![](\"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2013\/03\/4-shanbeh-suri-200.gif\" "\\"4-shanbeh-suri-200\\"")
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.<\/p>\nNCRI – 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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
“As a result, the public expression of dissent, uproar and disintegration within society would follow.” (State-run Mehr news agency 11 March)<\/p>\n
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)<\/p>\n
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)<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Senior regime cleric Mahdavi Kermani also called on parliament to clamp down on the Chaharshanbe-suri (Fire Festival) celebrations.<\/p>\n
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.”<\/p>\n
During the festival – which dates back to the 7th Century – Iranians traditionally celebrate by lighting bonfires and jumping through the flames.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":39573,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[175],"class_list":{"0":"post-13100","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-society","8":"tag-updated"},"yoast_head":"\n