 |
Over 132 Cities Rise Up against Clerical Regime
|
|
No. 1206 Special Edition November 19, 2019
|
Nationwide Uprising Grips Iran
Last week, all of Iran's 31 provinces and more than 132 cities witnessed major anti-regime uprisings triggered by a drastic hike in fuel prices. The demonstrations quickly took on political overtones, with protesters chanting "death to Khamenei," "death to Rouhani" and "death to dictator."
Here's what we know as of Monday night:
- 132 cities have been rocked by major anti-regime uprisings;
- Over 200 people have reportedly been killed;
- Over 3,000 have been wounded;
- Thousands more have been arrested;
- Regime forces target protesters' heads and chests, directly firing at them;
- The regime has implemented the largest internet shutdown in its history;
- Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei blamed the Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK) network inside Iran for leading and coordinating the protests;
-
Posters of Khamenei are brought down by protesters;
- Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), urged UN action. She said Khamenei, Rouhani and others must be tried for crimes against humanity;
- Protesters set fire to several offices of Khamenei's representatives in various cities, including Shiraz and Yazd;
- Mullahs' religious seminaries have been torched in several cities;
- Hundreds of IRGC-affiliated banks, paramilitary Bassij headquarters, and regime-affiliated offices have been attacked or set on fire;
- Schools in many cities have been closed;
-
Regime has deployed Afghan mercenaries to suppress protests;
- Some Majlis (parliament) deputies admit the regime is in "crisis."
The recent protests were fundamentally different from previous ones. The courage and intensity of protesters were well on display. Hundreds of regime institutions and buses and vehicles belonging to State Security Forces were set ablaze as protesters clashed with the regime's suppressive forces, who were surprised by the fearlessness of the youth. Many of them fled the scene, according to video evidence. Regime officials, including the Supreme Leader, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani, and commander of the IRGC's paramilitary Bassij forces Gholamreza Soleimani, have all blamed the Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK) "Resistance Units" inside Iran for leading the protests.
|
Watch security forces flee protests in Shahriar near Tehran (Nov. 16) |
A Fox News report asked: "Could these protests finally lead to a tipping point to topple the theocratic dictatorship as the opposition is seemingly gaining strength?"
According to reports on the ground, the 'Resistance Units' of the MEK are coordinating much of the protests and sending out footage from the scene.
On Monday, the head of the paramilitary Bassij forces, Gholamreza Soleimani, said: "The MEK has units in our country."
According to Fox News, President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, said: "The Iranian people and youth are resisting the mullahs' suppression. The regime is mistaken to think that it can stop the uprising through killings and arrests. The Iranian people and Resistance have pledged to overthrow this regime and establish peace, democracy and people's sovereignty in Iran. Under such circumstances, the international community, especially the United States, must support the rightful demands of the Iranian people to overthrow this regime and establish freedom and democracy in Iran."
Fox News image - Mrs. Maryam Rajavi standing with former US National Security Adviser James Jones, Albania, November 17, 2019
Mrs. Rajavi said in a video message: "This is an uprising to end 40 years of dictatorship and terrorism in Iran."
|
| Maryam Rajavi's message on uprisings in Iran |
On Monday, November 18, on the fourth day of the nationwide uprisings, Tehran and many other cities, including Shiraz, Isfahan, Karaj, and Kermanshah, were scenes of clashes and skirmishes between protesters and the regime's suppressive forces, including State Security Forces (SSF), the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS), special anti-riot units and plainclothes agents. In many instances, protesters succeeded in pushing back the regime's assailants.
At Tehran University, students were chanting, "death to dictator" and "Hardliner, reformer, the game is now over."
In Fardis county, a suburb west of Tehran, protesters took control over the main town square and shut off roads. On Saturday, in the city of Robat Karim - south of Tehran - protectors took over the city hall and forced the suppressive forces to flee. The city hall of Salehiye in Tehran was also attacked by the youth and set ablaze. Protesters in Khorramabad attacked the regime's radio and television station and broke windows.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo reiterated that the United States stands with the Iranian people. And, the White House on Sunday condemned the regime's use of "lethal force" and "severe communications restrictions" against demonstrators.
