Fires And Feast As Iranians Prepare For Persian New Year Amid Heightened Tension
- By RFE/RL
Revelers take part in the traditional fire feast known as Chaharshanbe Suri on March 12. The ancient Persian festival of Zoroastrian origin marks the eve of the last Wednesday before the Persian New Year that begins on March 20.
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Iranian women light a lantern on the eve of the Wednesday Feast in Tehran on March 12, ahead of Norouz, the Persian New Year, which begins on March 20 and coincides with the first day of spring.
The celebrations have arrived in an atmosphere of growing frustration with the clerical establishment as a historically low turnout marred a March 1 parliamentary election.
The celebrations have arrived in an atmosphere of growing frustration with the clerical establishment as a historically low turnout marred a March 1 parliamentary election.
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An Iranian couple helps a child jump over a fire as part of the ritual, which dates back to Zoroastrian times.
The official turnout of 41 percent was the lowest for legislative elections since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Critics claim the real turnout was likely even lower.
The official turnout of 41 percent was the lowest for legislative elections since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Critics claim the real turnout was likely even lower.
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Iranians hold hands as they sing and dance late into the night.
In a damning report released on March 8, the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights (OHCHR) said Iran’s “repression of peaceful protests” and “institutional discrimination against women and girls” have led to human rights violations, some of which amount to “crimes against humanity.”
In a damning report released on March 8, the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights (OHCHR) said Iran’s “repression of peaceful protests” and “institutional discrimination against women and girls” have led to human rights violations, some of which amount to “crimes against humanity.”
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People release wishing lanterns into the night sky.
The report noted violations and crimes such as “extrajudicial and unlawful killings and murder, unnecessary and disproportionate use of force, arbitrary deprivation of liberty, torture, rape, enforced disappearances, and gender persecution."
The report noted violations and crimes such as “extrajudicial and unlawful killings and murder, unnecessary and disproportionate use of force, arbitrary deprivation of liberty, torture, rape, enforced disappearances, and gender persecution."
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An Iranian man gets creative.
The report said these violations came about in the context of the Women, Life, Freedom protests sparked by the death of a 22-year-old Iranian-Kurdish woman, Mahsa Amini, in September 2022 after she was arrested for allegedly not observing Iran’s mandatory hijab law.
The report said these violations came about in the context of the Women, Life, Freedom protests sparked by the death of a 22-year-old Iranian-Kurdish woman, Mahsa Amini, in September 2022 after she was arrested for allegedly not observing Iran’s mandatory hijab law.
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Iranians throughout the country took part in the celebrations with some chanting "freedom" in defiance.
The estimated number of protester deaths related to the crackdown exceeds 500.
The estimated number of protester deaths related to the crackdown exceeds 500.
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An Iranian woman jumps over a fire.
Women and girls, often showing their solidarity with Amini and anger at Iran’s clerical leaders by removing their hijabs, played a prominent role in the nationwide protests.
Women and girls, often showing their solidarity with Amini and anger at Iran’s clerical leaders by removing their hijabs, played a prominent role in the nationwide protests.
