Last update: 10:00 pm CET
Iran’s nationwide uprising is marking its 63rd day on Thursday as people from all walks of life are continuing their protests through strikes, rallies and gatherings, and attacks against the mullahs’ regime in its entirety.
Protests in Iran have to this day expanded to at least 227 cities. Over 560 people have been killed and more than 30,000 are arrested by the regime’s forces, according to sources of Iranian opposition People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK). The names of 427 killed protesters have been published by the PMOI/MEK. Reports indicate the regime’s security forces killed at least ten protesters on Tuesday, November 15.
As the regime’s security force apparatus is escalating its deadly crackdown against the Iranian people, protesters are taking their measures to the next level by continuously targeting offices of local representatives of regime Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, sites of the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) and the paramilitary Basij, attacking security units and forcing them to flee while torching their vehicles and motorcycles. Security buildings in many cities across the country, especially in Kurdish regions, have fallen into the locals’ hands.
Initial reports on Thursday indicate merchants continuing their strikes for a third consecutive day in Tehran and at least 15 other cities. The famous bazaars of Tehran, Isfahan, and Tabriz are all on strike. Other cities where strikes have been reported include Ilam, Rask, Surak, Qazvin, Bandar Abbas, Gorgan, Kamyaran, Marivan, Javanrud, Ravansar, and Khorramabad.
November 17 – #Iran
Locals are on strike and continuing the nationwide protests against the regime on the 63rd day of the uprising.Gorgan – Kamyaran – Marivan – Someh Sara#IranRevolution2022#اعتصابات_سراسری pic.twitter.com/R69g1AkZtB
— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) November 17, 2022
Activists in Bukan are reporting that protesters are in the streets establishing roadblocks and taking control of their districts as unrest continues in this city of northwest Iran. The city has seen some very fierce reports since the morning. Security forces opened fire on protesters and locals report that at least one person has been killed.
Protests were also reported in Sanandaj, where protesters set roadblocks and clashed with security forces.
November 17 – Bukan, northwest #Iran
Initial reports indicate regime security forces opening fire on protesters, killing at least one and injuring several others.#IranRevolution2022#مرگ_بر_ستمگر_چه_شاه_باشه_چه_رهبر pic.twitter.com/qM2rdTT2FB— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) November 17, 2022
Protests in Bukan continued late into the night
Protesters took control of several government buildings. In Sanandaj too clashes were intense between protesters and security forces dispatched to quell the demonstrations. Other cities joined the protests throughout the day, including Mashhad, Arak, Bijar, Masal, Eyvanakey, Piranshahr, and Saqqez. In many cities, protesters resisted the regime’s repressive forces and targeted government buildings used by security forces and ruling authorities.
In Tehran, protests were reported in several districts, including Kianpars, Ekbatan, Narmak, Shahrak-e Gharb, Naziabad, and Gisha. Protesters blocked streets and clashed with security forces.
Fierce protests continued in several cities through the night, including Khomeyn, Dorud, Hamedan, Baghmalek, Isfahan, Qorveh, Mahabad, Dayyer, Fuladshahr, and Karaj. Protesters lit fires in streets, clashed with security forces by throwing stones, and by blocking roads. Security forces continued to try to quell protests by opening fire and teargas on civilians, but to no avail. Protesters set fire to regime centers and government buildings in response to repression.
In Tehran, protests continued in several districts, including Punak, Tehransar, Ekbatan, and Shahr-e Ziba.
Wednesday began with unprecedented strikes by merchants in Tehran and at least 45 other cities across the country for the second day, parallel to students in many universities boycotting their classes in solidarity with the Iranian people’s nationwide uprising. Workers of the famous Isfahan steel mill, once the largest such site in the Middle East, were on strike for a second day.
Protesters across the country specifically seeking to overthrow the mullahs’ regime and this is evident in the nationwide slogans of: “Death to Khamenei!” “Death to the dictator!” “Death to the oppressor! Be it the Shah or [Khamenei]!” and “This is no longer a protest; this is the sound of a revolution!”
The protests continued on Wednesday with strikes by shop owners in dozens of cities, including Tehran, Bukan, Sanandaj, Fasa, Mashhad, Abadeh, Rasht, Babol, Behbehan, Kazerun, Tabriz, Fuladshahr, Ahvaz, Khorramabad, Najafabad, Borujerd, Eslamshahr, Nikshahr, Yasuj, Bijar and Shahin Shahr.
