposition.
This type of recent strategy by the Islamic government is a reminder of past dictatorships, particularly the regimes in 20th-century Argentina and even Nazi Germany. In Nazi Germany, all cultural and artistic activities were managed under the direct supervision of the Nazi Party. I see parallels in how the Islamic government currently supervises cultural and artistic endeavors.
The Nazis not only eliminated Jewish composers and singers, but also supported and promoted their replacements from among their own composers and singers. This behavior is akin to the Islamic government, which, from the beginning, dismissed or forced the people’s favorite national singers and composers to leave the country and replaced them with composers and artists who supported it.
In dictatorial regimes such as those in South America and Nazi Germany, as the state became increasingly gripped by the fear of collapse, support for and expansion of the entertainment arts grew. Large-scale concerts, designed for maximum public impact, became increasingly frequent.
During the Second World War, while the crematoriums were busy massacring Jews and the prisons were full of opponents of the government, Hitler’s supporters organized large gatherings and concerts, with well-known Nazi figures (and sometimes even Hitler himself) participating in these types of events; the government allocated the most publicity to them.
I am one of those people who know that this strategy of the “death-perpetuating” government is not to pour “honey and sugar” into the tired souls of the people, but to silence their voices. These shows are not intended to uplift the spirits of the people but rather to suppress their voices, even if only for a short period.
However, I believe there is no need for concern. As long as the majority of our country’s population continues to suffer from poverty, hunger, and destruction, these shows will remain nothing more than a comedic diversion that will eventually burst and collapse like a balloon, taking the entire government with them.
September 7, 2025
