In Millennial Fire Festival, Iranian women burn veils and protest against Khamenei’s regime

Iran lived last night new manifestations during the millennium fire festivalbefore the Persian New Year, during which they once again shouted “woman, life, freedom” and the end of the islamic republic.

The holiday of “Charshanbe Suri” It has Zoroastrian roots and is celebrated by Iranians by jumping and dancing around bonfires to bring good fortune on the Persian New Year which begins on March 21.

Last night, young Iranians used the 1,700-year-old pre-Islamic holiday to rekindle protests sparked by the Death in September of Mahsa Amini after being arrested for not wearing the hijab properly.

As well as jumping over bonfires, some women threw their veils into the fire shouting “woman, life, freedom”, according to videos shared by activists on social media.

They also danced with their hair in the air in cities like Tehranto the applause of those present.

In addition to the capital, there have been demonstrations in cities such as Kamyaran, Rasht, Karaj or Gorgan.

The fresh signs of social discontent came after activists called to take to the streets again and revive some protests that had all but died down following a crackdown that left nearly 500 dead and for which four protesters were hangedone of them in public.

Faced with the announcement of new demonstrations, the authorities did not hesitate to alert the population and announce the deployment of police officers.

The chief of police of the Tehran region, Abbas Ali Mohammedianannounced yesterday that it would deploy officers across the capital to deal with “those who disturb the peace”.

Amini’s death in police custody after being arrested for not wearing her headscarf sparked the biggest protests in decades against the Islamic Republicled by young people shouting “woman, life, freedom”, with a marked feminist tone.

The protests have all but died down, but many women continue their fight by leaving their long hair up in the air, in a gesture of disobedience to laws they deem unjust.

(With information from EFE)

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