Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Nice, the Iranian New Year ceremony was held for the Iranian community of the Alpes-Maritimes.
This ceremony organized by the Alpes-Maritimes department took place in the presence of Éric Ciotti and Alain Salimpour, the president of the Franco Persian Cultural Association. This celebration has been listed as a UNESCO world cultural heritage since 2016. Celebrating the Persian New Year this Thursday in Nice shows a form of opposition to the current regime in Iran.
The religious regime of the mullahs has created a climate of oppression, particularly for the female population. Women are forbidden to travel without the agreement of a male figure, they do not have access to higher education, and they are obliged to wear the mandatory veil. “Tomorrow it will not be too late for us to celebrate the Persian New Year in Iran without being persecuted by those who oppose the motto: Woman, Life, Freedom,” states the Iranian deputy, Abdollah, praised by the audience.
“A day that reminds us of the greatness of the Persian civilization, what it has brought in terms of enlightenment to humanity,” declares Eric Ciotti in response to the oppression experienced today by the Iranian people. In Iran, there are four major celebrations that coincide with the four seasons: the beginning of spring, the beginning of summer, the beginning of autumn, and the beginning of winter. “For 45 years, we have been trying to prevent this Iranian celebration and push towards mourning instead of joy,” declares Alan Salimpour, president of the Franco Persian Cultural Association.
