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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Security boost for Iran festival | Security boost for Iran festival |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Iran has deployed hundreds of police across Tehran ahead of the beginning of Persian New Year celebrations. | Iran has deployed hundreds of police across Tehran ahead of the beginning of Persian New Year celebrations. |
| Authorities fear the occasion will be used by opposition supporters to protest against last year's disputed presidential election results. | Authorities fear the occasion will be used by opposition supporters to protest against last year's disputed presidential election results. |
| Tehran's police chief Gen Hossein Sajedinia told reporters police were out in force to "prevent any event" happening in the city. | Tehran's police chief Gen Hossein Sajedinia told reporters police were out in force to "prevent any event" happening in the city. |
| The authorities have branded the ancient festival is 'un-Islamic'. | The authorities have branded the ancient festival is 'un-Islamic'. |
| Opposition leaders called for supporters not to use the new year festivities to protest, and said people should avoid provoking the authorities. | Opposition leaders called for supporters not to use the new year festivities to protest, and said people should avoid provoking the authorities. |
| But opposition-supporting websites have said supporters should come out on the street and demonstrate. | But opposition-supporting websites have said supporters should come out on the street and demonstrate. |
| The festival, called Chahar-Shanbe Suri, celebrates the coming of spring and dates back to Zoroastrian Persia, before Islam. | The festival, called Chahar-Shanbe Suri, celebrates the coming of spring and dates back to Zoroastrian Persia, before Islam. |
| It is celebrated on the eve of the last Wednesday before Norouz, the Persian New Year. | It is celebrated on the eve of the last Wednesday before Norouz, the Persian New Year. |
| Authorities say it is heretical fire-worship. | Authorities say it is heretical fire-worship. |
| 'Harm and corruption' | 'Harm and corruption' |
| Thousands of people have been arrested and dozens killed in street demonstrations since the elections in June last year. | Thousands of people have been arrested and dozens killed in street demonstrations since the elections in June last year. |
| Reformist politician and former prime minister Mir Hossein Mousavi claims that he won the June poll and accuses President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of stealing the elections. | Reformist politician and former prime minister Mir Hossein Mousavi claims that he won the June poll and accuses President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of stealing the elections. |
| Scores remain in jail, and the authorities have been rounding up vocal supporters of reformist politicians in the months since. | Scores remain in jail, and the authorities have been rounding up vocal supporters of reformist politicians in the months since. |
| Opposition supporters have faced increasing pressure from the authorities, with some hardliners labelling them as "mohareb" - enemies of God who can be sentenced to death under Iran's Sharia law. | Opposition supporters have faced increasing pressure from the authorities, with some hardliners labelling them as "mohareb" - enemies of God who can be sentenced to death under Iran's Sharia law. |
| At least nine have so far been sentenced to death and two people have reportedly been hanged. | At least nine have so far been sentenced to death and two people have reportedly been hanged. |
| Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the festival had no basis in Sharia law. | Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the festival had no basis in Sharia law. |
| "It creates a lot of harm and corruption which is why it is appropriate to avoid it," he told reporters. | "It creates a lot of harm and corruption which is why it is appropriate to avoid it," he told reporters. |
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