Nationwide protests and strikes in Iran swept Tehran and dozens of other cities for the ninth consecutive day on Monday, January 5. Markets, streets, and universities became connected scenes of continuous protest, a protest that is no longer limited to union demands but is directly targeting the ruling political structure.
In Tehran, the Grand Bazaar remained on strike, and merchants in various sections, including the electric light line in the southern Lalehzar area, chanted slogans such as “a market with zeal, support, support,” calling on others to join the strike. These protests were met with a violent response from special forces, and there were reports of shotgun blasts and peaceful repression of protesters. Scattered gatherings also took place on Jomhuri, Hafez, Sepahsalar streets, and around Alaeddin and Charsu passages, and slogans were chanted explicitly against the leaders of the Islamic Republic.
At the same time, various neighborhoods of the capital, including Sadeghieh, Narmak (Haft-Houz), Tehransar, Moshirieh, Shahrak Vali-Asr Nazi-Abad, and Dardasht, witnessed local gatherings. The strong presence of women in the evening demonstrations in Narmak and Haft -Houz once again highlighted their leading role on the streets. In response to the continued unrest, schools in Tehran province went virtual on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The protests also spread to other cities. In Yasuj, a large gathering was held in front of the Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad governorates to protest the arrests, which continued with tear gas and the pursuit of protesters. In Sonqor, citizens took to the streets with the slogan “This is the year of the house, Seyyed Ali is overthrown” and were met with gunfire and a tight security environment. Isfahan, Foladshahr, Malekshahi, Noorabad Mamasani, Jhunqan (Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province), Arak, Sari, Yazd, Lahijan, Zahedan, Qazvin, Khorramabad, Dezful, and Bushehr were also scenes of protests or strikes.
Meanwhile, universities have once again become the beating heart of the protests. In Tehran, students gathered at Tarbiat Modares University and Khajeh Nasir dormitories. But the most prominent student event on Monday took place in the east of the country: at Birjand University.
At Birjand University, students held a large rally and chanted harsh and explicit slogans against the entire system; from “We don’t want the Islamic Republic, we don’t want it” to “We didn’t kill anyone to compromise, we praise the murderous leader.” The university quickly became more secure, and reports indicated that security forces in plain clothes entered the campus and then the dormitories. According to reliable reports, at least five students were arrested in a nighttime raid on the dormitory. Student sources, including the Amir Kabir newsletter, have described the situation at Birjand University as “grave and critical” and expressed concern about a repeat of the pattern of repression of the university dormitories.
Protest deaths
As the protests spread, reports indicate an increase in the number of casualties. According to information released by the Human Rights Activists in Iran, at least 22 people have been killed in the protests in the cities of Azna, Lordegan, Malekshahi, and Hafeshjan alone. This figure is being released at a time when official institutions continue to refuse to provide transparent statistics and the families of the victims are under security pressure. The deaths of the protesters have become one of the main themes of street and student slogans; a sign of the deepening gap between the protesting community and the government.
Detainees: From the Street to the University
The wave of arrests has also intensified along with the protests. Reports indicate that more than a thousand people have been arrested across the country; among them are children, teenagers, students, and even university professors. In Yasuj and Dehdasht alone, at least 15 citizens have been arrested and transferred to an unknown location. Dozens of arrests have also been reported in various cities, including Gachsaran, Ilam, Hamedan, Kermanshah, Mashhad, Sabzevar, Juyin, Behbahan, and Tehran.
The arrest of students is a significant part of this wave of repression, including the arrest of students from the University of Tehran, the University of Science and Technology, and the University of Birjand. In addition to the students, the arrest of two university professors in Ilam – Nabi and Ali Akbar Omidi – has provoked widespread reactions in the academic environment. In Najafabad, Isfahan, parents of detainees also gathered in front of the courthouse demanding the release of their children under the age of 20, warning that if the detainees are not released within a day, the parents will also take to the streets.
On Monday, Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, the head of the Islamic Republic’s judiciary, announced in a threatening tone that there would be “no leniency” in dealing with the detainees and that even supporters of the protesters would be prosecuted. He called for a speedy investigation and the issuance of deterrent sentences, a stance that further validates the government’s security approach to the protests. The protests, which began on January 27 with a strike by Tehran merchants, have since become one of the most widespread uprisings in recent years, with citizens, the streets, and universities joining forces. Meanwhile, the prominence of protests in small towns shows that the geography of the protests is no longer limited to traditional centres, and the gap between the people, the young generation, and the government is growing deeper and more costly every day. https://www.iran-tribune.com/n/ir/213