The theocratic rulers shut down the internet. A monitoring website, Netblocks, said "Iran is now in the midst of a near-total national internet shutdown; realtime network data show connectivity at 7% of ordinary levels after twelve hours of progressive network disconnections."
|
132 Cities Rise Up against Regime |
Iran's Nationwide Uprising
Anti-regime protests have erupted across Iran in more than 132 cities, with chants of "death to dictator," after the regime tripled the price of gasoline. The protests, which began on Friday, November 15, are continuing despite a major crackdown by the authorities. The 'Resistance Units' of the main Iranian opposition Mujahedin-e-Khalq (MEK) are leading and coordinating much of the protests and sending out video footage from the scene.
Amnesty International said on Monday: "We're horrified at reports that dozens of protesters have been killed in Iran, hundreds injured and over 1,000 arrested since Friday. We're alarmed that authorities have shut down the internet to create an information blackout of their brutal crackdown. We're investigating."
Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), called on the United Nations Secretary General António Guterres to brief the Security Council about the atrocities perpetrated by the religious dictatorship ruling Iran, its Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, and the IRGC, in view of the rising number of those killed and wounded. She urged him to convene an extraordinary session of the Council.
Khamenei blames the MEK for the protests
Iran News Update (Nov. 17) - Iranian regime's supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, on Sunday, backed the government's decision to raise gasoline prices and blamed the main opposition group, the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI-MEK) for the protests. In an address aired by state television, Khamenei said "Some people are no doubt worried by this decision ... The criminal MEK is continuously calling for these actions and encouraging these actions in social media and other places." Ali Shamkhani, the regime's National Security adviser also blamed the MEK and claimed that some of the arrested demonstrators were from the MEK. In a closed-door meeting of regime's parliament "Shamkhani said some the detainees supported the MEK," Assadollah Abbasi, spokesman of the regime's parliament said in a press conference. Read more...
Below is a summary of the developments to date
(via the MEK's network inside Iran)
Day 1 - Friday, November 15:
- Protests erupted in Ahvaz and many other cities in Khuzestan Province.
- In Mashhad, protests took place at Vakil-Abad Expressway, with people stopping their cars and blocking the major highway. Protesters were chanting, "Dictator shame on you, let go of the country."
- Similar protests raged in Shiraz, Karaj, and Sirjan.
- Slogans included: "Guns, tanks & fireworks. The mullahs must get lost"; "No to Gaza, no to Lebanon; my life is for Iran"; "Death to the dictator"; "Leave Syria alone. Think of us instead"; "Don't be afraid. We're all together".
- Ruhollah Nazari-Fat'h-abad (aged 37) was killed in Sirjan (southern Iran).
Day 2 - Saturday, November 16:
- Residents of Dalaki (Bushehr Province) set up roadblocks in various streets.
- In Behbahan (Khuzestan), security forces shot at protesters, who refused to budge.
- In Isfahan, protesters attacked the oppressive IRGC and Bassij base.
- In Vaeen, Tehran, protesters set fire to a police station.
- Defiant protesters in the city of Robat Karim - south of Tehran - took over the city hall, forcing the suppressive police forces to flee.
- In Parand, near Tehran, locals torched the regime's Kosar Bank and chanted, "Down with Bassiji," referring to members of the IRGC paramilitary Bassij units.
- A traffic police center in Karaj and all its vehicles and 15 banks were set on fire by protesters.
- The city hall of Salehiye in Tehran was attacked and set on fire by insurgent youth. Protesters shouted "Death to Bassiji" and attacked and burnt down the state-affiliated Kosar Pazand Bank.
- In the southern district of Mallard in Tehran, protesters set fire to another petrol station.
- Protesters in Khorramabad attacked the regime's radio and television station in the city and broke its windows. They also attacked and set fire to several state-owned banks.
- The people of Soltanabad burned down the city hall and a state-owned bank and shut down the Saveh-Soltanabad road.
- Mellat Bank was set on fire in Kashani Street in Mallard.
- In Qods Township in Tehran, several banks and government offices were set on fire. Security forces are on high alert.
- The people of Kermanshah, a major urban center in the west of Iran, gathered in the city's Freedom Square, Aryashahr, Maskan Boulevard, Nobahar, and other points and brought traffic on the city's beltway to a halt. Several state-owned banks and petrol stations were set alight in the process.
- Different parts of Tehran were the scenes of extensive skirmishes between the rebellious youths and the suppressive State Security Force, the IRGC, the Bassij, the Ministry of Intelligence, and plainclothes agents, lasting well into the early hours of Sunday morning.
- Terrified of the expansion of the uprising, the clerical regime completely cut off access to the Internet starting in late afternoon to prevent the protesters from contacting each other. The regime cut off the "Aval Hamrah" and "Irancell" mobile networks to deny access to the Internet.
