Widespread Arrests and Security Threats on Fourth Day of Protests

The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) issued a statement threatening protesters with “decisive action.” Security and police authorities report widespread arrests across various provinces. On the fourth day of protests, the exact death toll has still not been announced.

The IRGC called protesters “rioters” and “enemies” in a statement and claimed that in most provinces and cities, people have been “guardians of social stability and peace,” “such that not even a single report of insecurity, destruction, looting and plundering of public property has been received from those areas.”

Meanwhile, the governor of Tehran acknowledged that protests have occurred in more than 70 percent of Iran’s provinces.

The public relations office of the Imam Hassan Mujtaba Corps in Alborz Province announced that 150 people were arrested during the last two days of protests in Alborz.

University officials confirmed that some Tehran University students were arrested, but it remains unclear which security agency was responsible. In Khuzestan Province, reports emerged of the arrest of protest “leaders.”

Hassan Rouhani also threatened those creating roadblocks with their vehicles, saying that vehicles and their license plate numbers are being identified through numerous cameras installed in cities.

Despite opposition, the Iranian government continues to restrict citizens’ access to internet communications.

A review of scattered reports indicates that dozens have been killed so far and more than a thousand have been arrested.

Iran’s Ambassador to London: Gas Price Increase Shows Government-People Bond is Strong

Hamid Baeidinejad, the Islamic Republic’s ambassador to London, claimed that the increase in gasoline prices amid sanctions “demonstrates a strong bond between the government and the people.” According to Baeidinejad, this issue is overlooked in Western countries.

However, Baeidinejad made no mention of the widespread protests taking place in over 100 Iranian cities. According to official authorities, several people have been killed and more than a thousand arrested.

150 People Arrested in Alborz Province by IRGC

The public relations office of the Imam Hassan Mujtaba Corps announced that 150 people were arrested during the last two days of protests. The IRGC claimed that these individuals were protest “leaders.” These individuals were identified by IRGC forces. According to the IRGC statement, these “people were trained domestically and abroad and received funds to commit arson and destruction at centers.”

In some videos posted on social media, security forces can be seen opening fire on protesters. An uncertain number have been killed and wounded in recent days of protests. According to official sources, more than a thousand people have been detained so far.

Isfahan Mayor: Recent Unrest Has Caused 200 to 300 Billion Tomans in Damages

Ghodratollah Norouzi, the mayor of Isfahan, claimed that recent unrest has caused significant damages estimated at 200 to 300 billion tomans to “infrastructure, streets and municipal facilities” in Isfahan.

According to Norouzi, “given the sanctions, replacing and repairing many of the damages to Isfahan is very difficult and in some cases impossible.”

The protests in Isfahan have caused the metro and city train to stop. According to Norouzi’s claims, approximately 300 buses have been “completely burned.” Norouzi noted the displacement of 100,000 people daily via metro, adding: “But now due to the destruction, the metro is closed. Also, the buses that transported 600,000 people daily are now damaged.”

This comes as social media reports violent confrontations between security and police forces with protesters. The exact death toll and number of wounded remain unclear. Some eyewitnesses report that officers are destroying cars and public property.

Report from a Shiraz Resident on the City’s Situation

Mohammad, a Shiraz citizen, sent a message to Deutsche Welle describing his neighborhood’s situation:

“Hello, I’m messaging from Shiraz. I don’t know how I managed to connect.
The city is completely under security control. Because of the rain, there weren’t many people in the city today. Most shops are closed.

All areas where there were clashes yesterday and last night, security forces were there today.
Some neighborhoods like Golestan District and Bezen District, people clashed with plainclothes forces.
Gas stations are closed. The few that are open have long lines and police and security forces are present.

In all streets where there were protests, all banks and government facilities and city hall were damaged. We can say 80 percent were destroyed.”

Some Tehran University Students Were Detained

Teheran University students held a gathering outside the university on Sunday, November 26, protesting the country’s economic situation and recent events. At the end of this gathering, several students were arrested outside the university premises.

The Shafaghnews agency quoted Saeed Habiba, the student affairs deputy of Tehran University, confirming the detention of students. According to Habiba, university security and officials are looking into the condition of the detained students. It remains unclear which security agency detained the students.

