Why is the 12th of Farvardin a significant day for Iranians?

The 12th of Farvardin 1358, which coincides with the 1st of April 1979, is one of the most important and historical days for Iran.On this day the huge majority of the people of Iran voted for Iran to be an Islamic republic. Iran was a monarchy for 2500 years until this auspicious day, when millions of Iranians voted for an Islamic republic. This day is called the Islamic Republic Day.
On this day the 98.2% of the Iranian people voted for a change in the political system of their country. After enduring years of secular political systems and various monarchies, Iranians voted for a political system which was consistent with the Islamic beliefs. This new political system did not push away religion but rather embraced it.
An Islamic Republic uses the Islamic laws and beliefs to shape its laws, morals and way of life. The literal meaning of a republic is ‘a state in which supreme power is held by the people and their elected representatives, and which has an elected or nominated president’. Iran is a republic in that it is the people, who voted for this political system, and who vote for the president, ministers and the council, which elects the Supreme Leader. Iran is also Islamic in the sense that it follows all Islamic decrees and rulings and is consistent with the Islamic teachings. These two words, ‘Islamic’ and ‘republic’, are two inseparable words for the Iranian political system today.
By electing an Islamic Republic, Iranians also chose to be free of any unhealthy affiliations and attachments to the West. In addition they voted and fought for the independence of their country. As a result Iran is now an independent country.
The fall of the Pahlavi regime and the victory of the people’s voices brought about many changes in the world and particularly in the Middle East. These changes were not pleasant ones for the neighbouring colonizers. Many plots to destroy the Iranian political system were planned,such as the eight year war on Iran. Iranians defended their country successfully; however their enemies are still plotting away. Today these attacks on Iran consist of many sanctions and more recently opposing Iran’s efforts to gain peaceful atomic energy. The enemies of Iran do not want an independent Iran and will do anything to deny them this right.
Every year, on the 12th of Farvardin, the Iranian people renew their vows to follow the principles of Imam Khomeini, and to once again promise to finish off the work of their martyrs and to remember the difficulties the martyrs endured for the sake of God and their country.