NCRI Staff
NCRI – The regime’s security officials have expressed their deep anxiety over the potential escalation of anti-government protests during the fire festival, Chaharshanbeh Suri, to be held on the evening of Tuesday, March 13. This mood has been apparent in statements issued by Prosecutor Generals and Revolutionary Prosecutors of various provinces and cities around the country. In many cases, they have declared that they have set up a special branch to deal with violations and possible crimes related to Chaharshanbeh Suri.
The cities in which the State Security Forces will be on full alert include Tehran, Shiraz (capital of Fars province), Qazvin (capital of Markazi province), Ardebil (capital of Ardebil province), Hamedan (capital of Hamedan province), Sari (capital of Mazandaran province), Amol (Mazandaran province), Birjand (capital of Southern Khorasan province), and Qom (capital of Qum province).
It is very telling that the regime’s state security forces are on full alert in Qom, which has long been considered a bastion of clerical rule, being the location of a number of seminaries including Feyzieh Seminary, where Khomeini used to teach.
This year, due to the massive protests that shook the regime to its core in late December and January, the regime’s concerns have grown regarding public gatherings in general and celebrations of Chaharshanbeh Suri in particular.
The People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran’s command inside the country has called for mobilization in connection with Chaharshanbeh Suri. The following are some fearful reactions of regime’s officails.
Mizan, state-run news agency (affiliated to the judiciary), March 8, 2018:
The Prosecutor General and Revolutionary Prosecutor of Qom in an interview with Mizan spoke of the directives which have been issued to the security forces.
… Mehdi Kaheh said security patrols consisting of operation units of security and judiciary personnel will be present and on patrol throughout the city starting today.
If anyone is found to cause problems, he will be arrested and dealt with seriously.
Tehran Friday prayers- March 9, 2018
Mullah Sedighi, Tehran Friday Prayer leader:
…The enemy was threatening us and caused those troubles last December and January. They had devised plots for February and March as well. Regarding the issue of Chaharshanbeh Suri, for those who are not careful, they should be aware not to endanger society’s moral security as well as their own security…
