Reporting by PMOI/MEK
Iran, July 25, 2021—Protests over severe water shortages continued in Khuzestan and other parts of Iran for the tenth day on Saturday as the regime is scrambling to maintain its hold on the increasingly explosive state of the society.
The regime has imposed a mass internet blackout on Khuzestan to prevent reports of the protests from reaching the world. The few reports and footage obtained from the province indicate intense protests continue across the province despite brutal repression.
In Mahshahr, security forces were directly firing at protesters to disperse them.
Mahshahr, southwest #Iran
State security forces have launched a brutal crackdown on locals parallel to severe disruptions of internet services across Khuzestan province.
Footage of security units firing directly at protesters.#IranProtests#خوزستان_در_خونpic.twitter.com/fjKYI0sXEN— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) July 24, 2021
In Shadegan, security forces are using firearms and live ammunition to repress the protesters. Many were injured in the protests. At the same time, authorities are resorting to mass arrests and are apprehending anyone who has taken part in the protests or is suspect of doing so.
July 24 – Shadegan, southwest #Iran
Regime security forces opening fire on locals on the tenth night of protests expanding from Khuzestan to other parts of the country.
Authorities are deliberately disrupting the internet.#IranProtests#خوزستان_در_خونpic.twitter.com/lWmS6iVorw— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) July 24, 2021
But despite the regime’s efforts, protests continue not only in Khuzestan but are also spreading to other provinces. On Saturday, solidarity with protests in Khuzestan grew across Iran as very large protests were held in several major cities, including Tabriz, Zanjan, Saqqez, and Mashhad.
In Tabriz, a large rally was held in solidarity with the people of Khuzestan, and the protesters chanted anti-regime slogans.
July 24 – Tabriz, northwest #Iran
Locals are in the streets in solidarity with protesters in Khuzestan province. This is the tenth day of this uprising that is gaining momentum across the country.#IranProtests #خوزستان_تنها_نیست pic.twitter.com/mYOi2GlLcp— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) July 24, 2021
The demonstrators chanted, “Freedom, justice, national government,” calling for the overthrow of the mullahs’ regime. The people also chanted about unity across Iran’s different ethnicities against the regime’s oppression.
July 24 – Tabriz, northwest #Iran
Locals are demonstrating in the streets calling for unity among the peoples of their province with protesters in Khuzestan province.#IranProtests #خوزستان_تنها_نیستpic.twitter.com/hyv1wHfu9W— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) July 24, 2021
Security forces and special anti-riot units attacked the protesters, but the youth resisted them while chanting, “We will not accept humiliation, shame on you, shame on you,” and forced them to retreat. The regime is also deploying drones to monitor protests and spread fear across society. But the protests continued nonetheless. In other parts of Tabriz, the people chanted “Down with Khamenei,” calling for the ouster of regime supreme leader Ali Khamenei.
July 24 – Tabriz, northwest #Iran
Regime security forces deploy drones to both control protests and install a climate of fear among the crowd.
Locals are reporting widespread cellphone network disturbances and outages. #خوزستان_تنها_نیست pic.twitter.com/5NEZeT5RfP— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) July 24, 2021
Meanwhile, in Zanjan and Bojnurd, people and the youth took to the streets in solidarity with the Khuzestan uprising. They chanted, “Iranians die but will not accept humiliation” and “We don’t want the Islamic Republic.” In Zanjan, security forces were deployed across the city to prevent large protests.
July 24 – Bojnurd, North Khorasan province, northeast #Iran
Locals holding a rally in support of Khuzestan province.#IranProtests #خوزستان_تنها_نیست pic.twitter.com/QVfgR5sTDk— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) July 25, 2021
In Saqqez, Kurdistan province, fearing the eruption of protests, the regime imposed mass electricity blackouts to prevent the people from gathering and holding demonstrations. In Alborz province, locals blocked a road linking Mohammad Shahr and the Kianmehr district of Karaj in solidarity with protesters in Khuzestan province.
July 24 – Saqqez, Kurdistan province, western #Iran
Locals reporting electricity blackout as authorities are resorting to any and all measures to prevent protests from spreading to other provinces.#IranProtests pic.twitter.com/ZgSU20opAC— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) July 24, 2021
In a statement, Amnesty International raised concern over the regime’s brutal response to the protests of the people of Khuzestan. “Iran’s security forces have deployed unlawful force, including by firing live ammunition and birdshot, to crush mostly peaceful protests taking place across the southern province of Khuzestan,” Amnesty International said.
Amnesty International confirmed that security forces have killed “at least eight protesters and bystanders, including a teenage boy.”
Diana Eltahawy, Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for the Middle East and North Africa, said, “Using live ammunition against unarmed protesters posing no imminent threat to life is a horrifying violation of the authorities’ obligation to protect human life. Protesters in Iran who take to the streets to voice legitimate economic and political grievances face a barrage of gunfire, tear gas, and arrests.”
Amnesty International called on the regime to cease the violence and to release peaceful protesters.
Iran’s security forces have deployed unlawful force to crush mostly peaceful protests . In the videos featured below, the sounds of individual shots can be also heard, which could be from discharging live ammunition, birdshot, or less-lethal munitions. https://t.co/yrETlcWAh3
— Amnesty Iran (@AmnestyIran) July 23, 2021
Amnesty also called on Iran’s authorities to “end deliberate ongoing internet disruptions and shutdowns across the province to clamp down on human rights.”
Meanwhile, the regime’s telecommunications company claimed that it is facing “technical problems” and can’t tell when internet access will be restored.
