Continuation of Popular Protests and Security Situation in Some Cities

On Sunday, 25 Ordibehesht, an intense security atmosphere and a wave of popular protests that began simultaneously with the price increase of some food items continued in some cities. Today, in Shahrekord, security forces used rubber bullets, tear gas, and live ammunition to suppress gatherings. Internet disruptions and outages that had begun on the first day of protests continue to be reported in some parts of the country, including Shahrekord. Today, the representative of Shahrekord in parliament also confirmed the identity of the second casualty of these protests.

Hrana news agency, the news organ of the Iranian human rights activists group, reported today, Sunday, 25 Ordibehesht, that popular protests and intense security conditions continued in various cities across the country.

Protesters in Shahrekord expressed their objections through marches in the city’s streets and chanting slogans.

A citizen who participated in today’s gathering in Shahrekord’s streets told Hrana about the current situation of the protests: “Before today’s protests began, Shahrekord’s streets were filled with law enforcement and security forces. However, a gathering formed, and from the very beginning, security personnel used tear gas and live ammunition to prevent protests and disperse the people.”

A resident of Urmia contacted Hrana about the intense security situation in this city and stated: “On all routes leading to the city center, including Eyelat Square, Imam Hussein Square, and Panjrah, there are numerous law enforcement and security personnel who do not allow groups of more than two people to pass through.”

Also, an informed source from Tehran told Hrana: “From around 5 p.m. onwards, some parts of the city became heavily secured, and security personnel with military equipment were stationed in Vanak Square, Haft Houz, and Sadeghieh’s second circle, as well as Haft Tir, City Theater, and Minirieh.”

A resident of Sanandaj, complaining about the presence of numerous security personnel in the city, told Hrana: “The presence of security forces in Azadi and Imam squares, which are among the main squares of the city and are considered crowded routes, if it does not create a sense of fear and terror among the city’s residents, will certainly not create a sense of security.”

Based on reports received by Hrana, during recent hours and simultaneously with the resumption of protests, access to home and mobile internet in Shahrekord has been severely limited and in some cases cut off.

The Netblocks website, which monitors internet conditions worldwide, has reported the limitation and interruption of internet services in Iran. Netblocks stated that “outages recorded in Iran are occurring in the midst of ongoing protests.”

Despite the release of some detainees from popular protests in Dezful, several others remain in detention. Hrana has confirmed the identity of another detainee as Hamidrezam Mohammadpour, son of Abdolmohammad, a resident of Dezful.

Also, five detainees from popular protests in Suq city with the names of Hojjat Allah Ghandi, Salman Hamtian, Majid Massoudi, Mahna Gorgi, and Rasoul Mousavi were released. These individuals, along with other protesting citizens in Suq, located in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province, were arrested by security forces on the morning of Saturday, 24 Ordibehesht, one day after the popular protests in this city were held. The arrest of these individuals occurred at their personal residence and was accompanied by beatings.

The identities of two other detained citizens of Suq city who remain in detention, Enayat Taghi and Sadat Taghi, have been confirmed by Hrana.

Also, a video of a citizen who was reportedly shot by security personnel during popular protests in Chelicheh city has reached Hrana. Continuing with popular protests in various Iranian cities, residents of Chelicheh city in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province also took to the streets in recent days. These protests turned violent with the arrival of law enforcement and security forces.

It should be recalled that security forces shot at protesters with shotguns during last night’s protests in some cities. A video that reached Hrana shows shotgun pellets hitting the leg of a child in Sorshjan city during last night’s protests in that city.

Moreover, other videos of two citizens who were reportedly shot and injured by security forces’ shotguns during the popular protests in Chelicheh and Shahrekord cities have reached Hrana.

It should be noted that during today, Ahmad Avai, the representative of Dezful in parliament, despite confirming yesterday that a citizen from Andimeshk was killed during Khuzestan popular protests, denied this news today. This is while the ILNA news agency has published an audio file of a conversation between its reporter and this parliamentarian confirming the killing of a citizen in Andimeshk.

On the other hand, today official media confirmed the death of another citizen named Sadat Hadipour in Hashfajan. However, Ahmad Rastineh, the representative of Shahrekord, while confirming this matter, claimed that Sadat Hadipour was a member of the Basij and was killed on his way home.

Despite the official confirmation of two deaths, it should be noted that the number of names mentioned as casualties of recent day protests on social networks exceeds this number. Hrana continues to have this investigation on its agenda.

The formation of popular protests in many Iranian cities regarding the country’s situation and rampant inflation has also triggered reactions from some well-known figures. In this regard, Ali Nassirian, an Iranian theater and cinema actor, expressed dissatisfaction with the general condition of the people during last night’s “Actor’s Celebration” ceremony, which was held with music and dance performances, and said: “Holding such gatherings these days is not only outside my spirit but also outside the people’s patience; in the current situation, as long as the morale of our people is not good, we should not celebrate.”

Coinciding with the formation of these protests, users of virtual pages also complained about inflation and supported the protesters. The hashtag “nationwide protests” has been tweeted frequently in recent days, and alongside it, activists on virtual pages, especially on the Twitter social network, using hashtags “rampant inflation,” “don’t buy until it spoils,” etc., have expressed their objections to the price increase of “essential goods.”

Hrana last night, through a comprehensive report, examined nationwide protests in the current month of Ordibehesht. In this report, it covered the details of events and the identities of 33 detainees from recent days, comments from officials, and reactions to popular protests, as well as continued internet disruptions and outages.

Source: Hrana