- Large posters of Khomeini and his successor Ali Khamenei, supreme leader of the regime, and a huge symbol of Khomeini's ring in the city of Shahriar, in the southwestern suburbs of Tehran, were torched and destroyed by the protesters.
- By the end of the day, protests spread to at least 93 cities. Security forces killed eight protesters and injured many others in clashes between youth and suppressive forces, IRGC, paramilitary Bassij, intelligence services, and plainclothed criminals affiliated with the regime.
|
Protesters in Behbehan clash with regime forces, torch banks |
|
Protesters in Tabriz torch a bus after Iran gas price hike |
Protests were held in the following cities, among others: Tehran, Karaj, Shahriar, Isfahan, Shiraz, Tabriz, Ardebil, Orumiyeh, Rasht, Sari, Babol, Behshahr, Kermanshah, Javanroud, Kamyaran, Sanandaj, Neyshabur, Saveh, Birjand, Nurabad Mamasani, Marvdasht, Bojnourd, Andimeshk, Nour, Bushehr, Mahshahr, Chabahar, Gachsaran, Abadan, Behbahan, Bandar Rig, Kangan and Iranshahr.
Day 3 - Sunday, November 17:
- On the third day, Tehran and many cities across Iran, such as Shahriar, Islam-Shahr, Robat Karim, Sanandaj, Khorramshahr, and Karaj, were scenes of protests.
- IRGC forces opened fire on the people on strict orders from Khamenei, killing dozens of demonstrators across Iran.
- 27 people were confirmed dead, but the total number is higher.
- 14 people were killed in Shahriar, seven people in Behbahan, and two in Baharestan square in Tehran. The rest of those killed fell in Sirjan, Shiraz, Marivan, and Khorramshahr, among other cities.
- In Shiraz, protesters blocked roads and chanted "Down with Khamenei."
- In Pardis, near Karaj, west of Tehran, intense clashes were reported between protesters and the regime's security forces.
- In Kermanshah, western Iran, intense clashes were reported between protesters and the regime's oppressive forces.
- People in Tehran staged demonstrations in different parts of the city, including Tehran Pars, Tehran Sar, Enghelab Street and Square, Tehran University, Mossadeq Avenue, Lalehzar, Aryashahr, Khashani Street, and Mahallati and Niayesh expressways.
- At Tehran University, students were chanting, "death to dictator," and "Hardliner, reformer, the game is now over."
- In Niayesh Expressway, people were chanting, "Cannons, Tanks, Firecrackers, Mullahs must get lost." In Aryashahr, people clashed with the anti-riot forces and beat up several of them, and set their motorcycles on fire.
- Sending condolences to the families of the heroic martyrs of the uprising, Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, President-elect of the Iranian Resistance, hailed the Iranian people's protests against the mullahs. She added that Khamenei and his cronies try in vain to keep their hold on power through inhuman crimes.
- On Sunday night local time, thousands protested in Fardis County of Karaj. The main town square in Fardis was controlled by the protesters.
- The regime's agents used Kalashnikovs to fire at demonstrators from rooftops.
- In Tehran's Andimeshk township, young people took advantage of the darkness to attack the suppressive forces, forcing them to flee and blocking the streets.
- In Shiraz, petrol stations were torched. Students at the University set tires on fire to prevent the regime's agents from entering the campus. Young people bravely resisted swarms of IRGC and plainclothed agents. They torched several banks.
- In Kermanshah, young people blocked streets, making it impossible to move around in the city. The suppressive forces opened fire indiscriminately in an effort to disperse the crowd, killing a number of protesters.
- Intense clashes continued in Gorgan (north) and Kazeroun (south) between the people and the suppressive forces.
|
Protesters attack security forces in Shahriar |
|
Protesters in Behbahan clash with regime forces, torch banks |
Day 4 - Monday, November 18:
- Based on the MEK's latest tally, protests have spread to 132 cities.
- The regime has killed more than 200 protesters.
- Demonstrations and popular protests and clashes swept through Tehran, Karaj, Shiraz, Isfahan and other cities in Iran.
- The regime used Afghan mercenaries against protesters in Karaj.
- In the past three days, protesters set ablaze about 50 state-owned banks, and many centers of suppression, security vehicles, and regime offices such as that of the Islamic Development Organization and the Bassij base in the metal suppliers bazaar of the city.
- Shiraz, in south-central Iran, is falling into the hands of protesters.
