The Latest from Iran (16 March): Fire and Politics

2100 GMT: Chahrshanbeh Suri. An activist reports a conversation with a relative in Gisha in Tehranm, who said basiji were roaming the streets on their bikes and tried to stop people celebrating. Told of a report that said nothing political had happened tonight, the relative answered, "In Iran everything is political."

2010 GMT: Political Prisoner Watch. More temporary releases --- Behzad Nabavi, a leader of the Mojahedin of Islamic Revolution Party serving a five-year term for "crimes against national security", and journalist and economist Saeed Laylaz have been freed until 4 April. Laylaz posted $500,000 bail.

NEW Iran Document: Mousavi Speech on “Patience and Resistance” (15 March)
NEW Latest Iran Video: The Attack on Karroubi’s House (14 March)
Iran Breaking: Ban on Reformist Political Party
Your Super-Special Iran Caption Contest
Iran: The Opposition’s Campaign in the US — Sequel With Revelations and A Lesson
The Latest from Iran (15 March): Breaking Human Rights

2000 GMT: Chahrshanbeh Suri Reza Sayah of CNN reports, via a Tehran witness, that police are spray painting passing cars that toss firecrackers out of windows. Basiji used tasers and batons to chase away 300 partiers near Mehr Park in Farmanieh.


1840 GMT: Justice. We had asked a couple of days what Tehran Prosecutor Abbas Jafari Doulatabadi was doing in Qom with marjas (senior clerics).

Here's one answer: Grand Ayatollah Safi Golpayegani told Doulatabadi to try the culprits of Kahrizak Prison's abuses as soon as possible, "so that the people feel the judiciary can act freely". Criticising advisors such as Presidential Chief of Staff Esfandiar Rahim-Mashai, Safi Golpayegani advised Doulatabadi to "treat the people kindly and fairly... [for] if Islamic principle is shattered, the whole system is gone".

1830 GMT: Larijani Pushing for Nuclear Deal? Looks like Speaker of Parliament Ali Larijani is putting out a signal that he wants the "West" to come back to the table on uranium enrichment talks:

Iran's parliament (Majlis) speaker Ali Larijani advises the West to pursue a diplomatic approach in resolving their differences with Tehran on the issue of its nuclear program.

Speaking at a press conference in Tehran Tuesday, Larijani reiterated that the US, France, Britain and Germany have sought to delay the supplying of fuel to Iran for Tehran's research reactor through "mischievous" acts.

"They eventually came to the understanding that Iran is only willing to act according to the [International Atomic] agency's framework; so they abandoned the 'carrot and stick' approach, only to resort to sanctions," he added.em>

1825 GMT: There is a lot of chatter about clashes in Tehran. We are holding off on reports pending confirmation. A rumour spread of a fire at the house of Mehdi Karroubi's son Hossein is false.

1819 GMT: Political Prisoner Watch. Saeed Jalalifar, a member of the Committee of Human Rights Reporters, has been released on $100,000 bail. Jalalifar, a student at Zanjan University, was arrested on 30 November.

Azar Mansouri of the Islamic Iran Participation Front has been released from prison for a period of twenty days.

1815 GMT: Unconfirmed reports of clashes in Karaj.

1800 GMT: Back from an extended academic break. Thanks to readers for updating on the events of Chahrshanbeh Suri.

CNN's Reza Sayah is reporting, from a witness, "Light traffic on major roads. Parties in side streets with music and dancing. Police patrol major roads and squares but allowing parties along side streets. No reports of clashes."

Another activist reports, "Aryashahr (in Tehran) is just like a war zone, sound of fireworks is constant and security forces have pulled out of the area for now."

1345 GMT: We have posted, courtesy of the Los Angeles Times, the English text of Mir Hossein Mousavi's speech to the Islamic Iran Participation Front on "a year of patience and resistance".

1325 GMT: An Arrest Within the Regime. The son of senior Revolutionary Guards commander Esmail Gha’ani has been arrested, according to Green Voices of Freedom. Ali Gha’ani is an electrical engineering student at the Islamic Azad University of Mashhad. GVF speculates that, as the younger Gha'ani has no experience of political activity, the arrest is due to his father’s criticism of Government action after the June election.

