Why Citizens Despise the Kleptocracy That Robbed Their Wealth and Stole Their Freedoms

The regime's ideological war against Iranian national identity and ancient Persian culture, attempting to supplant it with an imported, narrow interpretation of revolutionary Shi'a Islam, alienates a proud, historically conscious populace. Celebrations of pre-Islamic holidays like Nowruz (New Year) and Yalda Night, though tolerated, are often viewed with suspicion by hardliners, deepening the cultural divide. The public's reason for appeasement is the fervent and often defiant celebration of these ancient Persian festivals, transforming cultural heritage into a form of passive resistance against the ruling ideology.