Isfahan's judicial and political authorities warn against holding a rally on Friday
Following the publication of a call to hold Friday prayers on the dried-up bed of the Zayandeh River, the governor of Isfahan warned on Thursday that holding "any" gathering on Friday in the province would be "illegal."
A judicial body also warned Isfahan citizens to beware of "misuse by opponents" and to refrain from participating in "illegal" gatherings.
Mohammad Ali Ahmadi, the governor of Isfahan, said on Thursday that "no" request for a gathering on Friday was received from the Isfahan governorate, and "no" permit has been issued for a gathering in the province.
He claimed: "The farmers also officially announced that they will pursue their demands legally and will not hold any illegal gatherings and will not support any gatherings."
The Deputy for Crime Prevention of the Isfahan Provincial Prosecutor's Office also issued a statement urging Isfahan citizens to "be completely vigilant" and "seriously refrain from participating in illegal gatherings of any kind."
On Thursday, December 1, the Public Relations Office of the General Justice Department of Isfahan Province called on citizens to be vigilant and refrain from participating in illegal gatherings under any title, given the "adversaries' misuse of the issue of farmers' demands and legal rights... and the fact that the Isfahan Province Farmers' Guild has not issued any call for the coming days, especially on Friday, December 12, 1402."
The provincial prosecutor's office has also asked the public to report any information they have to intelligence and security authorities, as there is a "history of attacks on citizens' property and lives by hostile elements."
The claim of destruction of public property by protesters was raised in a situation where many videos of security forces and special police units damaging citizens' cars in Isfahan were published.
Meanwhile, the warning from political and judicial authorities in Isfahan province to citizens comes after a call was posted on social media inviting people to hold Friday prayers this week, December 12, on the dried-up bed of the Zayandeh River near the Khaju Bridge.
In this call, which is not clear which individual or group first published it, the citizens of Isfahan were asked to hold a "people's prayer" on the riverbank, not Friday prayers, this week.
The call states, "Prayer is free," and calls on Isfahan citizens to participate in "millions" to hold protest prayers on the banks of the Zayandeh River.
The publication of this call has also been welcomed by social media users, and a number of users have expressed their sympathy for the events in Isfahan by using the hashtags "Isfahan is not alone," "Isfahan with bloodshot eyes," and "Isfahan in blood," supporting the wounded in Isfahan who were injured by the security forces' shotgun blasts.
Security and judicial authorities in Isfahan province, who initially covered the protests of Isfahan farmers and the public's support for them in response to the management of water resources in the province, after a while turned to violent repression of the protesters.
According to a report by the Iranian Human Rights Organization, it is estimated that around 40 people lost at least one eye due to gunshot wounds during the Isfahan protests.
Source: Radio Farda