1310 GMT: Today's Cyber-Propaganda. Press TV offers the platform:

After a 30-member US-backed cyber network was dismantled in Iran, members of the Parliament (Majlis) have praised efforts to bust one of the main gangs and cyber networks in the country.

[Editor's note: Is it my imagination or did Press TV just rename the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps?]

"The joyful news about the arrest and dismantling of one of the biggest and main groups of cyber networks backed by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), which worked to gather information, once again disclosed another conspiracy against the Islamic Republic," said 220 parliamentarians in a letter to the Islamic Republic Guards Corps (IRGC).
1210 GMT: Iran's Threat to Britain (and Its Students). The Foreign Ministry has issued a warning this morning that it will be reducing its links with Britain, specifically by restricting the movement of Iranian students to the United Kingdom.

1200 GMT: The Mousavi Message. Two notes about Mir Hossein Mousavi's speech (see 0655 GMT), made to the Islamic Iran Participation Front, calling for "a year of patience and resistance".

First, note our revised translation, based on an EA correspondent, with "resistance" replacing "endurance". That is a much stronger message of opposition,

Second, Mousavi's timing and language is a blatant attempt to pre-empt the Supreme Leader, whose Nowruz (Iranian New Year) message will call for "a year of...."

Although it is the Karroubi statement that is getting more attention outside Iran today, Mousavi's message --- in connection with the banning of the IIPF --- may have more resonance inside the country.

1045 GMT: Karroubi Watch. Maybe it's the definition of "irony" or just a crafty campaign: only days after an opposition PR move by "a senior aide" to Mehdi Karroubi fell flat in the US, the Western media are rushing to feature the cleric. First it was Sunday's attack on his house, now it is Karroubi's statement (see 0645 GMT) denouncing the despotism of the Iranian Government.

0945 GMT: The IRGC Gets A Contact --- Correction. Yesterday we reported that the engineering firm connected with the Revolutionary Guards just received an $850,000 oil pipeline contract. A reader noted, "The Revolutionary Guard would never settle for such a paltry amount!"

He's right. It's $850 million.

0725 GMT: Winning the Compromise. The Parliament and President Ahmadinejad may have reached an immediate resolution of next year's budget, with Ahmadinejad getting $20 billion of the $40 billion he wanted from subsidy reductions, but the political battle continues. The pro-Larijani Khabar Online pronounces, "The Government Discreetly Withdraws from Executing Subsidy Plan".

0723 GMT: Production assistant Mehdi Pourmousavi, who was arrested in the raid of director Jafar Panahi's house, has been released. Panahi is still detained.

0720 GMT: Watching the Crackdown. Satirist Ebrahim Nabavi's latest --- "I arrest, therefore I am!"

0710 GMT: Endure (cont.). Ahmad Batebi's website posts a statement from Human Rights Activists in Iran on the regime's crackdown and accusations of "cyber-war".

0655 GMT: Endure. Rah-e-Sabz has a lengthy report of Mir Hossein Mousavi's speech to members of the banned Islamic Iran Participation Front. The takeaway line: "1389 (the forthcoming Iranian year) is the year of our patience and endurance".

0645 GMT: Karroubi Watch. We've posted the video of the attack on Mehdi Karroubi's house on Sunday.

The cleric is undaunted, however. In a meeting with students of his party, Etemade Melli, he emphasised that the elections were "unnatural" and that they confirmed "there will be no more real elections in Iran." Karroubi asserted, "This government doesn't rely on people's votes....The Islamic Republic has been struck by dictatorship, only her name remains.

0620 GMT: Today is Chahrshanbeh Suri, the Fire Festival on the eve of the Iranian New Year. It will be an occasion for street celebrations, though it is unclear whether these will take on a political tone. While there has been a great deal of chatter outside Iran about use of the occasion, there have been few signs that the movement within will seek a mass protest.

Perhaps more pertinent is whether the regime politicises the event through ill-considered attempts to condemn the festival. The Supreme Leader has already risked po-faced overreaction with his denunciation of a ceremony without religious roots or value.

