Protests in Kazerun ‘Turned Violent and Confrontational’
Various reports on social media indicate that violence and clashes occurred during a gathering of protesters in Kazerun. According to unconfirmed reports, police officers opened fire.
According to reports published on social media, the city of Kazerun, located in Fars Province, witnessed a protest gathering on Wednesday evening (May 16 / Ordibehesht 26).
Iran Human Rights Campaign, based on video reports published on social media, posted a message on Twitter in which it mentioned the formation of a night gathering in Kazerun following a call from several local Telegram channels.
According to Iran Human Rights Campaign, this protest gathering turned violent with police intervention and gunfire. Some unconfirmed reports indicate that a number of protesters were killed and wounded.
In one of its tweets, the Human Rights Campaign referenced reports from local media according to which “at least three civilians were killed following direct police fire.”
According to Hassan A., a Deutsche Welle Farsi user, around 10 a.m. Iran time, clashes continued in several areas of Kazerun. He mentioned the heavy presence of security forces and riot police with motorcycle units and water cannons. According to this user, internet and mobile phone connections have also been cut off.
“A Kazerun resident dies, but will not accept humiliation” is among the slogans heard in videos released from the Kazerun protest gathering.
Changes to the country’s administrative divisions, the decision to divide Kazerun in Fars Province and the formation of a new county sparked protests in Farvardin this year that lasted for several weeks. These protests were also accompanied by large gatherings and market closures.
At the end of Farvardin, Kazerun protesters even chanted slogans during Friday prayers at the city’s prayer grounds and called the Kazerun Friday prayer leader “dishonorable.” “The enemy is right here, they lie saying it’s America” was among the slogans of the protesters at that ceremony.
According to Iranian Islamic Republic officials, the creation of new counties is a normal process in the country’s administrative divisions that is carried out based on “expert studies.”
Bahram Parsaei, a member of the leadership board of the Hope faction in parliament and representative of Shiraz in the Islamic Consultative Assembly, identified the root cause of the Kazerun people’s protests as “livelihood and economic issues” in late Farvardin in a conversation with ILNA news agency.
He stated in this regard: “The main factor in these unrest is the same protests we generally see in other sectors of society, and we witness that people are protesting against the livelihood and economic situation and employment conditions, and it seems that people are trying to use these pretexts to make their voice heard by officials.”
Israel Jahangiri, First Vice President of Iran, also addressed the protests of Kazerun residents on the first day of Ordibehesht.
He said in a meeting: “The Kazerun issue must be resolved, people cannot come to the streets every day and some ride this wave and chant their slogans. The government has not made any decision regarding Kazerun.”
Source: DW
