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Demonstrations, protests spread from Mahabad to other cities in Iranian Kurdistan |
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Monday, 18 July 2005 |
 SSF commander killed in clashes
Antigovernment protests and demonstrations that began Tuesday following
the hideous murder of a young man, Seyyed Kamal Seyyed Ghader (Shwan)
in Mahabad (western Iran), continued for the seventh day running on
Saturday. A large number of government vehicles, banks and buildings
were set ablaze by enraged residents during clashes and protests.
On Friday, young people staged gatherings in different parts of the
town, including Mollajani district. Chanting antigovernment slogans,
they set tires on fire and put up barricades to thwart the security
forces’ advance.
Despite the dispatch of hundreds of special anti-riot forces from the
neighboring towns of Bonab, Sanandaj, Miandoab, Orumieh and Naghadeh,
young people and women demonstrated and chanted antigovernment slogans,
demanding that those responsible for the grisly murder last week be
identified and punished.
State Security Forces (SSF) fired tear gas volleys and used truncheons
to disperse the angry crowd in the town’s Esteghlal (Independence)
Square, but faced stiff resistance, as youths hurled rocks at the
suppressive forces. Several protesters, including a woman, were
wounded due to tear gas explosion and a young man was shot and wounded.
A large number of youths covered their faces, while marching from
Esteghlal Square to Azadi junction in the city, chanting “death to
Khamenei, down with the mullahs’ regime,” and blocking the surrounding
streets. They also beat up Revolutionary Guardsman Haj Baharmi, a
special envoy of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who threatened to kill the
protesters. An SSF commander was killed during the unrest on Saturday.
Fearing a backlash, the SSF has stayed away from many districts,
including Esteghlal, Bagh-e Sheigan and Posht-Tappeh, instead firing
tear gas and shooting in the air to terrorize, intimidate and disperse
the protesters. In an act of vengeance, the suppressive forces raided a
number of homes and inflicted damage on them.
On Friday, people in the town of Boukan staged a protest to voice
support for the people of Mahabad and clashed with the suppressive
forces and Intelligence Ministry agents. During the clashes, several
people were injured and at least 20 arrested, including Hassan
Aman-ollah and Kamal Parvizian.
During protests in the city of Marivan, 13 were arrested by the SSF. To
prevent the spread of the protest, the suppressive forces were deployed
in many streets and junctions and set up bunkers in other areas. A
similar demonstration took place in Sanandaj (Kurdistan Province’s
capital). In Boukan, Saqqez and Marivan, the SSF and plainclothes
officers were deployed and conducted patrols citywide.
The Iranian Resistance’s President-elect Maryam Rajavi hailed the
people of Mahabad, Boukan, Sanandaj, Marivan and other cities in
Kurdistan Province and urged people in other regions to rush to their
aid. Mrs. Rajavi said the weeklong uprising by the people of Mahabad
despite an atmosphere of absolute repression was a clear sign of the
Iranian people’s resolve to overthrow the clerical regime and establish
democracy in Iran. She called on different countries and all
international human rights organs to condemn the brutal suppression of
the people of Mahabad and take urgent action to save the lives of those
arrested.
Secretariat of the National Council of Resistance of Iran
July 18, 2005 |
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