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Join Us At Today's Iranian Alert Thread – The Most Underreported Story Of The Year!

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IRAN ERUPTS? [Kathryn Jean Lopez]

National Review Online - The Corner

Secondhand, from an Iranian:
I am listening to KRSI (Radio Sedaye Iran) right now. There are many Iranians calling (from Tehran, and Gorgan, etc.).

All reports indicate that almost every neighborhood in Tehran is on fire. People are throwing home-made bombs, Molotov cocktails, etc. into the homes of mullahs, and burning pictures of Khamenei in complete defiance of his recent edict to mourn during the month of Muharram.

Background: Khamenei delivered a declaration (not really a fatwa, although some say it was) to Iranians to honor the month of Muharram, which started about two weeks ago, and to mourn and not have any parties of merriment. Well, the problem is that the Iranian New Year (Nowrouz), March 20th (totally non-religious and cultural event -- although Zoroastrian in origin) falls in the middle of this, and Iranians were enraged about this edict.

Tomorrow is the last Wednesday of the Iranian calendar year (called Chahar Shanbeh soori), and traditionally Iranians burn small bonfires and jump over them and celebrate the ending of the old year and welcome the new.

As a measure of defiance of Khamenei's Islamic Rule, and in celebration of ancient (non-Islamic) Persian customs, Iranians have taken to the streets in complete defiance of Khamenei's edict, saying that they will 'burn the mullahs out of their homes'. They are celebrating Chahar Shanbeh Soori. There are huge bonfires, bomb-throwing, merriment and the welcoming of the last days of the mullahcracy. In their own way Iranians are making a huge statement.

You can listen to the news yourself (in Farsi of course) everyone is very happy and celebrating defying the mullahs and burning of Khamenei's picture and trying to burn all mullah's houses. There are people calling from all over Tehran, from Gorgan, and northern provinces... It is amazing!

http://www.nationalreview.com/thecorner/corner.asp

Iranians Celebrate an Ancient Festival

March 16, 2004
Reuters
CNN.com

TEHRAN, Iran -- Iranians danced in the street, threw firecrackers and jumped over bonfires Tuesday night as authorities openly tolerated an ancient fire festival for the first time in 25 years.

Halted each year since the 1979 Islamic revolution because hardliners considered it un-Islamic, the Chaharshanbeh Suri, or Red Wednesday, festival was officially recognized in Tehran where the city council set aside dozens of parks for people to enjoy the boisterous celebrations.

Tens of thousands packed the streets of the capital hurling firecrackers into the air to mark the eve of the last Wednesday of the Iranian calendar year.

The festival dates back centuries to pre-Islamic times and is thought to be derived from Zoroastrian traditions which accord special properties to fire.

The Iranian New Year, which falls on March 20 this year, coincides with the spring equinox. Unlike previous years, when riot police blocked off streets and hardline Islamic vigilantes beat and arrested many trying to enjoy the festivities, security forces were virtually absent.

Old and young reveled in the new-found freedom.

"They wanted to try to stop this tradition but it will never die," said businessman Mahmoud Afshar, as his young children and neighbors leaped over a small bonfire in western Tehran.

"I think they realize now that every limitation they try to put on society has a negative effect," he said, adding that he and his family had been harassed by police when trying to mark the festival in previous years.

In an act meant to exorcise evil spirits and bring good luck for the coming year, people light small bonfires and jump over the flames shouting: "Give me your beautiful red color and take back my sickly pallor!."

Special noodle soups are prepared and shared among friends and neighbors. Passers-by are handed nuts and dried fruits.

The decision by Tehran City Council -- which religious hardliners won control of in elections last year -- to officially recognize the festival surprised many.

A council official, who declined to be named, explained: "Some are opposed to celebrating Chaharshanbeh Suri on religious grounds but it's a deep-rooted tradition and no-one can deny it. So we decided the best way was to designate some places to celebrate it."

Some clerics were appalled by the decision.

"The superstitious ceremony of Chaharshanbeh Suri is incompatible with the dignity and understanding of the Muslim Iranian nation," Grand Ayatollah Lotfollah Safi Golpaygani said in a statement this week.

"Muslims should remain vigilant and...understand the enemy's goal in reviving this dead and obsolete tradition."

The evening festivities are also an opportunity for young Iranians to meet and flirt in a country where mixing in public between unrelated members of the opposite sex is outlawed.

In one street in western Tehran youngsters danced by blazing bonfires as loud music blared from houses and passing cars.

Some felt the sudden official acceptance of the festival was a ploy by the country's rulers after hardliners won parliamentary elections last month. Reformists, who favor greater political and social freedoms, say the poll was rigged.

"They want to distract the young so they don't have anything to do with politics," said Mahran Izadi, 28, who had stuffed cotton wool in his ears to dull the noise of constant firecracker explosions.

http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/03/16/iran.festival.reut/index.html

This just in from inside of Iran...(unconfirmed)

I have told that the people of Gorgan have taken over most of the city. Reportedly the people were demonstrating/celebrating and the law enforcement forces began beating people. In the process they killed a 6 month old child and as a result the people took over the law enforcement offices, beat the security forces.

I also am told that hundreds of people have been arrested in Mashad.

Tens of militiamen injured due to popular resistance

SMCCDI (Information Service)
Mar 16, 2004

Tens of the usually feared Islamic regime's militiamen have been injured in the violent clashes which rocked, this evening, most Iranian cities at the occasion of the the popular celebration of the banned "Tchahr Shanbe Soori" (Fire Fiest). Unconfirmed reports are stating about the death of several militiamen in Tehran's Guisha district, Nasr avenue, and in provincial cities, such as, Khoram Abad and Bushehr where Militia's Colonel Ghassem Mattaf has been shot to death.

Tens of militiamen were wounded due to heavy burns inflicted by young Iranians who used of powerful hand made grenades and Molotv Coktails in order to break the security forces' brutal assaults.

Clashes were extremly violent especially in several areas of Tehran, such as, Eslam-Shahr, Guisha, Madar, Vali e Asr, Narmak, Rey, Sadeghieh, Karadj and as well in provincial cities, such as, Esfahan and Bushehr. Angry demonstrators used of heavy explosive devices and even guns confiscated from plainclothes men in order to resist to the regime forces and even to take revenge.

Tens of security patrol cars or bikes as well as official buildings and homes and facilities affiliated to the regime's men have been damaged by fire or explosion.

Thousands of pictures of the regime's founder, Rooh-Ollah Khomeini, and the current officials were burned by the various crowd in each city.

http://www.daneshjoo.org/generalnews/article/publish/article_5377.shtml

What if all doesn't go well? You need all folks on-board.....

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Join Us At Today's Iranian Alert Thread – The Most Underreported Story Of The Year!

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