Youth Torch Khamenei’s Effigies

Iran: Defiant youth turned the last Tuesday of the Iranian Year, Chaharshanbe Suri (Festival of Fire), in Tehran and other cities into scenes of protests against the regime.
Written by Secretariat of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) 

Maximum alert, repressive measures cannot prevent Fire-fest uprising

Defiant youth turned the last Tuesday of the Iranian Year, Chaharshanbe Suri (Festival of Fire), in Tehran and other cities, including Urmia, Ahvaz, Qom, Isfahan, Tabriz, Ardabil, Anbaran, Abhar, Shiraz, Rasht, Khorramabad, Dezful, Tabriz, Mashhad, Kermanshah, Lahijan, Rudbar, Qods, Oshnavieh, Mahabad, Naghadeh, Khash, Delijan, Karaj, Fardis, Shahriar, Dorud, Borujerd, Tonekabon, Semnan, Sabzevar, Shahroud, Gachsaran, Behshahr, Qazvin, Ilam, Behbahan, Kerman, Zahedan, Darab, and Andimeshk into scenes of protests against the ruling religious fascism.

Chanting “Khamenei (as the symbol of darkness) to be placed in the fire” and “Fire is the answer to fire,” they torched Khamenei’s placards, billboards, and effigies of Khamenei as well as pictures of Qassem Soleimani and other regime leaders. They also targeted the regime’s centers of repression and plunder in various cities around the country. Flames could be seen, and firecrackers could be heard all night in Urmia, in East Azerbaijan Province.

On March 9, 2020, the Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK) Social Headquarter inside Iran had called on the rebellious youth to rise on the occasion of the Fire-fest as part of the campaign to overthrow the religious theocracy ruling Iran by torching pictures, banners and effigies of Khomeini, Khamenei, and Rouhani.

Tonight’s uprising was undertaken despite the regime’s frenzied mobilization to prevent the protests and uprising. The repressive State Security Forces had warned all its units that, “… the opposition groups are exploiting such ceremonies to their advantage … Given the likelihood of protests related to the Coronavirus issue, it’s likely that they can use the circumstance and to mobilize this into protests.”

On Monday, March 16, the Greater Tehran’s State Security Force (SSF) commander Hossein Rahimi said: “Four garrisons, Fajr, Fat’h, Nasr and Ramazan have been set up and police forces are fully prepared in the form of 1,450 motorized and 400-foot patrols to deal with those disrupting people’s security. They will not show any leniency. We seriously warn against holding any gatherings anywhere.”

SSF spokesman spoke of the arrest of 630 people who had been handed over to judicial authorities. Isfahan’s SSF commander told State-run Mehr news agency, “There are always those who disrupt the social order, public security and safety. The police will seriously confront these people.”

Qazvin Prosecutor General said that he will deal with people who stage gatherings without leniency. East Azerbaijan Prosecutor added that he will not allow some individuals using the pretext of Chaharshanbe Suri to disrupt people’s security and tranquility… Any gathering, including Chaharshanbe Suri festivities, has been banned.

Meanwhile, the Kurdish Press Agency wrote, “The sound of bombs and explosions amid smoke and fire has made the corona-stricken cities look like war-torn cities … The smell of smoke and fire has swept the city. The sound of bombs and firecrackers doesn’t stop for a minute. The flames could be seen in the surrounding mountains and the Fire-fest is on.”

 

Secretariat of the National Council Resistance of Iran (NCRI)

March 17, 2020

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