Report on the sixteenth day of nationwide protests in Iran

HRANA News Agency – The protests known as the “September protests” began on September 16, following the death of a 22-year-old girl named Mahsa (Zina) Amini as a result of the actions of the moral security police patrol in Tehran, and are still ongoing. Protesting citizens also held rallies in a number of cities and universities across the country today. As of the time of this report, 103 cities in 31 provinces, along with 48 universities across the country, have staged a total of 289 widespread protests in the past 16 days.

According to HRANA News Agency, the news agency of the Human Rights Activists Association in Iran, nationwide protests continued in Iran today, Sunday, October 1, 2022.

Today, Sunday, October 10, as the sixteenth day of protests, citizens in cities including Tehran, Isfahan, Bushehr and a number of students from Khajeh Nasir al-Din Tusi University, Najafabad Azad University, University of Tehran, Zakaria Razi University of Kermanshah, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences - Sanandaj, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran University of Science and Culture, University of Isfahan, Shahr-e-Quds Azad University in Tehran, Tehran University of Art, "Shahid Bahonar" University - Kerman, Islamshahr Azad University, University of Science and Technology, "Shahid Beheshti" University, University of Mazandaran - Babolsar, Shiraz University, Tarbiat Modares University, Allameh Tabatabaei University, Sohanek Azad University, Yazd University, Tehran Azad University (Science and Research Branch), Kharazmi University of Tehran and "Shahid Chamran" University - Ahvaz held protest rallies despite the tight security atmosphere and the heavy presence of special guard forces.

Peaceful student protests at a number of universities turned violent with the presence of security forces. It is said that a large number of protesting students were arrested by security forces.

At the same time, a video of tear gas being thrown into the Isfahan University campus and the violent suppression of protesting students has been published on social media.

The National Students' Union Council reported on the imprisonment of a number of Tehran University students in the security building (adjacent to the lower gate of 16 Azar) and stated: "These students have previously been arrested by security forces on the university campus."

Also, according to images released by Sharif University of Technology, today, security forces fired shotgun pellets, injuring a number of students.

Protesting students chanted slogans in these rallies, including "Students are awake," "Death to the dictator," "Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, we are all together," "Don't call it protest, it's called revolution," "Freedom, freedom, freedom," "Women, life, freedom," "Our shame, our shame, our Basij-ul-Dang," "The imprisoned student must be released," and "We don't want a security university, we don't want one."

Slogans against the government and its leader are also constantly heard in student or urban gatherings.

Today, a number of marketers and merchants in the cities of Isfahan and Piranshahr also went on strike by closing their businesses as a sign of protest.

At the same time, the hashtag #Mahsa_Amini was retweeted and retweeted more than 200 million times on Twitter, setting an unprecedented global record.

On the other hand, today, Amjad Amini, Mahsa Amini's father, said in an interview with Event 24 that no one would answer him about the cause of his daughter's death and that he had been "defeated" in his visits to the forensic doctor.

Saleh Nikbakht, the lawyer for Mahsa Amini's family, also said: "In my opinion, as well as in the opinion of reputable doctors, Mahsa was definitely beaten before she arrived at the Ershad Patrol Center. It is also highly likely that she was beaten after being in the detention center."

On the other hand, the bloody protests in Zahedan on Friday, October 28, which left many casualties, are still continuing despite the region's internet being cut off. Maulvi Abdul Hamid, the Sunni Friday imam of Zahedan, released a video stating that the death toll in the incident was around 40 and criticized the way the police handled the incident.

Detainees

There is still no exact information on the number of detainees, but based on previous estimates and experiences, the number of detainees is estimated to be in the thousands.

