Thousands of people took part in protests last night in at least 23 cities in Iran. Restrictions have been placed on the use of the Internet in many places, but there are reports of violent repressions and several deaths.
Witnesses in Tehran report that people have demonstrated increasingly “without fear”, while stories of “civil war” scenes are coming from the province. Anti-regime activists had called a nationwide protest between Tuesday and Thursday, to commemorate the “Bloody November” of 2019 when hundreds of people were killed in the violent crackdown on demonstrations.
Protesters reportedly torched the house museum of the founder of the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, in his hometown of Khomein. He reports it to Arabiya, citing images that appeared on social media.
In a video shot in Tehran, the crowd shouts slogans against religious leaders. “This is the year of blood, it will be overthrown,” is heard shouting, in reference to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Khomeini’s successor. According to Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency, five members of the security forces died during yesterday’s protests.
The current wave of protests, with many bare-headed women, started with the death of the young Masha Amini, who died on September 16 after her arrest because she had worn the veil incorrectly.