THIS PAGE WILL BE UPDATED WITH THE LATEST NEWS
UPDATE: 10:30 PM CET
Iran Uprising at a Glance
Based partially on reporting by PMOI (MEK) Network in Iran
Wednesday, April 26, 2023 – 8 PM GMT + 1
- Days: 223
- Protests: 282 cities
- Fatalities: 750+ estimated deaths, 675 identified by MEK
- Detentions: 30,000
Iran’s nationwide uprising continued on its 223rd day, with the country’s industrial workers on the sixth day of strikes that have now expanded to at least 104 sites in 37 cities across 13 provinces. Workers in various industries, including oil, gas, petrochemical, steel, copper, and others, refuse to show up for work until they receive higher salaries and their rights.
May 25 – Fanuj, southeast #Iran
Locals held a gathering protesting recent mining activity & prevented regime-linked companies from entering the area.#IranProtestspic.twitter.com/n4bVEeD70q— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) May 25, 2022
In the southeastern province of Sistan & Baluchestan in Iran, the regime’s oppressive security forces in the city of Fanuj ran over two motorcycles with their vehicle on Tuesday night, leaving four locals injured. As people began to gather at the site, authorities attempted to prevent anti-regime protests and opened fire on the crowd, leaving even more people injured.
April 25 – Fanuj, southeast #Iran
Protesters surrounded a local regime police station#IranProtests pic.twitter.com/P62VRwzXz0— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) April 25, 2023
Brave youths and protesters in the town of Robat Karim, located south of Tehran, attacked the command headquarters of the local IRGC paramilitary Basij force in the early morning hours of Tuesday.
MEK Resistance Units portrayed a large image of Maryam Rajavi, President-elect of the Iranian opposition coalition NCRI, on Khorramshahr Boulevard in the city of Astara, northern Iran, at 11 pm local time on Tuesday.
April 26 – Sanandaj, western #Iran
Regime operatives deliberately targeted the all-girls Hassan Abad School in a chemical gas attack. A number of the students were poisoned.#IranChemicalAttack #SaveIranSchoolGirlspic.twitter.com/8CvbOycMgz— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) April 26, 2023
The Hassan Abad School for girls was targeted in a chemical gas attack by regime operatives on Wednesday, leaving several students poisoned. Taghizadeh Elementary School and Reyhaneh High School for girls in Chabahar, southeast Iran, were also targeted in the regime’s ongoing attacks. Other schools were also targeted in today’s attacks include:
- The all-girls Esteghlal 2 Elementary School in Saqqez, western Iran
- The all-girls Mahdizadeh Technical School in Mashhad, northeast Iran
- The all-boys Shahed School in Mashhad, northeast Iran
April 26 – Gorgan, northeast #Iran
Regime operatives deliberately targeted the all-boys Shahed School in a chemical gas attack. A number of the students were poisoned.#IranChemicalAttack #SaveIranSchoolGirls pic.twitter.com/4UIM3bzHdv— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) April 26, 2023
In the midst of worsening living conditions, delayed payments, and the neglect of state officials and their affiliated employers, Iranians from different segments of society took to the streets on Wednesday to voice their frustration through protests. These include:
- Administrative employees of the ODCC Company in Isfahan
- Nurses in Shiraz
- Workers of a well services company in Ahvaz
- Pensioners and retirees of the regime’s Social Security Organization in the city of Ahvaz
April 26 – Isfahan, central #Iran
Administrative employees of the ODCC Company are joining the nationwide strike and protesting their officials' refusal to increase their paychecks.#IranProtests #اعتصابات_سراسری pic.twitter.com/EPI3Qz4zZf— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) April 26, 2023
UPDATE: 4:00 PM CET
Belgian Justice Minister Denies Prisoner Swap Deal, Accuses Iran of Disinformation
In a reaction to an announcement by the Iranian court, Belgian Justice minister Vincent Van Quickenborne denied a prisoner swap deal was reached with Iran. “This message is wrong,” the minister said. “It comes from a rogue state that specialises in manipulation.”