Today, the identities of 31 other citizens and students, including Amir Ghazi Zadeh, Babak Hamrang, Reza Ghorbani, Haleh Ershadi in Ardabil, Mohammad Aref Jahangiri in Sanandaj, Salar Taher Afshar in Kermanshah, Ali Hedayati Verdi, Sara Shamsaie, Alborz Nezami, Hamidreza Ali Asgari, Qasem Khodadadi, Parviz Jangal, Mohammad Hossein Shahabi Majd, Ali Daei Naseri, Ali Shorouzi, Maedeh Amir Siyafi, Sara Naderi, Hassan Mohammad Panah in Tehran, Zaniar Bagheri in Saqqez, Javad Ahmadi Yekanali in Khoy, Ali Mohammad Dost Hosseini in Yazd, Bavan Lotfi in Mahabad, Salar Jahedkaran in Gorgan, Ali Latifi in Arak, Fardin Fathi in Dehgolan, Mohammad Haji Rasoulpour in Bukan, Hiva Valdbeigi, Arman Naghshi, Arvin Khanumradi, Mokhtar Sadeghi, and Fawad Valdbeigi in Paveh, who have been arrested in recent days, have been revealed by HRANA was confirmed.

Also, Saman Ghazali, who had previously been arrested during the protests, was transferred from Mahabad Prison to the IRGC Intelligence Detention Center in Urmia today, Sunday, October 1.

Today, the Kurdistan Regional Government's police commander claimed: "So far, more than 150 people who were arrested during the recent unrest have been released on bail."

Information has also been released about mass arrests that require further investigation and confirmation. One example is the news of the arrest of 30 to 40 students from Sharif University by security forces.

The Lorestan prosecutor also announced the arrest of 12 protesting citizens on October 10, while the commander of the Gilan police force announced the arrest of 6 protesting citizens between the ages of 14 and 22.

Regarding the protests on Friday, October 29, the prosecutor of the central province of Sistan and Baluchestan said: "So far, 8 citizens have been arrested."

On the other hand, the director of the Presidency and Public Relations Department of Allameh Tabatabaei University announced the release of nine detained students, and the president of Tehran University claimed: "The students who were arrested following the events of Saturday, October 29, were released today, Sunday."

HRANA previously published a detailed list of people arrested during the recent protests in various cities in Iran. To view this list, please visit this link.

Killed and injured:

The use of excessive violence or deadly weapons by special forces has resulted in the deaths of a number of civilians.

For more details on the violence and casualties in the first seven days of the protests, please visit this link.

Today, information regarding the deaths of two children with unknown identities, Ismail Hossein Zehi, Amir Hossein Mirkazehi, a woman (identity unknown), (name unknown) Gangozh-e-Rigi, Vahid Hot, Mohsen Gamsha-Dzehi, Imran Hassanzai, Amin Gole-Bachcha, Omid (surname unknown), Hamid Essa-Zehi, Ali Akbar Halgheh-Begosh, Nemat-Allah Kobdani, Omar Shahnavazi, Abdolrahman Balochi-Khah, Amin-Allah Qoljaei, Musa Nahtani (Anshini), Lal Mohammad Ali Zehi, Bilal Anshini, Lal Mohammad Anshini, Salahuddin Gamshadzehi, all in Zahedan, was published by Hal-Vash News Agency and the Baloch Activists Campaign. HRANA also received identity information regarding Pooya Shida in Urmia, Amir Hossein Basati in Kermanshah.

Local sources, including the Friday prayer leader of Zahedan, also reported the deaths of at least 40 citizens and the injury of dozens of others in Zahedan during the protests on Friday, October 29.

On the other hand, the governor of Kurdistan announced the death of 4 citizens in the protests in the province.

HRANA has so far identified more than 150 citizens killed during the recent protests, the authenticity of a number of whom has been independently verified and confirmed by this news agency.

News sites affiliated with security institutions also reported the deaths of Ali Bey, a Revolutionary Guards soldier in Zahedan, Mehdi Zahid Loya, a Basij soldier in Qom, Mojtaba Amiri, a Basij soldier in Qeshm, and Davud Abdullahi, commander of the Marivan relief unit.

HRANA has previously published a detailed list of people who are said to have died in the recent protests. To view this list and details, please refer to this link.

Communication disorder

Disruptions in the internet and mobile communication networks were evident from the first days of the recent protests. From September 19, communication outages and disruptions reached their peak, especially in Kurdistan and other protest centers. Mobile communication networks, including Hamrah Awal, Irancell, and Rightel, were deliberately disrupted.

