On the third anniversary of the “Bloody Friday of Zahedan,” a day etched in Iran’s history as a symbol of the clerical regime’s brutality, the spirit of resistance was commemorated not with silent mourning, but with a nationwide wave of defiant acts. On September 30, PMOI Resistance Units across Iran launched a coordinated campaign, honoring the more than 100 Baluchi citizens massacred by the regime’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) in 2022 and renewing their pledge to continue the uprising until victory.
These widespread activities demonstrate that the regime’s strategy of violent suppression has failed to instill fear. Instead, it has galvanized the resolve of an organized and determined opposition committed to overthrowing the theocracy.
An unforgotten atrocity
The massacre on September 30, 2022, was a defining moment of the 2022 nationwide uprising. Citizens in Zahedan had gathered for a peaceful demonstration after Friday prayers to protest the rape of a 15-year-old Baluch girl by a local police commander. The regime responded with indiscriminate and lethal force, opening fire on defenseless protestors and worshippers.
This atrocity exposed the regime’s systematic oppression of ethnic and religious minorities. The memory of the victims, including 7-year-old Hasti Narouyi, who was killed while attending prayers, and Khodanur Lojei, whose image tied to a pole became an international symbol of resistance, continues to fuel the popular demand for justice and freedom. For three consecutive years following the massacre, the people of Baluchestan have kept the banner of uprising raised during Friday prayers, rejecting the regime’s attempts at reconciliation and sending a clear message of defiance.
The resistance responds: a nationwide tapestry of defiance
On the third anniversary, PMOI Resistance Units transformed grief into organized action across the country. In Zahedan, the heart of the uprising, motorcyclists held a parade carrying pictures of the martyrs, chanting the unifying slogan, “From Zahedan to Tehran, I sacrifice my life for Iran.”
This spirit of defiance echoed powerfully in the nation’s capital and other major cities:
- Tehran: Resistance Units projected images on the Imam Ali Highway with the message, “The flame of the uprising must be spread everywhere.” In another act of defiance, they held a candlelit march with the emblem of the National Liberation Army.
- Isfahan: Banners were raised declaring, “The answer to Bloody Friday is fire for fire,” and “The cry of Baluchestan is death to the oppressor.”
- Mashhad: Images appeared in public spaces with the message, “Rebellious Iran is rising,” and “The overthrow of the anti-human enemy is inevitable.”
- Karaj: Activists boldly proclaimed, “The response to the Bloody Friday massacre is uprising until the regime is overthrown.”
- Shiraz: Slogans echoed the national sentiment: “Brave Baluch fighters roared, from Zahedan to Tehran, I sacrifice my life for Iran.”
- Yazd: A banner declared the movement’s strategy: “The only way to salvation for the people is a national liberation army.”
A unifying message: rejecting all forms of dictatorship
Crucially, the slogans used by the Resistance Units articulated a clear political vision for a future free from all forms of tyranny. The chant “Death to the oppressor, be it the Shah or the Leader” was seen in cities from Zahedan to Rudsar, Kohdasht, and Khusf. This slogan signifies a definitive rejection of both the past monarchy and the current religious dictatorship, underscoring the Iranian people’s demand for a truly democratic republic.
Furthermore, slogans such as “Death to Khamenei, Hail to Rajavi” and “Our choice is Maryam Rajavi” were displayed, highlighting the organized leadership and clear alternative presented by the Iranian Resistance. This demonstrates that the protests are not random outbursts but are guided by a cohesive movement with a defined goal and leadership.
The coordinated actions on the anniversary of the Zahedan massacre send an unequivocal message: the regime’s brutality has only strengthened the people’s resolve. The memory of the martyrs is not a source of despair but a catalyst for mobilization. Led by the PMOI Resistance Units, the Iranian people are turning their grief into an organized force for change, committed to their vow, “We stand until the end.”