A fatwa has been issued by Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, saying such celebrations are forbidden, yet they continue. He stated last year that such celebrations have no place in sharia and people should refrain from taking part in these activities.

State and city police announced in various regions of Iran that 30,000 posters and brochures were distributed to discourage people form taking part in such celebrations.

They also issued statements threatening to take action against those disrupting the peace. State police authorities are concerned about social media posts providing instructions for home-made firecrackers, as well. 

.“The Fire Festivities have become a major dilemma,” the state-run Resalat daily reported, signaling how the Iranian regime has failed to block such activities.  For more details see the article published by the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI)

Also reported, on Tuesday, March 14, the eve of the Fire Festival in the Iranian capital, Tehran, a number of local youths gathered on the Air Force Fifth Street to celebrate the annual Festival clashed with security police who were out in force to prevent the festivities.The youths used fire crackers, sound bombs, squibs and spitdevils to scare off the suppressive security forces.

According to reports from Gohardasht prison, the warden has, as is usual in every year, prevented the prisoners from going outside their cells to take a breath of fresh air on the eve of the Fire Festival celebrations. The political prisoners defied him, and lit fires inside the hallways, and jumped over the fire in celebration of Feast of Fire. The prisoners chanted ‘death to the dictators’, and ‘Death to Khamenei.’

The sound of fireworks were so loud that it turned the streets into a battle ground between the public and the security forces. The city of Isfahan, central Iran, has turned into a battle ground between those adamant to celebrate the Feast of Fire Festivals and the suppressive revolutionary guards who want to prevent the celebrations.

A reporter for the Iranian Resistance (MEK) says as you walk around the city you see local youth setting up fireworks at every corner, defying the suppressive rules. There is so much smoke from these fireworks that it is not possible for the authorities to stop the people from having fun.

Mostafa, a taxi driver says, “I hear sound of fire crackers and the hiss of the rockets everywhere I go. The city looks like a battle-ground.”

Despite the authorities’ efforts to stop these festival by scaring the people, nobody is listening. People are ignoring mullahs’ measures to stop the festivities, according to Mostafa.

Residents of Baneh, western Kurdish province hold their fire festival Celebrations on Tuesday, March 14, 2017 by playing with fireworks and throwing firecrackers.

This, despite the authorities warnings against the celebration, because they fear that the occasion might be used to for an uprising by the people. The sounds of the fireworks can be heard all around the city, and e security forces are unable to stop the people.  They fear a clash could go out of control and turn in to a huge riot.  For more, see this article by the NCRI.

Cities of Tehran such as Shiraz, Mashhad, Isfahan, Yasouj, Shahr-e Kurd and Baneh turned Fire Feast (last Wednesday of the year) to a scene of confrontation and expression of hatred for the velayat-e faqih system.

In Tehran, Fire Feast was celebrated at the Mother square, the third and fourth squares of Tehranpars, and Enghelab and Imam Hossein squares. At the Fifth Avenue of Nirou Hawaii, youths threw firecrackers in front of a police vehicle that damaged the front of the vehicle. In Tehranpars, youths also burned a large portrait of Khomeini and Khamenei.

In Mashhad youth threw Molotov cocktails at the headquarters of the repressive Bassij organ at Vakil Abad Boulevard. The youth of Shahr-e Kurd set up fire all across the city, threw Molotov cocktails at police forces and clashed with them. In Isfahan, the sound of explosions were heard across the city. In Baneh, people celebrated using grenades, as well as firecrackers and fireworks.

Police forces did not get out of their vehicles for fear of the wrath of the youth. In Yasouj, the sound of firecrackers and youth’s activities were heard from noon throughout the day.

Repressive forces had a dense presence with motorized patrols in the streets seeking to intimidate the society, while the Fire Feast was celebrated. The state-run media continually broadcast the fatwa of Khomeini on disapprobation of Fire Feast and called it sinful. 

Police chief Hossein Ashtary threatened to deal with the aggressors and violators of the people’s rights very seriously. 

Tehran police chief Hossein Sajedinia said: “In case those who disturb the order cause inconvenience, the police will confront seriously,” as reported by Tasnim, March 14th.

However, the regime’s officials failed to hide the real cause of their fear of this national celebration. Saad, a member of the regime’s parliament said, “The Fire Feast in recent years has turned from a traditional one to a dangerous ceremony.”

The people, especially the youth, ridiculed the comments of the regime’s officials who had been trying to dissuade people from participating in this celebration by referring to those who were killed in the Plasco Building blaze. By holding these celebrations in every corner, they voiced their hatred of all this deception.

Read more here, in the NCRI’s article.

As well as showing their defiance, by celebrating the “Fire Festivities”, political prisoners in hall 12 of ward 4 in Karaj’s Gohardasht Prison, they expressed their hatred of the mullahs’ regime chanting “Death to Dictator” and “Death to Mullahs’ Regime”. 

In Tehran youth in various areas, including Tajrish, Narmak and Ekbatan held widespread celebrations marking the Fire Festivities. In the capital’s Nezam Abad people jumped over small bonfires chanting “Mullahs Must Be Killed”.

Youths were seen celebrating in the cities of Robat Karim, Arak, Urmia, Rasht, Ardevil, Isfahan, Shiraz, Mashhad, Kashan, Asluyie, Yasuj, Shahr-e Kord, Kermanshah, Bane, Khoramabad, Sardasht and Mahshahr.

Repressive forces, including state police and the“Guidance” patrols, were seen in various cities attempting to disperse the youth. However, the people responded by ridiculing them and forcing these units to leave the scenes.

For more information, see this article by the NCRI.