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Security boost for Iran festival Police deployed for Iran festival
(about 5 hours later)
Iran has deployed hundreds of police across Tehran ahead of the beginning of Persian New Year celebrations. Iranians have celebrated an ancient festival despite the deployment of hundreds of extra police across Tehran to discourage anti-government protests.
Authorities fear the occasion will be used by opposition supporters to protest against last year's disputed presidential election results. Officials had warned the opposition against staging demonstrations on Chaharshanbeh-Suri, held a few days before Norouz, the Persian New Year.
Tehran's police chief Gen Hossein Sajedinia told reporters police were out in force to "prevent any event" happening in the city. Some opposition websites reported sporadic clashes in the capital, while police said 50 people were arrested.
The authorities have branded the ancient festival is 'un-Islamic'. Protests have been held during public events since June's disputed election.
Opposition leaders called for supporters not to use the new year festivities to protest, and said people should avoid provoking the authorities. Opposition groups say it was rigged to ensure the re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, a charge the government denies.
But opposition-supporting websites have said supporters should come out on the street and demonstrate. At least 30 protesters have been killed in clashes since the poll, although the opposition says more than 70 have died. Thousands have been detained and some 200 activists remain behind bars.
The festival, called Chahar-Shanbe Suri, celebrates the coming of spring and dates back to Zoroastrian Persia, before Islam. In December, eight people were killed in clashes on Ashura, one of the holiest days in the Shia Muslim calendar.
It is celebrated on the eve of the last Wednesday before Norouz, the Persian New Year. 'Fire-worship'
Authorities say it is heretical fire-worship. Held on the last Wednesday before Norouz, Chaharshanbeh-Suri celebrates the coming of spring and dates back to Zoroastrian Persia, which existed centuries before the coming of Islam.
'Harm and corruption' The eve of the festival is marked by special customs and rituals, most notably jumping over bonfires and setting of fireworks.
Thousands of people have been arrested and dozens killed in street demonstrations since the elections in June last year. The authorities have dismissed the celebrations as heretical fire-worship.
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. Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said the festival had no basis in Sharia law.
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.
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.
"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.
Before the festival, opposition leaders had called for supporters not to use the festivities to protest, and that they should not provoke the security forces.
Nevertheless, the opposition Jaras website said there had been clashes in several parts of Tehran. The reports could not be verified.
Speaking to the Isna news agency late on Tuesday, Tehran's deputy police chief Ahmad Reza Radan said only that 50 people had been arrested for causing "an unacceptable level of nuisance to the public".
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 Sharia law.
At least nine have been sentenced to death and two reportedly hanged.
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