NCRI – Iranian regime’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security has warned its agents at offices around the country that confronting fire festival participants could trigger street protests on a massive scale.
MOIS chiefs also urged agents to wear plainclothes and not walk alone in cities for fear of being attacked, according to reports from inside the regime.
Mullahs fear people will use the festival to protest against their dictatorship.
The head of the security forces in Bushehr, southern Iran, said: “We will not allow any gatherings during the fire festival. All the cities of Bushehr Province have been divided and security forces will have a widespread presence from 4 pm.
“We are going to try to avoid any gatherings that could threaten the security situation and playing with fire that could damage property.”
Intelligence Ministry agents have also approached all stores and production units in Isfahan and warned them that selling firecrackers or explosives would be punished with a year in prison.
Lighting fires in front of shops would mean losing trading licenses and being jailed for two years in prison, agents warned.
Iran’s deputy police commander Ahmadreza Radan also said last week that anyone staging demonstrations during the nation’s annual fire festival would be jailed for a month.
The regime’s latest bid to crush dissent comes after security forces began arresting lorry drivers delivering festival firecrackers last month.
Senior regime cleric Mahdavi Kermani also called on parliament to clamp down on the Chaharshanbe-suri (Fire Festival) celebrations.
He told MPs in January: “The issue of fire festival and its negative consequences continues to exist in the country. You can act to uproot this issue.”
During the festival – which dates back to the 7th Century – Iranians traditionally celebrate by lighting bonfires and jumping through the flames.
In recent years, security forces have been cracking down on celebration up to two months before it begins by banning firecrackers, sparklers, rockets and even home-made grenades.
