Kazerun Is Mourning and Restless
Soosan. SH. FCN News Agency: Kazerun, one of the southern cities of the country, passed through insecurity conditions again this Friday. The killing and wounding of a number of protesters and the arrest of many residents in recent days have not been able to suppress the protest gatherings in Kazerun.
Even the Interior Ministry’s threat of decisive legal action against those who disturb public order and security in Kazerun has so far had no effect on public protests.
News received by FCN indicates that the police and suppressive forces deployed to Kazerun are unknown and possibly foreign. Today, Friday, they created a completely security-oriented situation on the streets. However, protest gatherings, though scattered, continue throughout the city as people remain indifferent to this threatening condition. The people are angry. Residents of Kazerun in recent days have received bullets as answers to their protests.
Some news has been received about armed mourning protesters carrying firearms, but eyewitnesses in conversation with FCN emphasize that people, in defense against suppressive forces, have only used broken pieces of walls or street tiles and thrown them at officers.
Most of today’s clashes occurred at Kheirat Martyrs Square, and officers used special guards to maintain security for the small number of Friday prayers participants.
The intensity of today’s confrontations is such that even pedestrians are not safe on the streets, and officers strike them with stones.
According to eyewitnesses, officers are trying to prevent the continuation of protest gatherings by increasing terror and fear. While their violent confrontations, which have resulted in deaths and injuries, have increased the number of people supporting the protesters.
The People’s Anger Will Not Be Extinguished
According to these witnesses, the slogans raised by protesters over the past three days show that the protest over the country’s territorial divisions regarding Kazerun was only a pretext for public gatherings.
One of these witnesses, in conversation with FCN, says: “People openly express their opposition to the Islamic Republic in their slogans, but the Interior Ministry and domestic and even foreign media push these slogans to the margins of clashes so that the people’s rightful demands are ignored. However, the regime’s mistake in sacrificing more than ten protesters in Kazerun will not extinguish the fire of people’s anger in this region.”
Scattered news from this southern region of the country indicates that on Thursday night, coinciding with the 27th of Ordibehesht, six protesters were shot in Kazerun.
On the 26th of Ordibehesht, which was the first day of protests, a number of protesters were killed and wounded, but reliable information about their numbers is not available. Even the number of those arrested is unclear. One of the regime’s security measures in the first two days of protests was the cutting of mobile phone services in this region, which was restored yesterday. However, the entrances to Kazerun remain closed and under strict security control.
Kazerun is one of the southern cities of Iran in the western part of Fars Province, with abundant historical and ancient monuments, and has been the focus of rulers and those in power throughout history. This region, due to its historical, cultural, religious, and natural attractions, has always drawn many tourists. Kazerun was founded during the Sassanid period by order of Shapur I, and now the Bishapur historical complex of this region is under UNESCO consideration for world heritage status.