Meanwhile, the big political event may be the banning of Iran's largest reformist political party, the Islamic Iran Participation Front. We began tracking the development yesterday afternoon and have posted a separate entry. Given the regime has declared that it has already overcome the post-election crisis, this seems a curious move. Why risk a provocation that further exposes the lack of political freedom in Iran and could bring open conflict?

More arrests to balance the regime's strategy of releasing detainees on bail if they keep their silence. Only Democracy For Iran has a summary of political prisoners in Babol in northern Iran. The head of Mir-Hossein Mousavi’s election campaign, Alireza Shahiri, and Ali Akbar Soroush, a university professor and member of the Islamic Iran participation Front, have been arrested.  Student activists Mohsen Barzegar, Iman Sadighi, and Mohammad Esmailzadeh have been moved to solitary confinement.

Comments

[Maria Rohaly]

EA: "Given the regime has declared that it has already overcome the post-election crisis, this seems a curious move."

Khameinejad: "Sure the crisis is over. By banning political parties and any other non-IRI entity we can identify, we're just easing back into our 'business-as-usual' phase of operations."

~Maria
(fuming at the disgusting IRI)

[Catherine]

RE 1310 GMT: [Editor's note: Is it my imagination or did Press TV just rename the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps?]

It could be worse - look at what Khordaad 88 did to Khomeini:
"Everyone knows about countless great impacts that the Grand Ayatollah Khomeini had on the east and west. He created an immense wave of change. .... He was one of those sources of immolation in jurisprudence who with overwhelming knowledge of fundamentals of Islam, and led like a prophet would."

Sources of WHAT?! :-)

[Catherine]

Whoops - forgot to post the link: http://khordaad88.com/?p=1216

[Sim]

showing pirated hollywood movies tonight to keep people inside their homes:

http://blip.tv/file/3349482

[Arshama]

Thanks a lot, Sim!

One of the movies shown on IRIB tonight is "Die Hard" ...
No comment ;-)

[Arshama]

No use (IRIB), jumping over fires has reportedly begun in Tehran, Ahvaz, Shiraz and other Iranian cities: http://jonbeshe-ma.blogspot.com/
Heavy security measures in all larger towns, but fortunately no clashes
http://www.rferl.org/content/Tehran_Police_Out_In_Force_For_Festival/1985421.html
Police has banned motorcycles from Enghelab street only:
http://www.peykeiran.com/Content.aspx?ID=14617

[danial]

@Arshama...

Thank you very much for the updates.

[gunni]

Clashes continue between people and security forces south of Vali Asr Square.
http://persian2english.com/?p=8505

[Arshama]

Mardomak has a Persian liveblog on Chaharshanbeh-Suri events:
http://www.mardomak.us/blog/post/50798/

20.39 (local time) Tehran: Not more (firecracker) explosions than last year, but much louder ;-)

20.04: Gheytariyeh (N-Tehran), people are singing and dancing in alleys and gardens.

19.57: A blogger reports that firecrackers were sold freely all over the town, although sec. personal was among the sellers.

19.48: shopkeepers report that they were advised to close their shops at 14.00 hrs.

19.35: heavy surveillance in south Isfahan, sec. forces and bassiji on motorcycles everywhere, people don't dare to come out, but fire jumping continues in smaller alleys.

19.15: Internet slowed down, VPN services cut off.

Peyke Iran: since 20.00 h people poured into the streets of Karaj, sec. forces installed at all major squares, but have no chance against the masses, clashes between youngsters and police, which was urged to flee in some cases. http://www.peykeiran.com/Content.aspx?ID=14619

Reports and summaries in English: http://united4iran.com/2010/03/chaharshanbeh-suri-festival-of-fire/

[AJ]

let's not jump to conclusions on the Chaharshanbe Souri reports. This tradition has been explosive even before last year's elections. Every year a lot of people die from illegal and shady fire crackers, home-made fires and bombs (!), etc. This year will not be an exception.

If we connect any deaths and injuries that were results of neglect and not any regime crackdown to the regime, they will use this against the Green Movement and claim that all those who were killed by them were in fact victims of car accidents and whatnot!

