Reporting by PMOI/MEK
Iran, November 24, 2019—Many cities, towns and villages spread across Iran witnessed demonstrations, protests and a nationwide uprising, continuing into its tenth consecutive day on Sunday, November 24. In Tehran and dozens of other cities authorities are imposing martial in response to unprecedented unrests and protests as the Iranian people have risen in at least 165 cities checkered across the country.
The network affiliated to the Iranian opposition PMOI/MEK inside Iran confirms that at least 300 are confirmed killed by regime officials, along with over 4,000 people injured by the regime’s oppressive security forces. Reports also indicate more 10,000 protesters have been arrested. The actual statistics could unfortunately be far higher. Netblocks is reporting a gradual and calculated return of internet access in Iran.
Protesters are specifically raising political demands by directly targeting senior regime officials and the entire mullahs’ apparatus. In their slogans, protesters are demanding the toppling of the Iranian regime and placing their crosshairs on the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, President Hassan Rouhani and the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) as the root of the Iranian people’s ongoing miseries.
Recent reports obtained by the MEK network inside the country are shedding light on the crackdown methods used specifically in the city of Tabriz in northwest Iran.
“Most of the clashes in Tabriz were focused on Pasdaran highway. The brave demonstrators immediately began ripping down security cameras on this freeway and clashed with the regime’s security forces. In the poorer areas around the highway, people were seen torching the security forces’ busses. The regime used small drones to identify protesters and locals were raising awareness among their ranks. Currently, authorities are dispatching a large number of oppressive forces throughout the city, especially in key areas. Officials are terrified of public reaction.”
A video circulating in social media also indicates the regime’s IRGC and other security forces using schools as detention centers and prisons where recently arrested protesters are detained. Footage shows The Quds Girls Elementary School where security forces are transferring blindfolded and handcuffed individuals.
In regards to the latest numbers of protesters killed, wounded and arrested, it goes without saying that the actual statistics are far higher and the mullahs’ regime is frantically focused on cloaking the horrendous scope of its atrocious crimes. The bodies of many of those killed in the recent uprising have been transferred in large numbers from hospitals or where they were killed by the IRGC and other security, and taken to unknown locations.
The number of those injured in this nationwide uprising is definitely far higher than 4,000 and it is for certain that arrests goes well beyond the 10,000 mark in these protests that havespread to over 165 cities, towns and villages. The prisons in Tehran, including Evin and Fashafaviyeh prisons, are full of detainees and they are facing a major shortage in space.
Javad Javeednia, a senior judiciary official involved in internet affairs, referred to the regime’s escalating concerns. “Today, the internet is our frontline and the enemy has prepared its ranks for war, providing education and other criteria against the [mullahs’ regime],” he said. “We should sit down and think how much we have been able to talk about our revolution (read spread the mullahs’ propaganda) in foreign websites and provide that to 80 million Iranians.”
Recent reports indicate 3,000 people arrested in the cities of Eslamshahr, Shahriar, Quds Town and Karaj, and the Sadeghiyeh and Tehranpars districts of Tehran have been transferred to the Fashafaviyeh prison near Khomeini International Airport, south of Tehran.
The state-run Hamshahri daily wrote, “First estimates indicate at least 3,000 ATM machines were damaged” in the recent uprising. 63 regime-linked banks were torched in the city of Isfahan alone and 40 banks in the city of Khorramshahr, the piece adds.
Newly obtained video from Sunday, November 17, shows protesters in Sattar Khan Avenue of Tehran, the Iranian capital, blocking the road and taking control over their local district.
Tehran, #Iran
Ferdows district
Sunday, November 17
Youths seen blocking roads.#IranProtestspic.twitter.com/7fvYxK8eWs— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) November 24, 2019
Mohammad Taghi Shah-Cheraghi, head of the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) in the city of Qom, central Iran, acknowledged the role of the Iranian opposition People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) in the recent uprising across Iran. “The role of the MEK was significant in the recent events that engulfed the country. They employed management and influence, resulting in major damages in some cities,” he said in remarks prior to the Friday prayers on November 22.
