An Ancient Festival is a Source of Controversy in Modern Day Iran

On March 13, the Iranian people will celebrate Chaharshanbeh Suri, the Festival of Fire. It is held on the last Tuesday evening of the year and is part of the celebrations surrounding the arrival of spring and Nowruz, which marks the arrival of the spring season. This celebration starts in the evening, with bonfires in the streets. It is seen as part of the culture of the Iranian people.

Into this time of cultural celebration, comes the regime’s fear of any large gathering. Therefore, the clampdown on by the regime’s security forces have already begun. Fireworks, which are often part of the celebration, have been banned. Those who attempt to sell them have been threatened with the loss of their business license.

However, this is not the first year that the regime has tried to stop or limit this celebration. From its inception, the clerical regime has seen this festival as a threat. With the recent string of protests that started in 2017, the mullahs have been especially concerned about any attempt at an uprising. On February 27, 2018, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Brigadier Hossein Rahimi, the Chief of State Security Forces in Tehran, warned that those who will cause unrest during the festival will be arrested.

These warnings are meant to circumvent any attempts at protests during the festival, by threats before it begins. The PMOI/MEK in Iran have called for Iranians to use the Fire Festival as a chance to voice their displeasure with the regime. They want to turn it into a day of insurrection.

The Iranian regime is using any means necessary to keep the Iranian people from uprising. Their distractions, including their military operations throughout the region, are no longer working effectively at keeping the Iranian people from questioning the regime and challenging its power.

In fear of losing their hold, not only are the human rights violations and abuses continuing, but there is also an increasing oversight of social media, in hopes of catching those who might be organizing protests before they occur.

Security forces have also increased their presence at checkpoints, and patrols made up of security forces and members of the judiciary are being formed to address any unruly behavior immediately. Therefore, justice from the regime for any protests will be dealt out swiftly.

Here are just a few of the measures being implemented prior to the festival.

“Various meetings have been held with the presence of security and law enforcement agencies on public order and security in the final days of the year. State Security Forces have a mission to deal with all its might during Chaharshanbeh Suri. A specific plan has been drawn and certain mechanism is foreseen, and these forces will be stationed throughout the city,” said Mohsen Hamedani, Deputy to Tehran’s Governor on Security Forces.

The IRGC command for greater Tehran will put Bassij (IRGC para-military force) of Tehran Municipality on full alert for Chaharshanbeh Suri.  The Ashura and Al Zahra Battalions (Bassiji forces of municipality) in all 22 municipality districts of Tehran will be placed on full alerts.

On the morning of Chaharshanbeh Suri all waste bins, pieces of wood, wastes and flammable materials, are planned to be collected from the streets of the city by city municipal services contractors. The Basiji forces of each municipality district and the Ashoura and Al-Zahra battalions will supervise the operation, but city services of the municipality are responsible for its implementation.