Jaras news reports that one of the close advisors of Hashemi Rafsanjani has said that protesters should use Republic Day to make their voice heard. April 1st is the day on which the Islamic Republic of Iran was established by a nationwide referendum in 1979. According to this anonymous source, Rafsanjani insists that this important day needs to be celebrated in public. He is said to be convinced that the contemporary protests benefit the state and will make the Republic and democratic nature of the state even stronger.
Rafsanjani and his family have been under a lot of pressure since the presidential elections. Several members of his family have been arrested for a short time during the last months. Last week, Rafsanjani’s grandson was arrested but released after 24 hours.