Since the start of the nationwide protests, Instagram, WhatsApp, Skype, App Store, Viber, Google Play, Clash Royale, Starlink, LinkedIn, and Discord have been filtered.

Also today, Sunday, October 10, the Ministry of Communications issued a statement saying: "No order has been issued to remove the WhatsApp filter."

In response to the filtering and restrictions imposed on the internet in Iran in recent days, the Tehran E-Commerce Association has issued a statement criticizing these conditions, stating: "Cutting off access to Instagram in Iran has put more than 400,000 businesses at risk of destruction and the livelihoods of more than one million people in serious trouble."

For more details about the disruption in information and internet outages during the first seven days of the protests, please refer to this link.

Reactions

Following the arrest and death of Ms. Amini and the subsequent start and continuation of protests over this incident, many Iranian and international political figures and activists, artists, and figures did not remain silent in the face of this flood of events.

The latest reactions to the ongoing protests include the following:

Maulana Abdul Ghaffar Naqshbandi, the temporary Friday Imam of Rask city, issued a statement calling the killing of a number of defenseless worshippers at the Makki Mosque in Zahedan by military officers a "discriminatory act and promotion of 43-year-old hatred against Baloch and Balochistan among the military." He declared: "I appeal to all military officers to put an end to these merciless killings before everyone loses control and the situation reaches a point of no return."

Ellen DeGeneres, host and producer of the comedy show The Ellen Show, in the United States, made her Instagram page, with more than 128 million followers, available to Iranian-American writer and actress Nazanin Noor for 24 hours yesterday to post content in support of the recent protests in Iran.

Outside of Iran, some cultural and sports figures, including Gianluigi Buffon, former Juventus and Italian national team goalkeeper, Bryan Adams, Canadian composer and singer, American actress Claire Danes, and British rock band Coldplay, published articles in support of the recent protests in Iran.

Additionally, Canadian artist and architect Tim Foo designed a sculpture for a square in post-Islamic Republic Iran, inspired by the courage of Iranian women. Emily Schrader, a writer, singer, and women's rights activist, also performed Shervin Hajipour's song "For." She posted a video on her personal page in support of the nationwide protests in Iran.

More than 400 writers, poets, university lecturers, journalists and translators from inside and outside Iran supported the nationwide protests and strikes. They called on leaders and groups such as teachers, workers, lawyers and cultural and artistic figures to invite public opinion to “civil disobedience and strike and organize it.”

A group of students at Tabriz University also issued a statement protesting the arrest and violent behavior of the police against the civil and freedom-loving protests of Tabriz University students on October 29, 1402, and refused to attend classes.

Shokoofe Safari, the Iranian women's national volleyball player, posted a story on her personal page and wrote: "For our dreams that were destroyed because of rusty brains." Also, Shoja Khalilzadeh, the defender of the Iranian national football team, posted a video "For..." of Shervin Hajipour on her personal page and wrote: "For you who are an artist and sing, for your fellow countryman and compatriot, for the feeling of peace you gave, for you who are innocent, for Shervin, for Mahsa Amini, for Hossein Mahini, a woman_living_freedom."

Babak Takhti, the son of Gholamreza Takhti, protested the use of his father's name in a government clip on the Iranian Broadcasting Corporation (IRGC), posting a text on his personal page, writing: "Shame on you for this dishonor. Takhti had nothing to do with you. He had nothing in common with your ruthless but rotten monarchy. At a time when you are killing the beautiful and brave children of the country, naming him after Takhti, whose entire life and existence was love for them, is the ultimate dishonor and baseness."

Mohsen Forouzan, a footballer, Gholamreza Mohammadi, a freelancer and former head coach of the Iranian national wrestling team, Bahador Molaei, a former national weightlifter, Najmeh Abtin, a former Iranian Olympic archery national athlete, Ehsan Roozbahani, an Olympic boxer, Parisa Farshidi, a former Iranian taekwondo national athlete, Yeganeh Khalili, an Iranian legionnaire on the Helosia team, and Popak Basami, an Iranian women's national weightlifter, are among other Iranian athletes who reacted to the events in Iran today by publishing content on their personal pages or interviewing news agencies.

