Southwestern Iran has suffered its worst drought in 50 years. Protests continue. Security forces are deployed in cities in Khuzestan Province and other regions.
Since the protests broke out a week ago, at least three people are believed to have been shot dead, and at least one policeman is reported to have been among them. Officials attribute the death to criminals, while opposition activists and human rights organizations attribute the blame to security forces.
The drought prevented households and businesses from reliably obtaining water. The shortage also restricted Iran’s hydroelectric power network, causing frequent power outages in Khuzestan and elsewhere.
Video sent to Weekly newspaper Local opposition activists claimed that hundreds of protesters marched through the cities of Khuzestan, set fires on the roads to stop security forces, and chanted that the regime fell.
Video-provided by members of illegal organizations Iranian People’s Mujahideen (MEK)-It also seems to indicate that the security forces are in conflict with the protesters. In some cases, police and security personnel can be seen launching what looks like fireworks at the assembled demonstrators.
In other places, gunfire-like sounds can be heard, and protesters can be seen crossing the streets in panic. Weekly newspaper Unable to independently verify the video.
A MEK “resistance force” member on the ground in Ahvaz, Khuzestan, told Weekly newspaper The situation is “explosive”.
Iran regards MEK as a terrorist organization. After the Islamic Revolution, the new Islamic Republic executed many MEK members in purges, and membership of the organization was banned in the country.
The organization was classified as a terrorist organization in the United States before 2012.Secretary of State at the time Hillary Clinton Said that MEK was removed from the list because it has given up violence. MEK leaders stated that they no longer engage in radical activities.
Zohre, a 25-year-old law school graduate, refused to reveal her full name for fear of retaliation. She said: “In the beginning, the demonstrations were peaceful and the people did not violently. But unfortunately, the regime responded with bullets.”
“It starts with water, but the core issue is the regime itself,” Zor said. “The regime cannot solve the real problems of the Iranian people… For decades, we have witnessed the plundering and exploitation of the Iranian people’s wealth, as well as the crimes of this regime. People may think that this is just a water problem, but it is definitely not.”
The protests have shaken the regime, and the current president Hassan Rouhani (Hassan Rouhani) is currently undergoing a presidential transfer to the elected president. Ibrahim Raisi, A hardliner known as the “butcher”, he was called the “butcher” when he led the country’s judicial institutions.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei On Friday criticized officials for being indifferent to Khuzestan’s water supply infrastructure, acknowledging that people there were “unhappy” but claiming that they were still “loyal”.
Rouhani also supported the protesters. The President said on Thursday that demonstrators “have the right to speak, express themselves, protest and even take to the streets within a prescribed framework.” Rouhani blamed “opportunists” and “thugs” for the violence and killing of demonstrators.
NetBlocks Internet monitoring service reported on Wednesday that Iran’s mobile Internet access has experienced a “major regional outage”. NetBlocks pointed out that users in Khuzestan rely heavily on mobile Internet access, and it is estimated that interruptions have prevented 3% to 4% of Iran’s national mobile data connections.
Human Rights News Activists, a news organization organized by Iranian Human Rights Activists in the United States, reported that at least 18 activists have been arrested by security forces since the beginning of the protests.
Human Rights Watch Iranian researcher Tarase Perifal said in a statement: “Government authorities need to ensure the right to peaceful assembly and prevent excessive use of force by security forces.”
Fall added: “The Iranian authorities have a very disturbing record of responding with bullets to protesters who are frustrated by increasing economic difficulties and deteriorating living conditions.”
Opposition activists and human rights organizations worry that the violent suppression of large-scale protests in Iran at the end of 2019 will repeat itself. Subsequently, Iranians across the country took to the streets to protest the new fuel tax. The demonstration quickly evolved into a broader anti-regime movement.
The US State Department estimates that security forces killed approximately 1,500 people while suppressing fuel tax protests.
US State Department spokesman Ned Price said this week that the government is paying close attention to how Iranian security forces opened fire on protesters during the latest round of riots.
“We support the right of Iranians to assemble peacefully and express themselves… Don’t worry about violence, don’t worry about being detained arbitrarily by security forces,” Price said.
ATTA KENARE/AFP via Getty Images