The minister believes that the announcement is a way for the Iranian government to put pressure on the family and Belgium. “I can only say that we will continue to do everything we can to get Olivier Vandecasteele back with us,” he said.
Earlier on Wednesday, Reuters and Bloomberg reported that a spokesman for the Iranian court had announced a prisoner exchange between the two countries. According to the spokesman, the Iranian diplomat Assadolah Assadi, sentenced to 20 years in Belgian jail for plotting a terrorist attack, would be swapped for a Belgian prisoner “soon”.
High-ranking Cleric Assassinated in Northern Iran
Abbas Ali Soleimani, a member of the regime’s Assembly of Experts, was assassinated earlier today, according to the official news agency IRNA. The news was confirmed by Ruhollah Selagi, the political, security, and social deputy of Mazandaran province, who spoke to an IRNA reporter. The identity of the attacker remains unknown.
Abbasali Soleimani Esboklaei, born in 1947 in Esbokla, Sawadkoh, was a member of the Assembly of Leadership Experts, he held several other positions of authority. Most recently, he served as the representative of Iran’s Supreme Leader and Friday prayer leader of Kashan from August 25, 2020, to March 29, 2022, replacing Abdulnabi Namazi. He also served as the representative of the Supreme Leader in Sistan and Baluchistan Province and the Friday prayer leader of Zahedan.
UPDATE: 8:00 AM CET
Iran’s Workers Continue Strikes as New Gas Attacks Target More Schools
Workers of oil, petrochemical, steel, copper and other industrial sites across Iran are continuing their strike and delivering a significant blow to the mullahs’ regime. At least 97 sites in 32 cities of 12 provinces are reporting that their workers are on strike and Tuesday marks the fifth consecutive day of this latest campaign. These are parallel to the regime’s relaunching its horrific chemical gas attacks targeting innocent schoolgirls as the nationwide uprising enters its 222nd day today. People throughout Iran continue to specifically hold the mullahs’ Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei responsible for their miseries, while also condemning the oppressive Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and paramilitary Basij units, alongside other security units that are on the ground suppressing the peaceful demonstrators.
Charged as a Protest Leader, a Political Prisoner Is Denied Calls to Her Family
Political prisoner Massoumeh Senobari, charged as a protest leader, has been deprived of calling home to her family for almost a week. The reason for this denial is unknown, and this political prisoner’s family is worried about her condition. Political prisoner Massoumeh Senobari was arrested and detained during the Iran uprising in Karaj and has been charged as a protest leader. The First Branch of the Revolutionary Court of Karaj tried her on March 5, 2023. It accused her of “participating in actions against the state through membership in the People’s Mojahedin (PMOI/MEK), propaganda activity against the state through participation in illegal gatherings, propaganda activity, writing slogans, and distributing the photos of the Mojahedin leaders.” She has been sentenced to 7.5 years in prison.
Stockholm, Sweden—April 22, 2023: Freedom-Loving Iranians and MEK Supporters Rally to Support the Iran Revolution
Stockholm, Sweden—April 22, 2023: Freedom-loving Iranians, supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) held a rally in front of the Swedish parliament in solidarity with the Iranian Revolution.
Vienna, Austria—April 22, 2023: MEK Supporters Rally to Support the Iran Revolution
Vienna, Austria—April 22, 2023: Freedom-loving Iranians, supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) held a rally in solidarity with the Iranian Revolution. The Iranian community in Vienna supported their rising compatriots and pledged to continue to call for freedom and democracy in Iran.
London and Liverpool—April 22, 2023: MEK Supporters Rallied to Support the Iran Revolution
London and Liverpool—April 22, 2023: Freedom-loving Iranians, supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) held rallies in support of the Iranian Revolution. The Iranian community in London and Liverpool supported their rising compatriots and pledged to continue to call for freedom and democracy in Iran.
Also, read Iran News in Brief – April 25, 2023
