Reporting by PMOI/MEK
Iran, February 16, 2020—Students of Amir Kabir University in the Iranian capital Tehran held a peaceful rally on Sunday, February 16. This gathering aimed to protest the regime’s deadly crackdown of the November 2019 uprising that left over 1,500 killed, more than 4,000 wounded and over 12,000 arrested.
February 16 – Tehran, #Iran
Amir Kabir University students protesting the regime's upcoming sham Majlis (parliamentary) elections on February 21 & in support of #IranProtests.pic.twitter.com/RuvIIq65FN— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) February 16, 2020
The protesting students were also demonstrating the downing of the Ukraine International Airlines flight PS752 by the regime’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) that left all 176 passengers and crew killed. The mullahs’ regime continues to refuse to hand over the plane’s black boxes to any foreign country.
Iranian opposition President Maryam Rajavi, head of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), tweeted in memory of the 176 people killed in the Ukraine airliner tragedy. Sunday marked the 40th day after the IRGC downed the plane and Iranians traditionally hold ceremonies in memories of their passed loved ones 40 days after their deaths.
“On the 40th-day memorial of those who lost their lives in the IRGC’s downing of the Ukrainian passenger airliner, we honor their memory and express sympathy with their families,” Madam Rajavi said.
On the 40th-day memorial of those who lost their lives in the IRGC’s downing of the Ukrainian passenger airliner, we honor their memory and express sympathy with their families. #UkrainianPlane #Iranhttps://t.co/E5DThfqhYC pic.twitter.com/ujcL3OiC3i
— Maryam Rajavi (@Maryam_Rajavi) February 16, 2020
The students’ protests also focused on the country’s status quo with poverty escalating and against the regime’s sham Majlis (parliamentary) elections scheduled for February 21. Senior regime officials have literally been begging the Iranian people for a high voter turnout in these elections, knowing they need to take advantage of the staged event as a so-called vote of confidence for their rule. Iranians, on the other hand, are constantly calling for a nationwide boycott.
On Sunday the protesting students were chanting:
“Be afraid, we’re all together!”
“People are struggling in poverty, they’re seeking votes!” referring to regime officials and candidates neglecting the population’s basic needs and only seeking their own interests.
“From Iran to Baghdad, poverty, cruelty, and dictatorship!”
“1,500 people were killed in the November protests!”
February 16 – Tehran, #Iran
Amir Kabir University students chanting:
"Be afraid, we're all together"
"People are in poverty, they're seeking votes"
"From Iran to Baghdad – Poverty, cruelty & dictatorship"
"1,500 were killed in our November 2019 protests"pic.twitter.com/onT2ExeQ2G— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) February 16, 2020
“All mothers are in grief, the entire country is marshland,” referring to the IRGC opening fire on protesters in the city of Mahshahr, southwest Iran, and massacring at least 130 people in a nearby marsh field.
“Hollow security in a hollow republic!” the students also chanted targeting the regime in its entirety.
Despite the peaceful nature of the students’ gathering, regime officials dispatched plainclothes agents and campus security personnel to attack their rally. The protesting students formed a human chain to resist these attacks.
The students were also heard chanting:
“Don’t call me a seditionist! You’re the sedition, you oppressor!”
“Where is justice?!”
The students of Amir Kabir and other universities in Tehran and other Iranian cities held similar protests in January after regime officials admitted that the IRGC has shot down the Ukrainian passenger plane. In their demonstrations, the students criticized regime officials for lying to the public and called on Khamenei to resign. They made it clear that they don't want this regime.
