Farvardin 12 is marked in the official calendar of the Islamic Republic as “Islamic Republic Day.” The date refers to the announcement of the results of a nationwide referendum held on April 10–11, 1979, following the collapse of the Pahlavi earlier that year. In the referendum, voters were asked whether they supported the establishment of an “Islamic Republic.” According to official figures released by the government at the time, more than 98 percent of participants voted in favor of the proposed system. However, the reported turnout and results have been subject to debate among some political groups and scholars, and there are limited independent sources available to fully verify the figures. After the results were announced, Farvardin 12 was designated as the day marking the establishment of the Islamic Republic. In subsequent years, it was incorporated into the country’s official calendar as a public holiday. Within the current political framework, the date commemorates the formal transition of Iran’s political system from a monarchy to the Islamic Republic. According to Islamic Republic sources, this observance is registered and presented in the official calendar in this form and with these descriptions.
