On the cusp of the sixth anniversary of the November 2019 uprising, the Iranian regime has unleashed an unprecedented wave of executions, a brutal campaign designed to terrorize the public and stifle any hint of dissent. Yet, far from being cowed, the spirit of that uprising is burning brighter than ever. In cities like Zahedan, PMOI Resistance Units are taking to the streets, their actions sending a clear and defiant message: the regime’s machinery of fear is failing. Their commemoration of the 2019 martyrs is not just an act of remembrance but a renewed pledge to overthrow the theocracy and reject all forms of dictatorship in favor of a free, democratic republic.
November 7—Zahedan, southeast Iran
PMOI Resistance Units mark the anniversary of the November 2019 uprising with pledge to continue the path of the uprising's martyrs and to reject all forms of dictatorship, be it the shah or the mullahs' regimes. pic.twitter.com/ZcZphDOrli— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) November 8, 2025
Commemorating the uprising’s unquenchable flame
The November 2019 uprising remains a pivotal turning point in Iran’s modern history, an event whose legacy of defiance is actively being carried forward by a new generation. On November 7, 2025, Resistance Units in Zahedan honored this legacy, holding placards that declared, “The sacrifice of 1500 martyrs of the November uprising heralds the spring of a democratic revolution in Iran.” Their actions reaffirmed their commitment to the path forged by those who gave their lives six years ago.
That uprising was ignited by a sudden hike in gasoline prices but quickly transformed into a nationwide revolt against decades of corruption and repression. Protests spread across 28 provinces, with demonstrators shifting from economic grievances to openly anti-regime slogans targeting the Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei.
The regime’s response was swift and merciless. As it imposed a near-total internet blackout, its security forces, including the IRGC and Basij, launched a full-scale assault on the populace. According to reports, Khamenei ordered officials to “do whatever it takes,” leading to security forces using sniper fire, armored vehicles, and even helicopter gunfire against protesters. This brutal crackdown resulted in the massacre of at least 1,500 people. For the Resistance Units, the lessons from this bloody confrontation serve as a “guiding light,” proving that the only path to freedom is through unwavering resistance and the overthrow of the clerical regime.
"The blood of the martyrs of the November uprising is alive" pic.twitter.com/8A0n0yZFrz
— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) November 8, 2025
Defying the regime’s machinery of execution
Faced with a society simmering with revolutionary potential, the regime has escalated its use of capital punishment to a horrifying degree, waging a war of terror against its own people. In October 2025 alone, Khamenei’s henchmen hanged at least 285 prisoners, setting a gruesome record for “crime and brutality in the 21st century.” This brings the total number of recorded executions in the first ten months of 2025 to a staggering 1,471, more than double the figure from the same period in 2024.
The Resistance Units recognize this surge for what it is: a desperate strategy to “intimidate the public, especially the youth, and to prevent uprisings.” But this tactic is backfiring. In Zahedan—the capital of Baluchestan, a province suffering the “highest number of executions”—the Resistance Units met this terror with courage. Holding their placards high, they declared, “Our response to executions is uprising,” and affirmed that “No to execution is our nation’s slogan.” Their public defiance in the face of the gallows demonstrates that for every act of repression, the resolve of the Iranian people to fight back only grows stronger.
"Our response to executions is uprising" pic.twitter.com/uIL51ZMhXt
— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) November 8, 2025
Rejecting all forms of dictatorship: a clear vision for the future
The message from Iran’s streets is unequivocal: the struggle is not to replace one dictator with another. The Resistance Units and the generation they represent have firmly rejected the false choice between the current theocracy and the deposed monarchy. Their slogans leave no room for ambiguity, proclaiming, “Death to the oppressor, be it the Shah or the Leader,” and “A dictatorship is a dictatorship, whether in a turban or a crown.”
They actively confront the propaganda spread by remnants of the former regime, pointing out that “During the November 2019, there was no sign of the monarchists on the ground.” The youth at the heart of the protests, dubbed the “generation of uprising, Gen Z,” are “done with the mullahs’ and the shah.” Their vision is not a return to a dark past but a march toward a future built on popular sovereignty. This vision is captured in their powerful calls for “democracy and equality” and their ultimate goal of a “democratic republic.” They are fighting for a new Iran where power lies with the people, free from the tyranny of both the crown and the turban.
"Iranians are awake and hate both the Shah and the mullahs" pic.twitter.com/D6Qji09NDr
— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) November 8, 2025
The actions of the Resistance Units in Zahedan echo a sentiment felt across Iran. The regime’s campaign of executions has failed to extinguish the embers of the November 2019 uprising; it has only fanned them into a roaring fire. As the anniversary approaches, the Iranian people’s determination for fundamental change is unyielding. They have charted their course, armed with a clear vision for the future and the profound spirit of sacrifice embodied in their pledge: “We have given up everything to obtain everything for the people of Iran.”