The city of Kamyaran also saw mass protests on Wednesday as locals gathered to mourn the death of Foad Mohammadi, shot and killed by security forces two days ago. Iranian authorities forced his family to bury in the dark of the night on Tuesday to prevent mass protest rallies. But the citizens showed up the next morning and held a massive rally, in which they vowed to continue his path and chanted slogans against the regime. Security forces tried to disperse the protesters by opening fire on them. But the people held their ground and resisted with bare hands and forced the repressive forces to retreat.
Protests were also reported in Tehran’s Metal Bazaar, where security forces attacked protesters with teargas and tried to disperse them. The protesters resisted and prevented the repressive forces from breaking their rallies, with the confrontation continuing for at least five hours.
Students also held protest rallies on Wednesday. At least a dozen universities held protest rallies. Videos were obtained from demonstrations at Ahvaz Jondi Shapur University, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Tehran Tarbiat Modares University, Sanandaj University, and Azad University of Tabriz.
Meanwhile, in Tehran, protest rallies continued in several locations despite heavy security measures, including Metal Bazaar and Shush Square. Citizens sighted helicopters flying over the city to control and quell the protests.
In Mashhad, protesters lit fires in streets and held protest rallies. When security forces were dispatched to quell the demonstrations, the protesters held their ground and resisted against them.
Protests and clashes continued in Tehran’s Shadabad Metal Bazaar throughout the day. According to citizens, protesters and security forces clashed for more than five hours. Security forces opened fire on the protesters and used teargas and live ammunition against unarmed civilians.
At the same time, protests continued in other parts of Tehran and the people continued their rallies despite facing police brutality. Several videos show security forces beating and shooting at protesters.
Protests also continued in several other cities across Iran on Wednesday. The situation was especially tense in Sanandaj, where security forces cracked down on a protest rally by the students of Kurdistan University. Videos show security forces shooting at the students, who have nothing to defend themselves.
Protests intensified and spread to more cities at dusk. Protest rallies were reported in Kermanshah, Sanandaj, Bukan, Saqqez, Yazd, Izeh, Tabriz, Saveh, Isfahan, Qorveh, Dorud, Babol, Zanjan, and many areas in Tehran. In Izeh, protesters set fire to a regime building in protest to the brutal crackdown on peaceful rallies. In many cities, protesters lit fires in the streets and prevented security forces from commuting to crack down on protests.
Iranian opposition NCRI President-elect Maryam Rajavi praised the Iranian people and brave protesters across the country who continue the revolution against the regime despite the mullahs’ ruthless crackdown. “On the second day of the November 2019 uprising anniversary, and the third month of Iran’s uprising, protesters rose up for freedom from Tehran’s Shadabad Bazaar to the Steel Mill Factory in Isfahan, from Sanandaj to Mahabad, Marvdasht, Izeh, Bandar Lengeh, and Evaz in Fars Province,” she said.
“Chanting ‘Death to the dictator’ and by attacking the centers of suppression, Iran protesters demonstrated that the uprising for freedom will carry on to end of mullahs’ oppression and dictatorship,” the NCRI President-elect highlighted.
On 2nd day of Nov. 2019 anniversary, &3rd month of #Iran uprising, protesters rose up for freedom from Tehran’s Shadabad Bazaar to the Steel Mill Factory in Isfahan, from Sanandaj to Mahabad, Marvdasht, Izeh, Bandar Lengeh, & Evaz in Fars Province.#IranRevolution pic.twitter.com/7GgxKTzLoV
— Maryam Rajavi (@Maryam_Rajavi) November 16, 2022
The protests in Iran began following the death of Mahsa Amini. Mahsa (Zhina) Amini, a 22-year-old woman from the city of Saqqez in Kurdistan Province, western Iran, who traveled to Tehran with her family, was arrested on Tuesday, September 13, at the entry of Haqqani Highway by the regime’s so-called “Guidance Patrol” and transferred to the “Moral Security” agency.
She was brutally beaten by the morality police and died of her wounds in a Tehran hospital on September 16. The event triggered protests that quickly spread across Iran and rekindled the people’s desire to overthrow the regime.
