On the first anniversary of Zahedan’s Bloody Friday massacre, in tandem with protests by Baluch people in several cities across Sistan and Baluchestan, Resistance Units held anti-regime activities across the country.
Resistance Units are a network of activists inside Iran associated with the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI). In their activities, the Resistance Units honored the martyrs of the Bloody Friday and reiterated their resolve to overthrow the mullahs’ regime and hold its leaders accountable for their crimes against humanity.
In Gorgan and Mashhad, Resistance Units held placards that read, “The crime of Bloody Friday of Zahedan will not be forgotten.”
In Kermanshah, Resistance Units held placards that read, “Along with the people of Baluchestan and rebels across Iran, we will fight and take back Iran.”
In Sari, a placard installed in a public location read, “The rebellious Baluch people will not remain silent or surrender.”
In Javanrud, Resistance Units held placards with the slogan, “The blood of the brave Baluch people will ignite protests across Iran.”
On September 30, 2022, during the protests that happened after the killing of Mahsa Amini by the regime’s morality police, security forces in Zahedan opened fire on peaceful protesters, killing more than 100 people, including at least a dozen children. Videos from the day showed civilians badly injured, hospitals filled with the wounded.
The event became known as the Bloody Friday of Zahedan and was commemorated across Iran as one of the regime’s crimes against humanity. Of course, the regime never acknowledged the crime and instead continued to persecute the Baluch people in Zahedan and other cities in Sistan and Baluchestan.
In Tehran, a Resistance Unit member sent a recorded message in which he said, “We accompany the protesters of Baluchestan with the slogan, ‘Death to Khamenei’ and ‘Death to the rule of the mullahs,’ to overthrow the mullahs’ regime.”
The Resistance Units also commemorated the martyrs of the Bloody Friday, including Khodanur Laje’I, a spirited Baluch youth who became one of the icons of Iran’s 2022 uprising.
In Tabriz, Resistance Units placed papers behind windshield wipers with slogans in support of the Baluch people and in commemoration of the Bloody Friday.
Similar activities were reported in other cities, including Shiraz, Saqqez, and Khorramabad.
Since the Bloody Friday, the Baluch people have been regularly holding protest rallies on Fridays. The regime’s measures to intimidate the people and suppress their desire for freedom is proving increasingly futile.
On Friday, September 29, 2023, Baluch people marked the first anniversary of the Bloody Friday in several cities, including Zahedan, Rask, Taftan, Suran, and Khash.
In Zahedan, a large group of people gathered around the Makki Mosque to commemorate the victims of the grim massacre, chanting anti-regime slogans. Protesters chanted slogans against regime supreme leader Ali Khamenei, the IRGC, and the Basij.
The regime responded with repression, opening fire on the protesters. At least 19 people were injured, including several children.
But the people in Zahedan and other cities resisted security forces and continued their protests throughout the day and in the night, where they lit fire to block roads and prevent the movement of security forces.
