Iran Focus
Protestors gathered and burned down posters of Iranian leaders hung on lampposts in Mirdamad Street in Tehran.
Despite a massive crackdown to prevent this years fire festival from turning into scenes of anti-governments protests, young people have taken to the streets across Iran to defy the government ban and celebrate the last Tuesday of the Persian year with a big bang.
During the festival, known as chaharshanbeh souri literally, Feast of Wednesday people jump over bonfires to drive away evil. Since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, however, Irans theocratic leaders have made strenuous efforts to stamp out the festivities, but to no avail. In recent years, there have been extensive clashes between festive crowds and the security forces deployed to prevent street celebrations. This year the event falls on March 14.
Irans main opposition group, the Mojahedin-e Khalq (MeK), has issued an appeal to people across the country to take part in the celebrations on the night and turn it into an anti-government protest.
Already steps have been taken to prevent widespread protests from flaring during the traditional Persian festival celebrated by Iranians for over 2,500 years.
