The people of Sistan and Baluchestan returned to streets on Friday following the weekly Friday prayers to voice their outrage at the regime’s repressive policies, including the arrest of Molavi Fathi Mohammad Naghshbandi, a religious figure. Protest rallies were reported in Zahedan, Khash, and Rask despite the heavy security presence of security forces and security measures by the regime.
In Zahedan, a large crowd rallied after the Friday prayers and chanted slogans against the regime and in support of political prisoners.
The protesters chanted “Death to the dictator!” and “Naghshbandi must be released!”
They also expressed their determination to continue their protests. “Our silence is our death!” they were chanting in their protest rally.
Protesters in Zahedan call for the release of political prisoners lingering in the regime's prisons.#IranProtestspic.twitter.com/0k3UImCwwv
— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) August 25, 2023
Molavi Fathi Mohammad Naghshbandi is the father of Molavi Abdulghaffar Naghshbandi, an outspoken critic of the regime. The regime has arrested his father to silence him and to intimidate the public ahead of the anniversary of the 2022 nationwide uprising.
Zahedan has been one of the hotbeds of the nationwide uprising that began in September 2022. Every Friday, locals held protest rallies and chanted slogans against regime leader Ali Khamenei and the regime’s suppressive entities, including the Revolutionary Guards and the Basij.
As one of the main victims of the Shah and mullahs’ dictatorships, the people of Sistan and Baluchestan have been very vocal in rejecting all forms of dictatorships.
In Rask, a crowd gathered after the Friday prayers in support of Naghshbandi. “Molana Naghshbandi must be released!” they shouted.
August 25—Rask, southeast #Iran
Locals rally in protest to the arrest of Molana Naghshbandi by security forces in order to intimidate his son, an outspoken critic of the regime.#IranProtestspic.twitter.com/YjUSnbklDM— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) August 25, 2023
Ahead of the anniversary of Iran’s nationwide uprising that began in September 2022, the regime has been on a campaign of repression to cause fear among the public, including an increase in executions and the arrest of dissidents. The regime is especially afraid of Zahedan, which on September 30 will mark the first anniversary of the “Bloody Friday of Zahdan” in which security forces opened fire on unarmed civilians and killed over 100 people, including more than a dozen children.
The people of Khash also rallied in support of Naghshbandi and called for his release.
August 25—Khash, southeast #Iran
Locals gathered after Friday prayers to protest the arrest of Molavi Fathi Mohammad Naghshbandi by security forces to silence his son, an outspoken critic of the regime.#IranProtestspic.twitter.com/jSpmdhdeD8— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) August 25, 2023
According to social media reports, the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) had threatened Abdulghaffar Naghshbandi that they would hurt his father if he did not stop his criticism of the regime.
In response Abdulghaffar Naghshbandi said, “If the smallest thing happens to my father, Molana Fathi Mohammad Naghshbandi, the IRGC will be responsible for it. With these threats, you can never distract us from the path of seeking justice for the blood of our martyrs. It is only death that silences us.”
In addition to protest rallies in the cities of Sistan and Baluchestan, the brave youth of the province blocked different roads in the province to express their support for Naghshbandi and their protest to the regime’s repressive actions.
Protesters block the Suran-Paskuh road with fire and chanted, “Death to Khamenei!”
Another group blocked Sarbaz-Afshan road in response to the arrest of Molana Naghshbandi. The protesters were chanting, “Down with Khamenei!” and “Khamenei is a murderer, his rule is illegitimate!”
Protesters block the Sarbaz-Afshan road in response to the arrest of Molana Naghshbandi.
Protesters chanting:
"Down with Khamenei!"
"Khamenei is a murderer, his rule is illegitimate!"#IranProtestspic.twitter.com/pc1NgCUSsA— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) August 25, 2023