Additionally, Mina Daris, a singer from Khuzestan, supported the nationwide protests in Iran on her personal page by removing the mandatory hijab.

Among the artists, Bahram Bayzai, a worker and playwright, Payam Dehkordi, an actor and theater director, and Borzo Arjomand, an actor and his wife Parmis Zand, announced their support for the Iranian protests by publishing articles. Baran Kowsari also posted a video on her personal page of Niagara Falls illuminated in the colors of the Iranian flag, inviting her audience to enjoy nature "for one last post," and hours after posting this text, her personal page became inaccessible.

Against the protesters

Today, in a public session of the parliament, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, the speaker of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, stated that “the first issue in recent events is why and how Ms. Amini died,” adding: “The issue must be investigated and the result announced, and any negligence must be dealt with without any leniency.” He continued: “The country’s security officials must deal authoritatively with all those who disrupt people’s security, and there should be no tolerance in this matter.” He also announced: “Creating chaos in the streets and anti-security behaviors weaken social cohesion, endangering the people’s economy.”

233 members of parliament issued a statement calling for harsher punishment for the protesters.

Yesterday, the heads of the three branches of the Islamic Republic discussed the protests of the past two weeks at the presidential palace in Iran. During the meeting, they appreciated the role of government agencies in “countering the unrest.” “The heads of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches emphasized the need for the media and elites to recognize and explain the conspiracies of anti-Iranians and enemies of the Islamic Revolution, and they expressed their gratitude to the honorable people of our country who, with insight, timing, and intelligent demarcation, have so far thwarted the complex and multi-layered plans of the enemies to create a crisis in the country.”

The IRGC Intelligence Organization also issued a message, writing: "Undoubtedly, the children of the proud nation of Islamic Iran will, as in the past, avenge the innocent blood of the oppressed martyrs of Zahedan on Black Friday from the enemies, and will not leave the cowardly attacks of armed opponents, evildoers, and agitators unanswered, and by the grace of God, they will dismantle the blind and brutal moves of the enemies."

In response to the recent public protests following the killing of Mahsa Amini, IRGC Commander-in-Chief Hossein Salami said, "They want to deceive our children and drag them out onto the streets. This is the enemy's latest policy, and they want us to just write dictations for them, as in the past, but we know every lesson except writing dictations."

Hossein Mirzaei, a member of the Parliament's Cultural Commission, stated that the shootings in universities were the work of "counter-revolutionaries" and claimed: "Iranian security forces did not carry firearms." He said: "If anyone has documents and evidence that our armed forces fired, please send them so we can examine them. Firearms were not on the agenda of the forces that clashed. They did not have firearms at all."

Today, Intelligence Minister Ismail Khatib linked the killing of a number of IRGC forces in Zahedan to terrorist groups affiliated with “global arrogance” and said: “They should know that they will see the consequences of their shameful actions and the chaos, chaos, and terrorizing of innocent people, and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps will respond decisively to the crimes of the mercenaries.” It is worth noting that Hossein Salami, Commander-in-Chief of the IRGC, had previously said that the military has put “avenging the blood” of its agents on its agenda.

Ezzatollah Zarghami, Iran's Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts, called the reason for the internet shutdown "for the security of the people" and claimed that "according to security requirements, the capacities of the internet have been limited, and this is a security decision, and these platforms have been abused by some rioting groups."

Seyyed Mohammad Nabi Mousavifard, a representative from Khuzestan, also claimed: "The issue of the hijab is not specific; the fact that the enemies thought that the Islamic Revolution would retreat from this issue, this will definitely not happen."

Today, Fars News Agency claimed regarding the Shiraz University student gatherings: "This morning, a number of Shiraz University students chanted slogans such as (man, homeland, settlement) and (woman, life, freedom) at the entrance to the university's Eram campus, and sang a hymn together. After a few minutes, the students left the gathering and returned to their classrooms, ending the gathering."

Source: HRANA