Kurdish political prisoner Peyman Galvani died of injuries after being severely tortured by security forces. Galvani, 24, was arrested at his on June 25 in Mahabad and taken to a security facility, where he was brutally beaten. He was taken to a hospital in Urmia after he entered a state of coma, where he succumbed to his injuries after two weeks of hospitalization.
Authorities claimed that he had fallen from a height. But images published on social media clearly show signs of torture on his body.
July 10—Mahabad, northwest #Iran
More footage of last night's anti-regime protests after regime authorities kill political prisoner Peyman Galvani under torture.
Protesters are chanting, "Martyrs don't die!"#IranProtests #پیمان_گلوانیpic.twitter.com/AvnpuJP8s3— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) July 11, 2023
The death of Galvani caused outrage in his hometown Mahabad, where a large crowd gathered for his funeral and turned the ceremony into an anti-regime protest rally.
The protesters were chanting, “Martyrs don’t die!” while they mourned for the murdered activist. Protesters blocked roads with large fires and prevented the movement of security forces.
July 10—Mahabad, northwest #Iran
Locals hold anti-regime protests after regime authorities kill political prisoner Peyman Galvani under torture.#IranProtests #پیمان_گلوانی pic.twitter.com/pnEM9e0AEt— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) July 10, 2023
Galvani was the second Kurdish activist to be killed by the regime in the span of 24 hours. Kurdish human rights organizations reported Sunday that Mousa Esmaili, a 35-year-old political prisoner from Piranshahr, was also tortured to death.
July 10—Mahabad, northwest #Iran
Locals protest the murder of political prisoner Peyman Galvani by the regime. Galvani died in a hospital today after being brutally tortured by regime authorities in a prison in Mahabad.#IranProtests #پیمان_گلوانیpic.twitter.com/Bthar17PTd— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) July 10, 2023
Retirees and pensioners also resumed their protests against regime authorities on Monday and Tuesday. Protests were reported in several cities, including Tehran, Shiraz, Sanandaj, Kermanshah, Mashhad, Ahvaz, and Ardabil. The protesters were from different sectors, including the telecom industry, government institutions, and retired education workers.
July 11—Kermanshah, western #Iran
Protest rally by retired government employees. Protesters are demanding regime officials to increase their pensions according to rising inflation.#IranProtestspic.twitter.com/IfOTO0r1HV— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) July 11, 2023
In the past few years, retirees across Iran have been protesting their deteriorating living conditions, especially as the government refuses to adjust their pensions based on the inflation rate and fluctuations in the price of the rial, Iran’s national currency. The price of most basic goods have spiked severalfold while pensioners continue to receive the same stipends as before.
In Ahvaz, protesters were chanting, “Rise up to eliminate discrimination!” and “Retirees, shout your rights!” expressing their frustration with government officials ignoring their demands.
July 10—Ahvaz, southwest #Iran
Protest rally by retirees of the telecom industry. The protesters are demanding higher pensions, healthcare, and other basic demands.
"Shout your rights!" the protesters are chanting.#IranProtestspic.twitter.com/nsD1XrXLHB— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) July 10, 2023
The regime has already passed a law that requires adjusting the pensions of retirees to make sure they can provide their basic needs as currency value and inflation rates fluctuate. But the regime refuses to implement its own laws. Therefore, retirees return to the streets regularly to have their voices heard. One slogan that has become very popular among the retirees is, “We will only get our rights in the streets!”
In Ardabil, protesters were shouting, “High prices and inflation are killing us!”
July 11—Ardabil, northwest #Iran
Retirees are protesting low pensions and the regime's refusal to increase their pensions according to rising inflation.
Protesters are chanting: "High prices and inflation are killing us!"#IranProtestspic.twitter.com/hvIdaMb4gn— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) July 11, 2023
Also on Tuesday, workers from the petrochemical industry in Dehloran, western Iran, held a rally, protesting a decision by regime authorities to suddenly shut down a project that was providing jobs for the people of the region. The people of the region are facing severe poverty and economic problems, and increased unemployment will only exacerbate their problems.
July 11—Dehloran, western #Iran
Petrochemical industry workers protesting authorities' decision to shut down projects and dismissing them from work.#IranProtests pic.twitter.com/0ucCggkaeC— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) July 11, 2023
Iran is also facing an intensifying water shortage crisis in different parts of the country, caused by the regime’s destructive environmental policies and the mismanagement of natural resources. On Tuesday, the residents of Karasht village, east of Tehran, held a rally, protesting being deprived of access to water. And on Monday, farmers in Qazvin, northern Iran, held a rally protesting their lack of access to irrigation water.
July 10—Qazvin, northern #Iran
Farmers hold rally in protest to shortage of irrigation water and authorities cutting their access to water.#IranProtestspic.twitter.com/3bS8UvotpX— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) July 10, 2023