As Iran marks the second anniversary of the 2022 uprising, PMOI Resistance Units across the country are commemorating the event and its martyrs with acts of defiance and messages of resistance. These acts are happening despite the growing repressive measures by the regime, especially against the PMOI.
The Resistance Units are a network of activists who play an important role in shaping protests inside Iran and have become a serious problem for the regime.
In Karaj, Resistance Units held banners with the slogan “Down with the oppressor, be it the Shah or the mullahs.” This is one of the popular slogans of the 2022 uprising, underlining the Iranian people’s rejection of any kind of dictatorship.
Karaj
"Down with the oppressor, be it the Shah or the mullahs" pic.twitter.com/hAsXzA6vTp— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) September 19, 2024
In several cities, the Resistance Units marked the second anniversary of the uprising by holding photos of the martyrs, murdered by the regime.
In Amol, a member of the Resistance Units held up images of youth executed by the regime for taking part in the protests along with the written message: “Like the Shah, the mullahs’ regime will be overthrown.” In Tehran, they held images of Mohsen Shekari and Hamidreza Rouhi, two of the martyrs.
Amol
Photos of protesters executed by Iran's regime during the 2022 uprising. pic.twitter.com/pPDmlaBe2g— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) September 19, 2024
In many cities, the Resistance Units held up signs with the slogan “Woman Resistance Freedom,” one of the popular slogans of the uprising honoring the leading role of women in the fight against tyranny and for the establishment of freedom.
In several cities, Resistance Units installed posters of Iranian Resistance leader Massoud Rajavi along with messages of resistance such as “Rebels never surrender” and “The democratic revolution of the people of Iran will be victorious.”
Sari, Babol, Bushehr, and Tabriz
"Woman Resistance Freedom" pic.twitter.com/MeYP98ItDg— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) September 19, 2024
Mahsa (Zhina) Amini, a 22-year-old woman, was arrested on Tuesday, September 13, 2022, in Tehran by the regime’s so-called “Guidance Patrol” and transferred to the “Moral Security” agency. Amini was severely beaten by the security forces. She later lost consciousness due to her wounds and was transferred to the capital’s Kasra Hospital, where she entered a state of coma that continued until her death on September 16.
Amini’s death triggered protests in Tehran, her hometown Saqqez and other cities. The protests quickly turned into a nationwide movement against the regime’s repression of freedoms. Protesters called for the overthrow of the regime. The regime responded with repression and violence, arresting, beating and killing protesters. More than 750 protesters were murdered by security forces and several thousand were arrested.
The 2022 nationwide uprising further solidified the regime’s perception of the PMOI as an existential threat. Despite the arrest or disappearance of over 3,600 Resistance Unit members, their influence continued to grow. This resilience in the face of severe repression demonstrated the deep-rooted support for the PMOI within Iranian society.
The regime has engaged in a campaign to dissuade Iran’s youth from joining the PMOI network. Its efforts include widespread misinformation and demonization campaigns along with repressive measures including arrests, long prison terms, and even death sentences. However, the Resistance Units continue to expand every day, carrying on the legacy of Iran’s uprisings and preparing the grounds of the next.