In Tehran, Isfahan, Mashhad, Shiraz, Ahwaz, Khorramabad, Pol-e Dokhtar, Mahabad and other cities, clashes erupted between students and people on one side and the regime’s suppressive forces on the other, continuing until early morning hours.
In Tehran, the protests spread to Tehran’s Laleh Park in the form of hit-and-run skirmishes between the students, the Bassij and plainclothes agents. The crowd reached a pick around 5:30 pm yesterday. Fearing the spread of the protest, Special anti-riot forces took position in different regions of the capital.
In Ahwaz, southwest Iran, club-wielding thugs, backed by the security forces, rode in pick-up trucks and threatened to set fire to the students who had planned to hold a gathering to mark the July 9 uprising.
In the northwestern city of Tabriz, the regime undertook special repressive measures. The Bassij and club-wielding thugs took position near Sahand University. Officials had announced in advance that any student gathering was illegal.
In Mashhad, northeast, people gathered around Aab Square and Ferdowsi University, but were dispersed by the suppressive forces.
In Shiraz, southern Iran, residents staged a gathering around Golestan Square. The security forces in the city came out in force to prevent any gathering.
In the western town of Mahabad, people rode on motorcycles and chanted antigovernment slogans and carried placards. They set fire to a number of government centers and buildings and engaged in pitch battles with the suppressive forces.
The staging of the protests, despite special security measures and the efforts by the regime to intimidate and terrorize the public, reflected the Iranian people’s demands for the overthrow of the mullahs’ anti-human regime.
Secretariat of the National Council of Resistance of Iran
July 10, 2006