Newly obtained video from Sunday, November 17, shows protesters in Isfahan, central Iran, blocking roads by starting fires and taking control over their local districts.
Isfahan, central #Iran
Sunday, November 17
Protesters blocking roads by starting fires.#IranProtestspic.twitter.com/47YXkE3Wij— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) November 24, 2019
“Iran’s economy suffered $1.478 billion during the period when the internet was shut down for four days,” according to the regime’s own state-run Eghtesad (Economy) Online daily. “For now, the internet will not be reestablished in the provinces of Kermanshah, Kurdistan, Alborz and Khuzestan.”
Also in Isfahan, recently obtained footage shows clashes between protesters and the regime’s oppressive anti-riot units on Saturday, November 16.
Isfahan, central #Iran
Saturday, November 16
Protesting youth clashing with the regime's oppressive security forces.#IranProtestspic.twitter.com/nXFbLPP5Gs— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) November 24, 2019
Reports from the regime’s Majlis (parliament) indicates a growing rift in the regime’s senior ranks.
“Can a plan be imposed on the people by force? What right-minded individual is willing to receive 100,000 or 200,000 tomans [around $15-20] a month and yet endure the resulting inflation?” asked Majlis member Massoud Rezaie. “Not only did we witness mismanagement, they did not even ask the opinion of Majlis members who time and again said this year we will not have any increase in gasoline prices.”
Mahmoud Sadeghi, another Majlis member, also voiced his discontent. “Two days after the gasoline price hike and widespread protests across the country, and the presentation of various plans by Majlis members to cancel or balance this blueprint, [Iranian regime Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei] very specifically voiced his support for the plan on Sunday, November 17. He also sent a memo to the Majlis speaker preventing the body members from expressing any opposition in this regard,” he said.
In Kerman, a city in south-central Iran, youths were reported to have attacked the house of Khamenei’s former representative on Sunday, November 24. They also chanted slogans against senior regime officials. Protesting youths have in the recent uprising targeted many centers related directly to the ruling mullahs’ regime.
Reports indicate residents in Isfahan blocked the “25 Aban” street and clashed with state security forces and plainclothes agents on Sunday, November 24.
In the city of Malard, youth were scene involved in hit-and-run skirmishes with the IRGC, forcing the regime’s security units to fire bird-shots in fear of the spreading protests.
Students of Tehran’s Science and Technology University held a rally on Sunday, November 24, protesting poor living conditions and harsh security measures imposed on the society.
Tehran, #Iran
Sunday, November 24
Students of Science & Technology University protesting poor living conditions & massive security measures.#IranProtests pic.twitter.com/yDDVikZgsL— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) November 24, 2019
House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi expressed her support for the Iranian people’s uprising.
“Reports that more than 100 protestors have been killed by Iranian security forces raise serious concerns. All Iranians should be able to make their voices heard without fear of reprisal. Iran must immediately restore full internet access and allow all to speak out,” she said.
Reports that more than 100 protestors have been killed by Iranian security forces raise serious concerns. All Iranians should be able to make their voices heard without fear of reprisal. Iran must immediately restore full internet access and allow all to speak out.
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) November 24, 2019
Representative Eliot Engel, Chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee, condemned the Iranian regime’s crackdown against the recent uprising. “I condemn the Iranian regime’s use of violence against protestors and internet shutoff. Iranians must be allowed to peacefully protest and freely communicate,” he said.
Chairman @RepEliotEngel: I condemn the Iranian regime’s use of violence against protestors and internet shutoff. Iranians must be allowed to peacefully protest and freely communicate.https://t.co/HGWgpVW5Uo
— House Foreign Affairs Committee (@HouseForeign) November 21, 2019
If the United States and the European Union hold the Iranian regime accountable, they can prevent a blood bath, a Bloomberg article reads. The Iranian regime continues its internet crackdown indicating the mullahs’ concerns over the publication of footage of recent demonstrations. The very small amount of information leaked out shows the government let loose its crackdown machine against the demonstrators.
