Iran: Journey to the Ends of the Earth – A Documentary by David Adams

Iran Clamps Down On Ancient Spring Festival Fearing It Could Spark Off Political Protests
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Police in Iran have imposed restrictions on an ancient festival which celebrates the triumph of good over evil, fearing that it could catalyse growing public anger against the country's theocratic leadership.

Iranians traditionally leap over bonfires and set off fireworks to mark the pagan festival of Chahar Shanbeh Soori, which is celebrated on the last Tuesday before March 21, the Persian new year.

This year, faced with an increasingly repressive crackdown on dissent, opposition leaders [have] been calling on supporters to use the festival to express their resentment against the regime.

Esmail Ahmadi Moqaddam, a commander with the state security forces, warned that "buying and selling fireworks is illegal, and the police the police [sic] will severely confront offenders on the basis of the law."

Bahman Kargar, another security official, told state television that "more than 3,059,000 fireworks have been confiscated and 65 individuals distributing such material have been arrested."

Iran's rulers have become increasingly worried that they could be swept away by the rising tide of political protest across the region. >>> | Monday, March 14, 2011

Supreme Leader Tries to Ban Charshanbeh Suri in Attempt to Quell Protests
TIMES ONLINE: Iran’s Supreme Leader is seeking to ban the Iranian equivalent of Bonfire Night in case the opposition turns it into another protest against his regime.

“Charshanbeh Suri [Red Wednesday] has no Sharia basis and causes much harm and corruption and should be avoided altogether,” Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declared, in what opponents called a fatwa.

Millions of Iranians celebrate the festival, a prelude to the Persian new year, by lighting fires in the streets and letting off firecrackers on a night of anarchy that the regime has tolerated but never encouraged. It dates back to the Zoroastrian era but analysts said that Ayatollah Khamenei’s pronouncement had less to do with its un-Islamic origins than the fear that it would give the opposition a chance to show it was still a potent force. >>> Martin Fletcher | Tuesday, March 16, 2010

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