Sunday marked the 31st day of Iran’s nationwide uprising, which began on September 16. Protests in Iran have to this day expanded to 191 cities. Over 400 people have been killed and more than 20,000 are arrested by the regime’s forces, according to sources of Iranian opposition People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK). The names of 206 killed protesters have been published by the PMOI/MEK.
Protests began on Sunday with students in dozens of universities across the country returning to the streets to voice their opposition to the regime. In Tehran alone, several universities saw protest rallies. At University of Tehran, College of Engineering, students were chanting, “All these years of crimes! Death to the mullahs’ regime!” They also chanted, “Tehran has become a detention center! Evin has become a slaughterhouse!” in protest to the regime’s attack on prisoners in Tehran’s Evin Prison.
At Tehran’s Kharazmi University, the students were chanting, “Proud college students! Support! Support!” They were subsequently attacked by Basij and plainclothes agents but stood their ground.
Students of Khajeh Nasir Toosi University also held protest rallies.
At Karaj’s Kharazmi University, the students were shouting, “Say it: Freedom! Freedom! Freedom!”
In Rasht, the students of Gilan University of Medical Sciences also protested the killings at Evin Prison and chanted, “They killed, shot, and [intentionally] burned Evin!”
At Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, the students reflected the national solidarity in their slogans, shouting, “Azerbaijan is aware & supports Kurdistan!” At Shahrekord, students of Islamic Azad University were shouting, “Proud Iranians! Support! Support!”
Protests were also reported in Mashhad’s Ferdowsi University.
October 16 – Rasht, northern #Iran
Students of Gilan University of Medical Sciences chanting:
"They killed, shot, and [intentionally] burned #EvinPrison!"#اوین#آزادی_آزادی_آزادیpic.twitter.com/7EasRj9xk4— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) October 16, 2022
Iran’s nationwide uprising rose to a new level on Saturday with protests continuing across the country and the mullahs’ regime launching a major attack on Tehran’s notorious Evin Prison. A major fire broke out in the facility and reports indicate the regime’s security forces launched attacks into various sections of Evin, especially wards 7 and 8. The city of Ardabil in northwest Iran witnessed the most intense anti-regime protests of Saturday, while reports from various cities also showed people taking to the streets and chanting slogans against the entirety of the mullahs’ regime. The slogans specifically targeted the mullahs’ Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
A major fire broke out in the notorious Evin Prison on Saturday initial reports claimed a prison riot. Sound of gunfire and sirens were also heard. Follow up reports showed authorities launching a major attack against the prisoners while claiming the fire began at the facility’s sewing workshops. Heavy gunfire was heard into late hours of the night and authorities were blocking all roads leading to Evin Prison. Many locals also posted footage on social media platforms and reported several loud explosions that rattled homes near Evin Prison.
Some prisoners were seen on the rooftop of the facility. Chants of “Death to the dictator!” & “Death to Khamenei!” could be heard at the prison and nearby buildings. As locals from various parts of Tehran rushed to Evin the regime’s security forces began taking action and firing tear gas into the crowds. Despite these measures Tehran’s locals continued to hold their protest rallies near Evin, and began taking control of nearby roads while torching pro-regime billboards, posters, and the regime’s flag.
Iranian opposition NCRI President-elect Maryam Rajavi called on the people of Tehran “to rush to the aid of the families who have gone to Evin Prison. Help them save the lives of prisoners who are confronted with fire and shootings.”
Madam Rajavi also called on the international community to take action against the mullahs’ regime. “I urge the United Nations, the UN Human Rights Council, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the European Union to take urgent action and intervene to prevent the massacre of prisoners in Evin,” she tweeted.
I urge Tehran’s residents and youths to rush to the aid of the families who have gone to #Evin Prison. Help them save the lives of prisoners who are confronted with fire and shootings. #IranRevolution2022
— Maryam Rajavi (@Maryam_Rajavi) October 15, 2022
Agnes Callamard, Secretary-General of Amnesty International, reminded the mullahs’ regime that they “have the legal obligation to respect and protect the lives and well-being of all the prisoners.”
“The international community must call for a special session of the UN Human Rights Council to create a UN investigative and accountability mechanism on Iran government and religious authorities far too many crimes against the Iranian people,” she added.
Freedom loving Iranians and supporters of the PMOI/MEK in numerous capitals across Europe and cities in North America held rallies condemning the regime’s attack on Evin Prison and calling for international action to save the lives of the defenseless inmates.
October 15 – London, England
Freedom-loving Iranians and supporters of the #Iran opposition PMOI/MEK rallied and condemned the Iranian regime's attack on #Evin Prison.#زنداناوین #آزادی_آزادی_آزادی pic.twitter.com/GL2DDf7WXW— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) October 16, 2022
Authorities continue to impose a heavy internet blackout and Iranian activists are resorting to a variety of measures to send footage of their protests and demonstrations.
Intense protests were reported in several cities on Saturday. In Ardabil, protesters forced anti-riot forces to flee. In Hamedan, protesters confronted security forces who were dispatched to quell protests. In Shahin Shahr, protesters were chanting, “Death to the dictator!” and “Death to Khamenei!”
Videos from Golshahr, Alborz province, show a large contingent of security forces dispatched to prevent protesters from congregating. Reports from other cities indicate the heavy presence of security forces. Protests were also reported from Tehran’s Naziabad district, Lali in Khuzestan Province, Saqqez in Kurdistan Province, Yazd, Kish Island in the south, Bandar Abbas, Hamedan, Kermanshah, Khorramabad, Amol, Mashhad, Kerman, Rasht, and other cities and towns.
These protests 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.
