Fearing the spread of the uprising, the clerical regime disrupted the Internet in Khuzestan and arrested dozens of young people.
From the early hours of Thursday evening, July 16, 2020, a large number of people in Behbahan (south west Iran) took to the street chanting “We do not want the mullahs’ rule”. The protesters gathered in Bank Melli Square, opposite the Bank Melli building, which was the same location that was torched by protesters during November 2019 uprising as a symbol of regime’s plundering and looting.
People chanted, “Iranians will die, but they will not accept humiliation”, “Shame on the Basij, leave the nation alone,” “Shameless Basiji,” “Do not be afraid, we are all together,” “Mullahs must get lost,” “Neither Gaza nor Lebanon, I give my life for Iran,” “Khamenei, you are the devil, and Iran is not a legacy of your father,” and “You, the evil criminal soaked in blood, get out of my country.”
July 16 – Behbahan, southwest #Iran
Locals chanting, “We don’t want the mullahs’ regime!”#IranProtestspic.twitter.com/lmUH1aPRs6— People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) July 16, 2020
July 16 – Behbahan, southwest #Iran
Locals chanting, “Mullahs must get lost!”#IranProtestspic.twitter.com/YHWevIfyVi— People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) July 16, 2020
July 16 – Behbahan, southwest #Iran
Locals chanting, “Bassiji, shame on you! Let go of the country!”The Bassij are the regime’s main arm for domestic crackdown.#IranProtests pic.twitter.com/4C7CBIElxM
— People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) July 16, 2020
In memory of Mahmoud and Mehrdad Dashtinia, two of the martyrs of the November Uprising in Behbahan, the courageous Behbahani youth chanted, “Dashti, Dashti, rest in peace.” The Dashti brothers were shot and killed by the Revolutionary Guards during last November’s uprising.
Terrified of the spread of protest to other regions, the clerical regime disrupted and cut off the Internet in Khuzestan Province an hour after the protest in Behbahan started.
State Security Force (SSF) was dispatched to the scene and tried to disperse the people by firing tear gas. However, the youths in the neighborhoods and alleys resisted them by throwing rocks at them. Several people had to be taken to hospitals after tear gas was fired. Dozens of young people were arrested in clashes with the repressive forces.
The head of the Behbahan SSF, IRGC Col. Mohammad Azizi, announced this morning that the demonstrators “Not only held their ground after the SSF arrival, but also chanted abusive slogans, which is why the police took tough action to disperse.” He threatened that the SSF would deal decisively with these activities.
Hailing the rebellious people of Behbahan, the Iranian Resistance called on the United Nations Secretary-General, the UN Security Council and the High Commissioner for Human Rights as well as other relevant international authorities to strongly condemn the brutal repression by the religious fascism and to take immediate actions to secure the release of those arrested in Behbahan.
Secretariat of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI)
July 17, 2020
