Iran police forces to guard against possible political demonstrations during bonfire night

Tehran police to guard against festival demos

TEHRAN, Iran — An Iranian semiofficial news agency says police plan to deploy forces to the streets in strength during the night’s fire festival.

The Tuesday report by ISNA news agency quotes Tehran City Police Chief Gen. Hossein Sajedinia as saying police forces will be stationed in the streets to prevent “any event,” apparently referring to possible political demonstrations.

Tuesday night is Chahar-Shanbe Suri, which is celebrated with large bonfires a few days before the Iranian New Year, Nowruz, begins in sunset and is intended to purify the soul. It dates back to Iran’s pre-Islamic past.

Since June’s disputed elections, protesters have held demonstrations coinciding with national events to question the re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.