Reporting by PMOI/MEK
Iran, September 18, 2020—While the genocidal regime ruling Iran intended to install a climate of fear in the recent executions of political prisoners Navid Afkari and Mostafa Salehi, the Iranian people are showing more signs of resistance and courage against the mullahs’ murderous apparatus.
More than 800 family members, friends and locals gathered at the graveside of Navid Afkari, a 27-year old Iranian wrestling champion executed on September 12, to mark the memory of this courageous young Iranian. This gathering, held in the village of Sangar near the city of Shiraz, south-central Iran, saw the participants shouting, “Navid the champion!”
Navid’s mother and family members also laid flowers on Navid’s care as the over 800 participants in this ceremony expressed their outrage and fury over the regime’s atrocities.
September 17 – #Iran
Family members and friends of #NavidAfkari gathered at his grave for a ceremony in his memory.
People are heard shouting: "Navid the champion!" pic.twitter.com/IGTwutsKXi— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) September 18, 2020
Also, on Thursday, in the town of Kahrizsang of Isfahan province, central Iran, over 1,000 people from various areas joined the family and friends of Mostafa Salehi to take part in a ceremony in his memory. Salehi was executed on August 5 for his participation in protests during the December 2017 / January 2018 nationwide uprising.
Participants expressed their sympathy with the family of Mostafa Salehi in memory of his courage and not succumbing into the regime’s horrific torture and demands of a televised confession interview.
“Be proud of Mostafa. Do not be in sorrow or discouraged. He is a martyr and died for the freedom of the Iranian people. We are with you,” many of the participants said to the family and friends of Mostafa Salehi at the ceremony.
September 17—Kahrizsang, central #Iran
Family and friends of Mostafa Salehi held a ceremony marking the 40th day of his execution.
Salehi was tortured into confessing to crimes he did not commit after participating in protests.#StopExecutionsInIran pic.twitter.com/68ftV4HMDy— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) September 17, 2020
In the city of Behbahan, arrangements were made by locals to hold a ceremony on Thursday in memory of Navid Afkar and continue into a vigil. Alarmed authorities dispatched armed security forces into the city in fear of this gathering and closed various streets to prevent any possibility of this gathering leading into anti-regime protests. It is worth noting that the gathering began at 8:30 pm local time and continued into the night. Reports indicate a number of people were arrested.
It is worth noting that the city of Behbahan was one of the main centers of protests and massive revolts during the November 2019 uprising and authorities are terrified of anything sparking anti-regime protests again.
Behbahan, southwest #Iran
Protesting the recent gasoline price hike, locals are seen torching the regime's Bank Melli branch & clashing with security forces.#IranProtestspic.twitter.com/mmr5iwjmH7— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) November 16, 2019
The public outrage toward regime official and the national solidarity that has resulted from the execution of political prisoners shows the regime’s impasse. On the one hand, Iranian officials want to contain the growing dissent among the population, but they don’t want to respond to the people’s needs. They are trying to create a climate of fear through execution of political prisoners and heavy-handed sentences doled out to protesters, but these measures are bringing the people together and making them more sincere in their efforts to overthrow the regime.
