Arrest and Referral of 1,000 Individuals to Judicial Authorities on the Night of Chaharshanbe Suri

The head of the police prevention force of Iran announced that 1,389 men and 48 women were arrested during Chaharshanbe Suri on March 14, with 959 individuals referred to judicial authorities and the rest released after signing commitments. According to ISNA, Mohammad Sharafi, the police chief, stated on March 15 that the number of arrests decreased compared to 2015, without mentioning last year's statistics. While he did not specify the reasons for the arrests, some police officials reported the detention of 'norm-breaking individuals' during Chaharshanbe Suri, who allegedly 'engaged in dangerous actions and endangered citizens' lives.' Saeed Montazer al-Mahdi, the police spokesman, had previously stated that 1,304 individuals were arrested during Chaharshanbe Suri in 2015, indicating that 'these individuals were both producers and sellers.' Prior to the last Wednesday of the year in Iran, police and health officials warn about the consequences of using incendiary materials, yet every year, a number of citizens are injured on this day. Meanwhile, Mojtaba Khaledi, the emergency services spokesman, announced that the latest number of injuries from Chaharshanbe Suri incidents was 2,351, indicating a 40% decrease compared to the previous year. He also reported that 600 of the injured were hospitalized, showing a 60% decrease from last year. According to Khaledi, two individuals died in these incidents, and the condition of six other injured individuals is 'critical,' including a 27-year-old man in Tehran who had both hands and feet amputated. The report also noted that three other severely injured individuals are in Arak and two in Isfahan. Emergency officials reported that on Tuesday, a 12-year-old boy in southern Tehran was killed due to an explosion of incendiary materials. Additionally, IRNA reported on Wednesday that a 23-year-old man died from severe injuries caused by an explosion in Baharestan, Isfahan. On the evening of Friday, March 10, an explosion occurred in the basement of a house in the Araz Ali neighborhood (Shahriar) during the construction of a homemade firecracker, resulting in eight deaths and two injuries. The decrease in Chaharshanbe Suri injuries in Iran coincides with social media campaigns encouraging users not to use firecrackers. Furthermore, following the Plasco building fire and collapse, online campaigns titled 'No to Dangerous Chaharshanbe Suri' have been formed. In 2014, the Iranian Student Polling Center (ISPA) reported that 85.4% of respondents supported allocating a public space for fireworks and light displays by an organization such as the municipality. However, some government officials and Islamic Republic institutions oppose holding official ceremonies for this tradition. Meanwhile, Mohammad Kazem Nazari, the governor of Boyer-Ahmad County in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province, announced on Tuesday that calls from several NGOs for gatherings around Yasuj on the last Wednesday of the year are 'illegal.' Chaharshanbe Suri is one of the ancient celebrations of Iranians held on the eve of Nowruz; lighting fires and jumping over them are among the customs of this ritual. The Chaharshanbe Suri ceremony is also celebrated in various regions of Tajikistan, Afghanistan, and especially among Kurds. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, reiterated his previous views on March 14, stating that 'Chaharshanbe Suri has no religious basis and it is advisable to avoid it.' Several Shia clerics have repeatedly announced that the last Wednesday of the year ceremony has 'no religious basis' and is 'a form of fire worship.' Among them, Ayatollah Lotfollah Safi Golpaygani and Ayatollah Jafar Subhani have labeled Chaharshanbe Suri as 'superstition' and declared that holding this ceremony is 'not permissible.'