Prince Reza Pahlavi’s Message to Protesters in Iran: We Are Countless and Stronger Than the Oppressors
Prince Reza Pahlavi, in a message expressing solidarity with protesting citizens in Khuzestan, Lorestan, and Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari provinces who have taken to the streets, addressed the protesters saying they should demand that military, police, and security forces “lay down their weapons and not further burden their case.”
Prince Reza Pahlavi, in a Twitter message published on Thursday, Ordibehesht 22, simultaneously with the spread of nationwide protests in several provinces, stated that he is closely following the protests of “fellow countrymen and brave youth” in Khuzestan, Lorestan, and Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari provinces. Referring to “severe suppression and internet shutdown,” he emphasized: “Our power is that we are countless and stronger than the oppressors.”
Stating that “we want to build Iran’s future together and use Iran’s wealth to rebuild it,” he said: “That fertile and resource-rich land is so wealthy that it should have no deprived province, city, or village, and no Iranian’s table should be empty. The day is not far when we celebrate Iran’s freedom together.”
Addressing protesters in Khuzestan, Lorestan, and Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari provinces who have taken to the streets and “bravely and unitedly reclaimed the streets from the oppressors,” Prince Reza Pahlavi said: “Your courage deserves the support of other fellow countrymen across Iran.”
Stating that the patience of the Iranian nation’s majority has run out, he told military, police, and security forces that “Iran’s future has room for everyone who stands with the people today; and of course, criminals must answer for their crimes today.”
Conciding with a new wave of price increases and shortages of essential goods in Iran, widespread protests that began in several Khuzestan cities expanded on Thursday, Ordibehesht 22, to neighboring provinces.
These protests, which had been ongoing in recent days in some Khuzestan cities including Dezful and Izeh, resumed on Thursday afternoon in at least three provinces—Lorestan, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, and Khuzestan—in the cities of Khorramabad, Dorud, Shahr-e Kord, Jonqan, and Andimeshk.
In these protests, slogans such as “Death to Khamenei,” “Death to Raisi,” “Compatriot, show support,” “The cleric must disappear,” “Reza Shah, rest in peace,” and “O Shah of Iran, return to Iran” have been chanted.
Source: Voice of America
