NCRI – Iranian regime’s security chiefs have confiscated hundreds of thousands of firecrackers ahead of this month’s Fire Festival over fears people will use the event to stage protests against the regime.
In the city of Sowme’e-Sara, state security force commander Ahmad Asgari said 17,000 firecrackers had been seized, adding: “Any provocation would damage the social system and deviate it from its correct course.
“As a result, the public expression of dissent, uproar and disintegration within society would follow.” (State-run Mehr news agency 11 March)
In Golestan province, SSF deputy commander Kazem Mousavi said 250,000 firecrackers had been confiscated and warned families to control their children during the fire festival. (State-run Mehr news agency 12 March)
Another 160,000 firecrackers had been taken in Semnan province, prosecutor Haydar Asiaei said, and the Isfahan province’s police chief said they had sealed a warehouse storing 70,000 firecrackers and other explosives. (State-run ILNA news agency, March 13)
Paranoid ruling mullahs have already openly revealed the threat they see that the event poses, and warned that anyone staging demonstrations during the festival would be jailed for up to a 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.
