Protests Continue in Iranian Cities Despite Intense Security Atmosphere
Human rights media outlets and social networks have reported the continuation of protests in various Iranian cities. Many cities are under heavy security measures and their internet has been cut off. People took to the streets in Golpayegan and Isfahan with slogans against the government.
Despite the severe security situation in some Iranian cities, people’s protests continued on Tuesday night (May 17). According to Hrana, the news agency of the Iranian Human Rights Activists Network, people in the cities of Golpayegan and Jonqan chanted slogans in protest of the current situation.
Hrana reported that videos received from Golpayegan show widespread presence of protesting people in the streets of this city. Internet access has been cut off in Jonqan. Reports of demonstrations in Isfahan have also been published. Some reports indicate that security forces attacked protesting people in Golpayegan and arrested some of them.
According to Hrana, protesters in Golpayegan came to the streets with slogans such as “Raisi, be ashamed, abandon the country,” “Police force, support, support” and “Bombs, tanks, rockets, the mullah must disappear.”
Also, a resident of Mahabad informed Hrana about the imposition of a security atmosphere in the city. According to him, armored vehicles and IRGC special units are present in various parts of the city. A person from Tehran also described the security situation in the city: “The coincidence of people’s protests with the bus drivers’ strike has created a tight security atmosphere over Tehran. Security forces are present visibly and invisibly in the streets and are trying to control the situation in a way that prevents it from turning into mass gatherings and protests.”
Protests in Iran began due to the rise in price of food items, including bread, from mid-May in some cities in Khuzestan province and later spread throughout Iran.
In recent days, protest movements against rampant price increases and the incompetence of officials in many Iranian cities have intensified and in many cases have been accompanied by slogans against the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, Ali Khamenei, and the head of government he supports, Ibrahim Raisi.
Many prominent Iranian artists, including Shahram Nazeri, Asghar Farhadi, and Reza Kianian, have protested against the livelihood situation. Asghar Farhadi, a prominent Iranian filmmaker, referred to “economic and political pressures on the Iranian people” at the Cannes Film Festival and said: “Like many Iranians, I cannot really be happy. People are exhausted and nothing really makes many Iranians happy right now.”
Pervaiz Parastui, a prominent Iranian actor, also in a letter addressed to Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, supported the protests of the protesting people and wrote: “Sign the decree of the people’s welfare with my blood.” He, who traveled to America in early May to screen his film in California, faced much criticism for not saying anything about the suppression of people in Iran.
About 550 political and civil activists warned the Islamic Republic authorities that “violent dealing with disobedient citizens and lives hanging by a thread” would escalate people’s protests.
Source: DW
