Police: Gathering on the Night of Last Wednesday of the Year is Prohibited

Taqi Mehri, head of the preventive police of Iran's Law Enforcement Force, stated on Sunday, March 3, that gatherings for the celebration of "Chaharshanbe Suri" (the last Wednesday of the year) are prohibited and law enforcement will not allow such gatherings. According to the Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA), Mehri emphasized that, as in previous years, the police will act according to the law against those who create disturbances for others and block main thoroughfares. He also noted that special programs are in place this year to prevent the entry of dangerous fireworks that could harm the youth of the country. In recent years, as the end of the solar year approaches, judicial and law enforcement officials in Iran have consistently warned about dealing with participants in Chaharshanbe Suri gatherings. The Chaharshanbe Suri ceremony is held annually in Iran, where, in addition to police warnings, several senior clerics consider the celebration un-Islamic and urge people to refrain from participating. Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, previously issued a fatwa in 2009 stating that the Chaharshanbe Suri ceremony "not only has no religious basis but also entails much harm and corruption, making it advisable to avoid it." In this context, 50 people were injured during the Chaharshanbe Suri celebrations in Tehran. Various commentators have discussed the nature of joy in Iranian society and the political implications of the celebrations, particularly in light of the historical significance of Chaharshanbe Suri in the context of social movements such as the Green Movement. Security measures for Chaharshanbe Suri have included a ban on motorcycle traffic in Tehran.