Tag Archives: #4ShanbeSuri

Video Collection: Iran Festival of Fire, Day of Revelry and Resistance

This post contains video from Iran allegedly taken during the Nowruz Festival of Fire called Chahar Shanbe Soori. These videos are uploaded to the Internet after being filmed by people in the streets, most often with cell-phone video recorders. While I believe they are from March 16, 2010 (today) and that they are authentic, I [...]

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Iranian police arrest 50 people at traditional festival

(BBC) | March 17, 2010 Iranian police say they have arrested 50 people during clashes between opposition supporters and police in Tehran during a new year festival. The Feast of Fire comes on the eve of the Persian new year, but religious leaders had told Iranians celebrating it was “un-Islamic”. There were a number of [...]

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Iran Braces for Fire Festival Crackdown

(Huffington Post) | March 15, 2010 By Sahar Sepehri Traditional pre-Islamic celebration could be occasion for opposition protests. Iranian officials are warning the opposition not to turn an ancient fire festival this week into a protest against the government. The celebration of Chaharshanbe Soori, Red Wednesday, on the evening March 16 marks the last Wednesday [...]

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Khamenei Denounces Iranian New Year Fire Festival (Chahar Shanbe Soori)

Radio Zamaaneh reports that Khamenei has denounced the festival of Chahar Shanbe Soori, marking the start of Iranian New Year celebrations: Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei described the ceremonies connected with the fire festival on the last Wednesday Eve of the Iranian year “void of religious roots and cause of great harm and corruption.” The [...]

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Red Wednesday Trailer – Chahar Shanbe Soori

On Wednesday, Iranians will celebrate the ancient fire festival of Chahar Shanbe Soori. Dating back to the time of the Zoroastrian’s (before Islam came to Iran) people set fires and jump of them at the start of the new year in an act of spiritual cleansing. Here is the Wikipedia page on Chahar Shanbe Soori. [...]

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Feature: Instagrams from Iran (picture compilation)

A few pictures from Iran, taken by ordinary people and posted to Instagram

Iran Feature: Former Detainee Sarah Shourd “The Plight of Iranians and 3 Decades of US Foreign Policy”

The incredible thing for me was that so many Iranians worldwide took the time to care about us despite the thousands of other political prisoners they have to worry about. “I’m an Iranian boy ashamed for what our government did to three American hikers,” another message on Facebook says. “I want you to know Iranian people are with you and against their own government. Iran’s regime is not chosen by Iranian people. They kill and torture us and we are all in a very big prison named Iran.”

Iran Feature: The Supreme Leader Is Worried — Three Developments You Probably Don’t Know

Our partner, EAWorldView, has published a ground-breaking piece on Iran’s Supreme Leader. This is a must-read.

Live-blog: Russia, what’s next?

Live-blog: Egypt Elections, Day 1

A historic day: The first post-Mubarak elections in Egypt

Journalist Mona Eltahawy’s harrowing ordeal – beating, sexual assault and arrest in Egypt – in her own words and tweets

“The past 12 hrs were painful and surreal but I know I got off much much easier than so many other Egyptians.”