The protests in Iran are escalating: According to reports and videos published on social networks in recent days, it seems that the hijab protest that broke out in Iran following the death in custody of the young woman Mehsa Amini is far from fading and is even escalating. In the videos, you can see a raging fire in the retirement home of the late founder of the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, which was apparently started by protesters.
At the same time, it was reported that demonstrators began to attack the Revolutionary Guard forces that are working to suppress the demonstrations. According to the Revolutionary Guards’ news site, two intelligence agents were killed in clashes with protesters on Thursday night. It was also said that three members of the Revolutionary Guards and a member of the Basij militia were killed in Tehran, two members of the Basij militia were killed in Mashhad, and one Basij and one police member were killed in Kurdistan.
The 1500 Tasvir activist network said the incident in which former Ayatollah Khomeini’s house was set on fire occurred Thursday evening in Khomeini’s hometown of Khomeini, south of the capital Tehran. The videos show dozens of people cheering when a flash of fire ignited in the building, which has been converted into a museum.
Reuters verified the location of two videos using the distinctive arches and buildings that match the file images. However, Reuters could not independently verify the dates the videos were taken.
The semi-official Tasnim news agency denied that Khomeini’s house was set on fire, saying that a small number of people had gathered outside the house. “The report is a lie,” Tasnim said. “The doors of the late founder of the great revolution are open to the public.”
Separate videos released by the activist network showed protesters marching in several cities in Sistan-Baluchistan province, including in the capital Zahedan, where protesters chanted “death to Khamenei,” and in Khabar, where protesters removed and trampled the sign of a boulevard named after Ayatollah Khomeini.
Another video posted on social media, apparently taken at the funeral of a 10-year-old boy who was shot dead at a demonstration, showed protesters chanting “Khaminei we will bury you.”