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As the world marks International Human Rights Day, the people of Iran are entering their 86th day of continuous nationwide protests and a massive uprising in the face of a brutal regime that is resorting to horrific atrocities against a nation determined to bring down the mullahs’ entire apparatus. Despite the recent execution of Mohsen Shekari as the first case of recently apprehended protesters being sent to the gallows, and thousands of demonstrators being arrested and tortured in the regime’s prisons, the Iranian people are continuing their anti-regime rallies, gatherings, protests, and demonstrations in all shapes and forms like never before.
Friday witnessed a very organized show of anti-regime protests by the brave Baluchi community in the cities of Zahedan, Khash, Pishin, Sar Jangal, and others in the restive Sistan & Baluchestan Province of southeast Iran. Massive crowds took to the streets in the provincial capital of Zahedan following their weekly Friday prayers and began chanting slogans such as “Death to Khamenei!” “Death to the dictator!” and “We don’t want a Baluch-killing state!” specifically targeting regime Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Women played a significant role in these rallies and led the movement in condemning the recent execution of Mohsen Shekari.
Protests in Iran have to this day expanded to at least 280 cities. Over 700 people have been killed and more than 30,000 are arrested by the regime’s forces, according to sources of Iranian opposition People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK). The names of 565 killed protesters have been published by the PMOI/MEK.
Initial reports on Saturday shows that students of an all-girls technical school were protesting and chanting anti-regime slogans, including “Death to the dictator!” and “Freedom! Freedom! Freedom!” Regime security forces eventually launched an attack targeting these protesting students.
In Isfahan, farmers are protesting yet again and demanding authorities address their concerns regarding their share of water for their lands. In Najafabad, the owners of stores that have recently been shuttered by authorities rallied outside the local governor’s office demanding the reopening of their stores.
In Tehrah, storeowners on Manouchehri Street are on strike today while students of National and Khajeh Nasir Toosi universities are boycotting their classes and holding protest rallies.
December 10 – Sanandaj, western #Iran
Students of an all-girls technical school were protesting and chanting: "Freedom! Freedom! Freedom!"#IranRevolution#آزادی_آزادی_آزادی pic.twitter.com/YI9JI17JSP— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) December 10, 2022
The regime has dispatched a large contingent of security forces to Tehran’s Sattarkhan district to prevent protests from taking shape. Videos show security forces randomly beating and shooting at civilians. Sattarkhan has become a sensitive location for the regime since Thursday, after authorities executed 23-year-old Mohsen Shekari for taking part in protests in the district. The brutal execution, which violated even the regime’s own barbaric laws, has sparked outrage across the country. The people of Sattarkhan in particular have been taking to streets every day to protest the regime’s brutality and vow to avenge Shekari’s murder.
December 10 – Tehran, #Iran
Locals are reporting an intense atmosphere in the capital's Sattarkhan district as regime security units are patrolling the streets in large numbers.#IranRevolution2022#مرگ_بر_ستمگر_چه_شاه_باشه_چه_رهبر pic.twitter.com/jEc6hw7GMC— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) December 10, 2022
Despite heavy security measures, the people of Tehran held rallies in several locations, including Narmak, Sattarkhan, Naziabad, Jannat Abad, and Shariati Street. Protesters chanted anti-regime slogans and called on other citizens to join them in their rallies.
There was also a large protest rally in Gohardasht, west of Tehran, where people gathered and chanted slogans against the regime and the brutal repression and execution of protesters.
December 9 – Tehran, #Iran
Protesters in Nazi Abad chanting:
"Freedom! Freedom! Freedom!"#IranRevolution2022#آزادی_آزادی_آزادی pic.twitter.com/RakHl7mRs3— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) December 10, 2022
Early reports from inside Iran indicated that on Friday morning merchants and storeowners in the city of Sanandaj, the capital of Kurdistan Province, are continuing their general strike.
Iran’s regime said on Thursday it executed 23-year-old Mohsen Shekari, a prisoner convicted for a crime allegedly committed during the ongoing nationwide uprising, the first such death penalty carried out by the mullahs’ so-called judiciary. The regime’s Mizan news agency, affiliated to the judiciary, reported the execution, accusing the man of blocking a street and attacking a security force member with a machete in Tehran.
This execution came as other detainees also face execution for their involvement in the protests. Activists are warning that others could also be put to death as at least a dozen people so far have received death sentences over their involvement in the demonstrations.
On Friday, the people of Sistan and Baluchestan province held anti-regime protest rallies after Friday prayers, as has become the norm in recent months. The protest rallies took place despite heavy security measures by regime authorities, including the dispatching of large contingent of forces to the province on Thursday. Protests were reported in Zahedan, Khash, and Pishin.
The protesters condemned the execution of Mohsen Shekari and called for the overthrow of the regime, called Khamenei a “disgrace” and vowed to avenge the hundreds of protesters killed by security forces during the nationwide uprising. “I will kill those who killed my brother!” and “Death to the Basij and IRGC!” the protesters were chanting. The protesters demanded the release of the thousands of protesters who have been arrested in recent months, many of whom are under the threat of being executed.
Protesters also showed national solidarity across Iran’s ethnicities by holding signs that read “Kurds, Baluch, Arabs, Azeris are all brothers!” This goes against the regime’s long-standing campaign of trying to sow division across ethnic and religious lines. The people of Iran are united today in one goal: overthrowing the mullahs’ rule.
In Kermanshah, a large crowd gathered to hold a protest rally in Taq-e Bostan. The protesters were attacked by security forces, who opened fire on them and tried to disperse them. Clashes between security forces and protesters continued late into the night.
In Sanandaj, protesters returned to the streets on Friday night to hold anti-regime protest rallies. Protesters chanted “Death to Khamenei!” and called for the overthrow of the mullahs’ regime. Similar protests were reported in the city of Rudsar of Gilan Province in northern Iran.
December 9 – Kermanshah, western #Iran
More footage of regime security forces attacking the locals and imposing heavy security measures to intimidate the public.#IranRevolution2022#مرگ_بر_ستمگر_چه_شاه_باشه_چه_رهبر pic.twitter.com/iFJOByZeZx— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) December 9, 2022
Iranian opposition coalition NCRI President-elect Maryam Rajavi hailed Iran’s Baluchi community for continuing their steadfast campaign against the mullahs’ regime in the face of ongoing oppression and cruelty from the mullahs’ regime.
“I salute my Baluch compatriots, especially my dear sisters and daughters. Marching in the streets, they paid tribute to the executed protester Mohsen Shekari. Their chants of ‘Death to Khamenei!’ echoed the desires of all the people of Iran to overthrow the regime,” she explained.
I salute my Baluch compatriots, esp. my dear sisters and daughters. Marching in the streets, they paid tribute to the executed protester #Mohsen_Shekari . Their chants of “Death to Khamenei” echoed the desire of all the people of #Iran to overthrow the regime. pic.twitter.com/Gx79J9JpM7
— Maryam Rajavi (@Maryam_Rajavi) December 9, 2022
The protests in Iran began following the death of Mahsa Amini. Mahsa (Zhina) Amini, a 22-year-old woman from the city of Saqqez in Kurdistan Province, western Iran, who traveled to Tehran with her family, was arrested on Tuesday, September 13, at the entry of Haqqani Highway by the regime’s so-called “Guidance Patrol” and transferred to the “Moral Security” agency.
She was brutally beaten by the morality police and died of her wounds in a Tehran hospital on September 16. The event triggered protests that quickly spread across Iran and rekindled the people’s desire to overthrow the regime.
