Iranian uprising: Clashes, international condemnation and Khamenei’s isolation from seminaries
The popular uprising that has been going on in Iran for about two weeks continued today (September 30th). The fear and anxiety of mass popular protests spread throughout Iran to include all walks of life, even sporting events.
In this context, the Kerman Provincial Council in south-eastern Iran decided that the match “Gol Jowhar” and “Istiqlal” within the Iranian league will be held without an audience.
On the ground, local activists in Zahedan announced on Friday the organization of a protest rally, after the Friday prayer, which resulted in the injury and death of many worshipers. Large demonstrations also took place in Ahwaz before noon today.
Citizens protesting in Ardabil took to the streets chanting “death to the dictator” and “women, life, freedom”.
According to photos published by Zahedan, the sky in this city is covered with thick smoke. Videos received by Iran International have circulated of helicopters hovering over the protesters’ gathering and the sounds of gunfire.
Security forces reportedly fired continuously and attempted to violently suppress protesters in the city. According to videos received by Iran International, plainclothes security officers tried to arrest protesters in Zahedan.
A number of citizens in Zahedan organized a protest rally, as well as the attack by the Chabahar police chief on a 15-year-old girl.
Reports and videos from Zahedan also show security forces firing on protesters.
“Meanwhile, in Zahedan, a number of citizens were injured and killed by gunfire from security forces as they tried to quell these protests, and information is circulating about the number of wounded.”
In the city of Saqqez in Kurdistan, western Iran, demonstrations and chants took place: “Women, life and freedom.”
The people of Abadan, in south-western Iran – where Iran’s largest oil refinery is located – also took to the street and chanted against the regime. So did the protesters in Karaj, in northern Iran, in Rasht, in northern Iran, who took to the streets and chanted, “Death to the dictator” (Khamenei)
A video received by Iran International shows protesters in Ardabil chanting “You dishonored,” “You dishonored,” and “You dishonored,” to the Iranian security forces.
Videos shared on social media showed a number of Iranian women in Arak, Iran, walking unveiled in the city’s streets on Friday, openly defying the regime in their country.
The state-run Iranian News Agency (IRNA), citing eyewitnesses, reported that 19 people were killed in protests in Zahedan on Friday. The head of Balochistan Police in Iran confirmed that the number of protesters in Zahedan was “very large and heavy.” He added, “Three police stations were attacked by protesters.”
A representative of the Iranian Supreme Leader and a Friday preacher in the city of Noshahr pointed to the regime’s loss of 450 billion tomans in the protests. “This regime will not be toppled by a coup,” he said. “The Islamic Republic has its roots in the blood of martyrs and references to tradition.”
Students at Tehran’s Allameh Tabataba’I University issued a statement, announcing they would strike and gather in classrooms on campus tomorrow (Saturday) in solidarity with ongoing popular protests.
In a remarkable development, a number of students and teachers from the Qom, Mashhad and Tehran Imams issued a statement declaring that assuming Khamenei’s mandate is accepted, he is cut off from the state because of “the many crimes he committed throughout his years of rule and because of his arrogance, arrogance and tyranny of opinion.”
The statement stressed that the verdicts issued by Khamenei and the officials he appointed – including the head of the judiciary and judges – lack legitimacy, and “are based on tyranny.”
“The signatories announced that they had received a threatening letter to refrain from publishing any critical reaction these days from the Supreme Leader’s Office in Qom, run by his son, Mojtaba Khamenei.
The clerics asked the Qom, Mashhad, and Tehran Ministries to “end violence against protesters as soon as possible,” “refrain from killing citizens,” “release detainees,” and “prepare the ground for a referendum under the supervision of international organizations.”
On the political level, 53 member states of the United Nations Human Rights Council, in a joint statement, condemned the use of violence against women in Iran, expressed regret at the death of Mahsa Amini, and called on the Iranian authorities to refrain from the use of force against peaceful demonstrators.
“We are looking for ways to support the protesters in Iran, as well as measures against those who suppressed these peaceful protests,” the US secretary of state said.
In contrast, Iran’s intelligence ministry said, “We monitor foreign embassies in Tehran whose agents were involved or entered the scene of unrest, and the designated diplomats, including those of Germany, France, Britain and Sweden, have been warned.”