- Members of the regime's Majlis (parliament) are acknowledging that the situation is now a "crisis."
- An intercepted radio communication of regime's repressive forces in Robat Karim says: "They're destroying everything. There's 5000 of them."
- Two Revolutionary Guards Fajr Corps commanders were shot dead today by a 3rd officer who refused to take their order to fire on protesters in Shiraz.
- Tehran University students clashed with security forces.
- Protesters set on fire the office of the Supreme Leader's representative (a notorious mullah) in Sadra, a district of Shiraz.
- Some police stations have fallen to popular control.
- Security forces have resorted to live ammunition.
- Regime helicopters are circling the city in an attempt to locate insurgent activists and coordinate suppression.
- In Isfahan, there were tense clashes between the people and suppressive forces until late last night. It is reported that at least two vehicles, six buses, all belonging to the suppressive forces, and three state owned banks were set on fire.
- In the city of Karaj, suppressive forces have shut access to squares in an attempt to take over the areas that are currently under people's control.
- In Shiraz, Rajai and Namazi hospitals are full of wounded and injured protesters and suppressive agents are attempting to arrest them.
|
| Office of Khamenei's representative on fire - Shiraz |
|
Iranian security forces open fire on protesters |
|
Iranian protesters torch security forces booth |
U.S. condemns lethal force, comms restrictions in Iran
Reuters (Nov. 17) - The United States on Sunday condemned the use of "lethal force" and "severe communications restrictions" against demonstrators in Iran, the White House said. "The United States supports the Iranian people in their peaceful protests against the regime that is supposed to lead them," the White House said in a statement. "We condemn the lethal force and severe communications restrictions used against demonstrators." Read more...
Hundreds arrested as Iran regime clamps down on protests
The National (Nov. 17) - Iran's Interior Minister warned citizens protesting over petrol price increases that security forces would become involved if they continue. Thousands of protesters took to the streets of Tehran and about two dozen other Iranian cities over the weekend in response to a government decision to raise petrol prices by 50 per cent. About 1,000 people have been detained over two days, Fars reported, citing security officials. ... Mr Khamenei expressed the same sentiment, calling the demonstrators "thugs" and blaming outside actors for the disruption. He specifically named a group in exile called the Mujahedeen-e-Khalq (MEK). Read more...
Hundreds detained as Iran rulers clamp down on protests
Bloomberg (Nov. 17) - Iranian security forces detained hundreds protesting a sudden surge in fuel prices, signaling there would be little tolerance for unrest sweeping the sanctions-battered country. Thousands took to the streets in several cities after authorities unexpectedly raised gasoline prices by as much as three times on Thursday. Motorists blocked highways in Tehran amid dense snowfall. Some set fire to bank branches and stores, according to the semi-official Fars news agency. ... Inflation may accelerate to an average of 36%, the IMF has said, compared with under 10% in 2016. Iranian allies and proxies in Iraq and Lebanon are already under pressure in the face of mass protests against worsening living standards, inequality and corruption. With some of these groups also under U.S. sanctions, any sign of weakness in Tehran could trigger more pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump. Fars news agency said 57 stores and dozens of bank branches were damaged in one province. Read more...
Iranian cities erupt in protest
The Hill (Nov. 16) - A hike in government-set gas prices has sparked protests in Iranian cities, reportedly resulting in the death of at least one person. The demonstrations over the 50-percent price increase were mostly peaceful, but there were some instances of violence, The Associated Press reported Saturday. The AP reported that the protests broke out in more than a dozen cities and that demonstrators blocked traffic in major cities and sometimes clashed with police. Read more...
|
|
About Iran Weekly Roundup:
This weekly is compiled by the US Representative Office of National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI-US). The NCRI is a broad coalition of democratic Iranian organizations, groups, and personalities founded in 1981 in Tehran. The NCRI is an inclusive and pluralistic parliament-in-exile that has more than 500 members representing a broad spectrum of political tendencies in Iran. The NCRI aims to establish a secular democratic republic in Iran, based on the separation of religion and state. Women comprise more than half of the Council's members. Mrs. Maryam Rajavi is the president-elect of the NCRI.
These materials are being distributed by the National Council of Resistance of Iran-U.S. Representative Office. Additional information is on file with the Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.
|
National Council of Resistance of Iran - US Representative Office
1747 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Suite 1125
Washington, DC 20006
Tel: 202-747-7847
Fax: 202-330-5346
|
|
|
|
|
|
