At least 11 people died and more than 3,500 were injured in various cities in Iran last night for protests, announced by activists, during the holiday of Charshanbe Suri (the Fire Festival), a traditional celebration held on the night between the last Tuesday and Wednesday of the Iranian year, which ends on March 20. This was stated by Jafar Miadfar, head of the National Organization for Medical Emergencies, speaking, in a speech on state television, of incidents that occurred during celebrations in which participants jump over a fire to drive away evil spirits.
The holiday is considered pagan by the vast majority of Shiite clergy and the police chief had made it known that he considered the event "dangerous". No information was provided about any arrests.
During the celebrations yesterday night, many people protested against the government in various cities of the country, including Tehran, Isfahan, Rasht and Saqqez. On the occasion of Charshanbesuri, yesterday activists had called for three days of protests to continue the anti-government demonstrations that began in September after the death of Mahsa Amini, the 22-year-old of Kurdish origin who lost her life after being taken into custody by the moral police because she did not wear the veil correctly.