Iran - The Fire Festival A major concern for the regime

By: Hassan. Mahmoudi

The Fire Festival, which is held every year on the last Tuesday of winter, worries the police and judicial authorities in power.

According to reports by the MEK as the National Fire Festival approaches, senior police and judicial officials of the Iranian theocracy are making increasing threats to pre-empt any possible revolt on that occasion.

Hossein Rahimi, the Commander-in-Chief of Tehran’s police force, expressed concern that the celebration would turn into uprisings against the ruling government.

“If individuals intend to disrupt peace, public safety or public order during the Fire Festival, the police will take decisive action,” he said in an interview on Friday. “The cars of those who disrupt public order will be confined throughout the Nowruz [Iranian New Year's] holiday period and they will themselves be put under lock and key.”

Ayub Soleimani, the deputy chief of police, also expressed the concerns of the ruling government.

“We have even been informed that some groups have called for demonstrations. We are monitoring their unrest and have issued orders to the provinces to monitor those who would seek to disrupt the calm and take advantage of these circumstances,” he told the media.

In northern Iran, Ali Akbar Javidan, the Chief Police Commander in Golestan Province, also made threats.

“All special units, city police, and police stations will be on alert,” Javidan said.

“The MEK and other dissidents have always tried to take advantage of this time of year,” he deplored, before explaining that Basij militiamen (a militia affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guards- IRGC) and several police units will be deployed to counter any possible overrun.

In Ardabil province in northwestern Iran, the Attorney General warned stores against the sale of products that could be used in incendiary projectiles.

“As the Feast approaches, surprise inspections will be carried out and we will take drastic measures against the slightest violation,” he threatened.

In the central Iranian province of Esfahan, police have warned that the disrupters will be held in detention until the end of the New Year’s holidays.

“In coordination with the prosecutor of Esfahan, we will keep in detention until the end of the holiday season, those who would disturb public order during the Fire Festival,” said Esfahan police chief Masoum Beygui.

Ali Asghar Eftekhari, head of the cyber police in Hormozgan province in southern Iran, also revealed measures on cyberspace.

“Police action has begun in cyberspace to identify websites that provide instructions on how to make explosive materials and sell them online, and legal action will be taken,” he threatened.

Even the Minister of National Education could not hide his concerns about this event. “I participated in the exercises organized to prepare us to face fire threats and prevent such incidents during the holidays at the end of the year,” said Mohammad Bathaei who called for a campaign against the “Dangerous Fire Festival.”

In the meantime, uprising youths and “resistance units” across the country are celebrating this national event by escalating their activities despite the security measures and setting fire to images and posters of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.