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Iran: Fire Festival demonstrators threatened with imprisonment

NCRI – Iranian regime’s deputy police commander Ahmadreza Radan has warned that anyone staging demonstrations during the nation’s annual fire festival will be jailed for up to a month.

The threat comes amid fears among the ruling mullahs that people will use the festival to protest against the regime.

Radan issued his threat via the state-run Fars news agency today, stating: “If you cross the red line, you will become a guest of State Security Forces until April 6th.

“If anyone crosses the police redline, his vehicle will be confiscated or that person will be incarcerated.

“Certainly obeying the law would be much more beneficial than losing your New Year holidays.”

The Iranian New Year begins on March 20 – with Radan threatening to jail demonstrators for at least three weeks from that date.

The regime’s latest bid to crush dissent comes after security forces have began arresting lorry drivers delivering firecrackers festival 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.