Fire Ritual With Political Connotations

by Julie Jigsawnovich

Today many Iranians celebrate Chahar Shanbeh Soori, an ancient Persian fire ritual which pre-dates Islam. Celebrations related to Zoroastrian religion and the cultures that have existed in Iran since long before Arabs invaded carry political connotations--especially in the current political atmosphere, when members of Iran's government are seeking to increase ties with Arab Islamic countries. Celebrating Persian history and culture is becoming increasingly controversial in the Islamic Republic.

Although the traditional Chahar Shanbeh Soorihe festivities include jumping over bonfires, the above photo reflects support for Iran's Green Movement, with the "V" for victory in green fire. The Green Movement includes Iranians of many different faiths, including Islam, Zoroastrianism, and others, as well as atheists and agnostics. Some Green Movement members support the current form of Iranian government and seek to reform or transform some laws, while others seek to create a different form of government for Iran, especially one that separates religion and government. Most Iranians I've spoken with feel that this separation is important, either because they say the religious laws are too restrictive, or because they feel that mixing government with religion corrupts the religion. Even some religious clerics, such as Grand Ayatollah Montazeri, condemned religious dictatorship.
For more information about Chahar Shanbeh Soori, see: http://www.cais-soas.com/CAIS/about_cais.htm

Shia cleric defends civil rights: Grand Ayatollah Montazeri's Fatwa

Grand Ayatollah Montazeri's Fatwa is heartening and stereotype-breaking. Here are some excerpts:

"A political system based on force, oppression, changing people’s votes, killing, closure [of organs of civil society], arresting [people] and using Stalinist and medieval torture, creating repression, censorship of newspapers, interruption of the means of mass communications, jailing the enlightened and the elite of society for false reasons, and forcing them to make false confessions in jail, is condemned and illegitimate. And, according to the teachings of the Prophet and his descendants confessions in jail have no religious or legal validity and cannot be the criterion for action [against the confessor].

The courageous people of Iran are also aware of such confessions — the examples of which can be found in the history of communist and fascist regimes — and are aware that such confessions and fake television interviews are extracted from their jailed children under duress and torture, in order to hide the oppression and injustice, and in order to present a distorted image of the peaceful and lawful protests of the people. The [government] officials who are responsible for such acts must be aware that such acts are sinful, and are punishable both religiously and by law. Iran belongs to the people, not to you and me, and they make the decisions, and the officials are their servants. People must be able to gather peacefully, and defend their rights both in writing and orally."

For the full text, please visit:
http://tehranbureau.com/grand-ayatollah-montazeris-fatwa/