 

Parliament Representative: Internet Cutoff Has Created More Dissatisfaction in Society

Hamideh Zarabadi, a member of parliament, called for lifting restrictions on internet access. According to Zarabadi, disruptions to the global internet network have created “new dissatisfaction” among Iranian citizens. Zarabadi emphasized: “Internet outages even exist in areas where there are no problems.”

Security officials have slowed down or completely cut off internet communications to control unrest in Iran. According to Zarabadi, the internet cutoff has worsened the news situation and increased “tension” in society. The internet cutoff has also disrupted business in Iran.

Call for Respect for People’s Right to Protest

Ulrike Demmer, deputy spokesperson for German Chancellor Angela Merkel, called on Iran on Monday, November 27 during a press conference in Berlin to respect “the legitimate right of the Iranian people to protest against the increase in gasoline prices.”

She stressed that “this is a legitimate step and must be respected, when people courageously express their economic and political dissatisfaction, which is exactly what we are witnessing in Iran now.”

Germany’s chancellor’s deputy spokesperson added that the Iranian government should respond to current protests by expressing its willingness to dialogue with protesters.

On the other hand, a French foreign ministry spokesman stated that the country is closely following developments and events in Iran.

He also emphasized in this regard that freedom of expression and peaceful protest are rights that must be respected.

Parallel to Germany’s stance on Iran’s unrest, Bijan Ghahreman, foreign policy spokesman for Germany’s Free Democratic Party (FDP), posted a message on Twitter stating: “Whether Hong Kong or Tehran. The German government either takes no position or hides behind diplomatic words. It’s really sad.”

Statement from Kazerun Seminary Regarding Its Arson

Fararu website reported on Monday that during protests against the gasoline price increase in Kazerun city, the seminary in the city was attacked and parts of it were set on fire.

In this connection, the management of the Farsi Province seminary issued a statement requesting that “security and police officials deal more seriously with opportunists and those who desecrate the sacred.”

Fararu website also published photos of the burned sections of the seminary.

It is worth noting that in videos published from the protests, security forces dressed in special uniforms and masked helmets can be seen breaking car windows. On social networks, destruction and arson of places have been attributed to these forces.

IRGC: We Will Deal Decisively with Any Insecurity

The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps issued a statement on Monday, November 27, responding to public protests and unrest caused by the gasoline price increase.

The statement said that the IRGC, in cooperation with other powerful armed, police and security forces, “considers protecting national security as its legal duty and will deal decisively with any continued insecurity and measures that undermine public peace and welfare.”

The IRGC statement thanked people who “have been guardians of social stability and peace in most provinces and cities during these events, such that not a single report of insecurity, destruction, looting and plundering of public property has been received from those areas.”

According to news media, at least 12 people have been killed during recent unrest and around a thousand have been detained. Unofficial reports indicate dozens of deaths.

Fararu website reported on Monday, November 27, that the seminary in Kazerun city was targeted in an attack by protesters and set on fire. The management of the Farsi Province seminary issued a statement asking security and police officials “to deal more seriously with opportunists.”

Ali Rabiei: Meeting People’s Livelihoods Was Only Possible Through Gasoline Price Reform

On Monday, November 27, a press conference was held by Ali Rabiei, spokesperson for Hassan Rouhani’s government, regarding the consequences of the gasoline price increase. Rabiei clarified that the government “considers protest a right of the people, but protest is different from rioting.”

Rabiei added in this regard, “Those worried about their livelihoods are a different account from those who used weapons and firearms.”

While referring to the fact that the issue of energy carrier price reform, especially gasoline, has been challenging over the past 60 years, he said that implementing the gasoline price increase plan was based on the decision of the Supreme Coordination Council of the three branches and the approval of “the Supreme Leader.”

The government spokesperson also emphasized that the government is obligated to support the purchasing power of middle and lower-income families. He added in this regard: “The only way to provide for people’s livelihoods under these circumstances was through gasoline price reform. The other way was raising taxes, which had consequences for the country’s production.”

