The five-day national mourning it’s not for everyone in Iran, as opponents of the regime are “turning their backs” on calls from the authorities to join the public mourning for the death of the country’s leader in a helicopter crash.

Skynews.gr spoke to me in a very interesting report Iran activists who eloquently conveyed their widespread hatred of the regime. They blame it for corruption, a drop in living standards and also for the persecution of women by the government’s “morality police”.

The anti-government activists even described it as “desperate” the public mourning events, claiming that they received calls from officials urging them to attend the mourning events for the late President Ebrahim Raisi.

The activists, who did not want to be named, said authorities were “desperate” for public expressions of grief after the leader’s death in a helicopter crash on Sunday.

On Tuesday the president’s coffin was flown to Tabriz – the nearest major city to the crash site – with state television showing mourners lining the streets to pay their respects.

But activists said many in Iran were either indifferent or happy about his death, with some taking the opportunity of a public holiday to go shopping or pursue leisure activities.

Government invitations to the ceremonies

An anti-government protester said: “We keep getting messages and calls from different government institutions, inviting us to different mourning events. They’re really trying desperately to get people to go But I don’t think many people will join, and whoever does, it’s definitely one of their own. For ordinary people, this is just another day.”

As for conspiracy theories about the crash, activists said they were rife on social media because of distrust of the government and said there was no appetite for an upcoming “show” election next month to elect a new president.

They added: “We are not planning to go to the polls. By boycotting the elections, we are proving that we do not want the regime of the Islamic Republic.”

“Day of Joy”

The activist’s statement about the climate prevailing among the opposition is typical: “I am extremely happy about what happened… For the first time in my life, I am happy to hear that someone has died. I never thought I’d say that.”

They even noted that security has been beefed up on the streets, suggesting the “regime clearly fears” dissent.

“We are talking about a murderer, who millions of Iranians have been wishing for years, that he and his gang would be prosecuted and face justice in a proper court of law.” said the activist and added emphatically: “But this time, nature intervened. It’s as if nature couldn’t stand so much cruelty anymore.”

The next day for the opponents of the regime

“My plan in the coming days is to continue our fight with more energy and enthusiasm. And to continue to keep hope alive that the abolition of cruelty is not so out of reach after all. It will definitely happen one day,” said an activist

“In a rather silly way, they are trying to create an atmosphere, as always, to pretend that things are going their way. But I don’t think that will work,” another deputy added.

The ceremonies for Raisi

Raisi’s body, after Tabriz, was flown to Tehran before heading to the holy city of Qom.

From there, he will return to the capital and the Mosalla Grand Mosque before flying to the late president’s hometown of Mashhad in eastern Iran for his burial on Thursday.

Events are being held for the other victims of the accident throughout the country.