[Megan]

AJ,

I am sure regime thugs use faulty fire crackers excuse for killing people by burning them. These thugs have lots of practice to cover their crimes. We will never forget burned body of Traneh Mousavi.

[Megan]

In preparation for Norouz which coincides with arrival of spring there is a tradition in Iran called Khoneh Tekoni (spring cleaning). Iranians go through major house cleaning and throw out old stuff they have no use for. It would have been grand if in this spring cleaning Iranians would have been able to throw out and put in trash Islamic Republic and all of its thugs. I am certain we will see that in due time.

I need to go back to work but my heart is with Iranians who, as I just heard, are still battling regime vampires in the streets that are drawing blood as they hear Marg bar Dictator.

[Megan]

Video of celebration: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mDNS7pvrEE

[Megan]

The above video was from 2008.

[Samuel]

I hope some of the greenies fall into the fire on their arse. Of course knowing them they'll have to blame someone else for their clumsiness.

[Barry]

@Samuel

Why are you so vicious ? - all I see are a group of cheerful, laughing, happy people. Is your ideology so bare and empty that you are threatened by the thought of people enjoying their lives? ( PS I am aware of what Khomenei said about fun). I recall when the Christian Church felt threatened by what they saw as "heathen" activities - fortunately that Church has become more enlightened since then.

Barry

[Bozorg]

Barry, you're asking a Khomeinist why he's so vicious. It's like asking a cobra why it's so posionous.

[Megan]

Barry,

"Is your ideology so bare and empty that you are threatened by the thought of people enjoying their lives?"

It is exactly that. Islamic Republic celebrates death, darkness, and misery. Take a look at this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5b1A-ANBew&NR=1 in which IR is removing Green color that is symbol of life and hope with black.

Before Green Movement Islamic Repugnant (not Republic) regime considered green color as the color of Islam (do not know why, may be Khomeini fancied green underwear). Today, the Islamic Repugnant regime despises green color. I guess it has recognized its version of Islam had always been black, the symbol of darkness and dark heart.

[WitteKr]

“We are unified by the “un-Islamic” Fire Festival, publicly & openly defying Khamenei’s religious fatwa. I’m told the Fire festival is being celebrated much more than in prior years, in all Iranian cities and villages, with anti regime & Khamenei chants echoing through the land, displaying the anger & resistance of people who are being robbed of their country and culture. Truly, from Abadan to Zand, the sacred & happy fest of the sun, as celebrated by their forefathers for thousands of year, before Judaism & Islam were born, is uniting the Iranian tribes tonight.”
A message to MikVerbrugge. And anther one:
“Looks like Iranians don’t care about Khamenei’s fatwa. It’s the loudest Charshanbe Souri we’ve ever seen.”
Los Angeles Times is following events and and seems to confirm: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/babylonbeyond/2010/03/iran-ancient-fire-festival-pictures-video.html

[WitteKr]

"The explosions continued well past midnight, although the state did what it could to keep Iranians from attending the festivities, including airing Hollywood blockbusters such as Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull on television. None of these tactics seemed to work and the streets were filled with people who for one night seemed to ignore the recent proscriptions of the ruling religious establishment." Read more: http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1972786,00.html#ixzz0iO2sKwrj

[Megan]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJesutjBm8w

[WitteKr]

Video compilation of Chaharshanbe Soori at Persian2English: http://persian2english.com/?p=8545

[Megan]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiXtDaSsvqs

[Megan]

The guy in the background says: thugs are beating and arresting people http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39t2oFxS6fc

[Samuel]

Barry,

"Why are you so vicious ? – all I see are a group of cheerful, laughing, happy people. Is your ideology so bare and empty that you are threatened by the thought of people enjoying their lives?"

Not vicious at all. The Greenies, as accurately reflected in the 2100 GMT entry believe that "In Iran everything is political.” I'm merely attacking their political act by hoping they grill their arse.

My advice to the Greenies is to move to Canada, get as drunk as possible (alcohol is cheap and plentiful) and then build the biggest fire you can and spend all night jumping over it. I understand it's great fun and not at all unsafe.