Arif Called for a Meeting on Gasoline with the Heads of Branches

The ISNA news agency reported, quoting Fatema Saeedi, spokesperson for the Omid faction, that Mohammad Reza Arif, the faction leader, requested in a letter to the parliament speaker to hold a closed session including Hassan Rouhani, the president, and Ebrahim Raisi, the head of the judiciary.

According to Saeedi, Arif proposed holding a closed session to discuss and exchange views on “the lack of national sovereignty exercise by the people’s representatives given the restrictions imposed.”

The Omid faction leader requested in his letter that the heads of the executive and judicial branches explain to representatives how decisions were made regarding rationing and gasoline price increases.

Mohammad Reza Arif also proposed in the letter that security officials specifically present a report on measures taken to control the crisis in recent days and normalize conditions.

He proposed that the communications minister be invited to the parliament session to provide representatives with explanations on “communication restrictions and the people’s rights to access communication tools, including the internet.”

Threat by Editor-in-Chief of Kayhan Newspaper to “Eliminate Riffraff”

Hossein Shariatmadari, editor-in-chief of Kayhan newspaper, severely criticized Hassan Rouhani’s government’s performance over the past seven years in the “Today’s Note” column on Monday, November 27, while also expressing threats against those protesting the gasoline price increase.

In his article, he wrote: “Sedition-mongers and their behind-the-scenes employers have repeatedly tested the pure-hearted people and devoted fighters of Islamic Iran, and they know that for those who have blinded the eyes of the seditions of ’99 and ’09, etc., eliminating these dregs and riffraff is also easily possible.”

Shariatmadari attacked Hassan Rouhani’s government, writing: “Unfortunately, it must be said that over nearly seven years, people have witnessed many promises from the government, many of which have been unfulfilled, and instead of apologizing to the people, the government has surprisingly denied the promises or made statements contrary to reality and contradictory to what was promised.”

According to news and images posted on social media, protests against the gasoline price increase continued in various Iranian cities on Sunday, November 26. Based on this news, many protesters were killed and wounded. Some videos indicate direct shooting by security forces at protesters. IRNA in an image report addressed “destruction of public property in Tehran” and wrote that this destruction was caused by “misuse of some people of public protests.” Mehr news agency reported the killing of a Basij member in protests in Malard and Shahr-e Qods (Tehran Province).

School Closures in Isfahan, Khuzestan and Alborz Without Reason

Although domestic media reported normal conditions in the country and the return of peace to cities, schools were announced closed without specific reasons in three provinces: Alborz, Isfahan and Khuzestan. Isfahan’s metro was also announced closed due to “lack of security.”

The Isfahan province security council announced without citing specific reasons that schools in the city at all educational levels were closed. The public relations office of the Farsi province education department also announced schools in Shiraz closed on Monday without citing a reason.

Alborz Province announced all schools in the province closed on Monday. Khuzestan Province also announced schools at all levels closed on Monday, citing “air pollution” as the reason.

Protests against the gasoline price increase have been occurring in all these areas in recent days.

It was also reported that Sepideh Qolian, a civil activist who had recently been temporarily released on bail, was again detained by security forces. Video images posted on social networks show her chanting at a public gathering in Khuzestan while holding a paper: “No threats, no prison anymore have effect.” The paper read: “You increased gasoline price by 300 percent, did you also increase wages?”

Isfahan Metro Closed for Second Consecutive Day

Ali Reza Salavati, the deputy for transportation and traffic of Isfahan’s mayor, announced the closure of the city’s metro due to “lack of security.”

According to IRNA, Salavati said the Isfahan city train is ready to restart after “securing” stations in the northern part of the city.

Salavati reported damage to five Isfahan city stations on Saturday and Sunday.

IRGC Announced the Arrest of Two Protest “Leaders”

The IRGC’s intelligence organization in Farsi Province said it arrested two of the protest “leaders” against gasoline price increases in Shiraz.

According to Mashrigh News, the IRGC claimed that these two individuals were assigned “with promises of accommodation and payment of money” to “incite people and destroy key facilities and public property and then send the film to their superiors outside the country.”

Including “setting fire to police stations, police vehicles, destruction of government buildings and fuel stations” was also considered part of “the mission of these two individuals.”

 

Source: DW