ABSTRACT
Exploring the 2009 Green Movement demonstrates the correlation between schismogenesis, liminality and the trickster and illustrates how the symbols and images of Ta'ziyeh ritual performance were used by Islamic reformists to claim political legitimacy, which was mistakenly understood in West as people demanding their rights for democracy, equality, political freedom and civil rights. In order to understand the foundations of the 2009 Green Movement, and particularly to grasp the concept of the formation of public sphere during this liminal period, it is important to be made aware of the key political institutions, political cultural traits and political actors that were embedded in Iran after the 1979 Revolution. This chapter demonstrates how, under such liminal conditions, trickster figures can employ cultural and religious symbols in the medium of cyberspace, social media to become influential and manipulate the public. Similar to 1979 Revolution and Iran–Iraq War, Ta'ziyeh symbols were utilised by political actors to form the public sphere during this liminal period.
