Warning from Isfahan’s Judicial and Political Officials Regarding Friday Gathering

Following the publication of a call to hold Friday prayers on the dried bed of the Zayandeh River, Isfahan’s governor warned on Thursday that holding “any” gathering on Friday in the province would be “illegal.”

A judicial body also reminded Isfahan citizens to be “cautious of the misuse by hostile elements” and to refrain from participating in “illegal” gatherings.

Mohammadali Ahmadi, Isfahan’s governor, stated on Thursday that no requests for gatherings on Friday have been submitted to the governorship of Isfahan and “no” permits for gatherings have been issued in the province.

He claimed: “Farmers have also officially announced that they will pursue their demands legally and will not hold illegal gatherings nor support any gatherings whatsoever.”

The Crime Prevention Deputy of the Central Province Prosecutor’s Office of Isfahan also requested in a statement that Isfahan citizens “with complete vigilance” refrain from participating in “illegal gatherings under any pretext.”

On Thursday, November 2, the Public Relations Office of the Judiciary of Isfahan Province asked citizens to, in light of “the misuse by hostile elements of the legitimate demands of farmers regarding legal water rights… and the fact that the farming community of Isfahan Province has not issued any calls for upcoming days, especially Friday, December 3, 1400, with complete vigilance refrain from participating in illegal gatherings under any pretext.”

The prosecutor’s office of the province also asked the public, given that “there is a history of attacks on citizens’ property and lives by hostile elements,” to report any information they have in this regard to intelligence and security authorities.

Claims of damage to public property by protesters have been raised amid widespread videos showing damage to citizens’ vehicles in Isfahan by security forces and special police units.

Meanwhile, the warning from Isfahan Province’s political and judicial officials comes after a call was circulated on social media inviting people to hold Friday prayers this week, December 3, on the dried bed of the Zayandeh River near the Khaju Bridge.

In this call, which is unclear who first published it, Isfahan residents were asked to hold “popular prayers” on the riverbed rather than the Friday prayers of this week.

The call stated “prayer is free” and asked Isfahan citizens to participate “en masse” in holding a protest prayer on the Zayandeh River bed.

The circulation of this call has also been met with support from social media users, and some users, using the hashtags “Isfahan is not alone,” “Isfahan bloodied eye,” and “Isfahan in blood,” have expressed solidarity with the wounded of Isfahan who have been injured by gunshot pellets fired by security forces, expressing condolences regarding the Isfahan events.

Security and judicial officials of Isfahan Province, which initially focused on media coverage of the protests of Isfahan farmers and public support for them in response to water resource management in the province, later resorted to brutal suppression of protesters.

According to the Iran Human Rights Organization, based on estimates, approximately 40 people in Isfahan protests have lost at least one eye due to pellet gunshot wounds.

Source: Radio Farda