Reporting by PMOI/MEK
Iran, July 24, 2021—Protests over water shortage in Iran’s Khuzestan province continued for the ninth consecutive night on Friday despite security and repressive measures by the regime’s state security forces and a state-impose internet blackout.
In Ahvaz, protesters took control of the city center by burning tires and causing traffic jams in Dayereh Alley. They also blocked the Ahvaz expressway that rings the city.
July 23 – Ahvaz, southwest #Iran
Locals are blocking a beltway road as protests continue for the ninth consecutive night.#IranProtests #خوزستان pic.twitter.com/1Szm215K9T— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) July 23, 2021
In Susangerd, the clerical regime closed the city’s main streets with concrete walls and completely cut off electricity and the internet to prevent demonstrations and rallies. However, the locals continued their protests and resisted security forces until late into the night. Gunshots were heard until early morning as security forces used live ammunition in an attempt to quell the protests.
In Izeh, regime forces imposed an undeclared martial law and curfew to prevent the people from gathering. Fearing the eruption of an uprising, the regime filled the streets with repressive forces and, using loudspeakers, called on the shopkeepers to close their shops before dark. Security forces also warned people against congregating. The funeral of one of the martyrs of the uprising, Hadi Bahmani, turned into a demonstration against the regime yesterday. The people chanted, “Death to Khamenei.”
July 23 – Ahvaz, southwest #Iran
Kuye Dayere district
Locals are setting up roadblocks in various parts of the capital of Khuzestan province to take control into their own hands.#IranProtests #خوزستان pic.twitter.com/SXKdiAhUcX— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) July 23, 2021
In Shushtar’s Shoaibiyeh district, protesters closed the highway by setting fire on the road to block the entry of reinforcements.
In parallel to protests in Khuzestan, people in other provinces of Iran continue to hold protest rallies in solidarity with the people of Khuzestan.
In Robat Karim, Tehran province, a large crowd gathered to express support for the Khuzestan uprising.
July 23 – Meybod, Yazd province, central #Iran
Locals are in the streets holding a gathering in solidarity with protesters in Khuzestan province.#IranProtests #خوزستان_تنها_نیست pic.twitter.com/R0Q7XcJfVJ— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) July 23, 2021
In Qazvin, a large group of people gathered and lit fires on the Qazvin-Tehran highway in support of Khuzestan. In Yazd, young Khuzestanis who live in the Meybod district took to the streets and chanted anti-regime slogans.
July 23 – Meybod, Yazd province, central #Iran
Locals are in the streets holding a gathering in solidarity with protesters in Khuzestan province.#IranProtests #خوزستان_تنها_نیست pic.twitter.com/R0Q7XcJfVJ— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) July 23, 2021
In Saveh, protesters closed roads with large concrete barriers. In Ilam, the people held a demonstration at the Mehr housing intersection.
In Jooneghan, Charmahal and Bakhtiari province, protesters expressed their support for the people of Khuzestan and chanted anti-regime slogans.
Jooneghan, Chaharmahal & Bakhtiari province, southwest #Iran
Locals are seen bravely chanting against the regime: "Down with the Islamic Republic" and calling for an "Iranian Republic," in support of Khuzestan province.#IranProtests#خوزستان_تنها_نیستpic.twitter.com/PGCDC90WfX— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) July 23, 2021
Thursday night in Aligudarz, the clashes between the security forces and protesters continued until early Saturday morning. According to various reports, security forces have opened fire on protesters, killing and injuring dozens of civilians. The Revolutionary Guards also arrested more than 100 protesters. In Nurabad, Lorestan province, the regime has dispatched basij forces to counter potential protests.
July 23 – Nourabad, Lorestan province, western #Iran
Members of the regime's Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) Basij paramilitary units are on high alert constantly patrolling the streets, activists say.#IranProtests pic.twitter.com/wTeljA7w9z— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) July 23, 2021
In a statement, Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the president-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), said that the uprising, which has been led by the valiant youth of Khuzestan nine days ago, has now spread to the Lorestan, Tehran, Bushehr, Isfahan, and other places. The martyrs of these uprisings from Ahvaz, Izeh, Aligudarz, and other cities reflect the Iranian people’s resolve to overthrow the religious fascism and establish democracy and the people’s rule. Their sacrifice acts as a beacon for Iran’s freedom.
Khamenei thinks he can prevent the volcanic outburst of people’s anger by crackdowns, to no avail. The heroic uprising in Khuzestan which has spread throughout #Iran showed that executions and clampdowns have lost their effectiveness.
— Maryam Rajavi (@Maryam_Rajavi) July 24, 2021
After more than a week of intense protests in Khuzestan, regime supreme leader Ali Khamenei shed crocodile tears and made a failed attempt at expressing sympathy with the people of Khuzestan on Friday.
“In the past seven-to-eight days, one of our main concerns was the problems of Khuzestan and the people’s water problem. It is really painful for anyone to see Khuzestan province—with all its loyal people, with all the facilities and natural resources it has, with all the factories it has—to see the people living in such conditions that they become upset,” Khamenei said in televised remarks.
It is worth noting that the resources of Khuzestan have been mostly drained by the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC), the military body that controls a vast portion of the country’s economy and reports to none other than Khamenei.
