THIS PAGE WILL BE UPDATED WITH THE LATEST NEWS
UPDATE: 10:00 PM CEST
Calls for Regime Change Across Europe on Sunday
Today, Iranians and supporters of the Iranian Resistance held rallies in the Dutch city of The Hague, Gothenburg in Sweden, Vienna in Austria, and Bucharest in Romania to express their solidarity with their fellow countrymen and women in support of the popular uprising inside the country and against the oppressive regime.
Three More Executions Reported in Iran
According to human rights organizations, on Thursday morning, May 19, a prisoner was executed in Dastgerd prison in Isfahan. The prisoner, who was previously sentenced to death for murder, was identified as 21-year-young Ahmad Gashoul, a native of Malekshahr, Isfahan.
Also, on Wednesday morning, May 18, the death sentence of a prisoner was carried out in the Central Prison of Karaj. The prisoner, who had previously been sentenced to death on drug-related charges and murder, was identified as Ayat Ghasemi Delfani.
UPDATE: 3:00 PM CEST
Deadly Shooting in “Mostazafan Foundation” Was a Personal Dispute, Not “Hostage-taking”- Ilam Prosecutor
Contrary to the claims made by the state-run Tasnim News Agency that the armed assault on Mostazafan Foundation on May 18 was an act of hostage-taking, the state prosecutor in Ilam province stated that the assailant was an employee and an insider.
“The assailant hid grenades and firearms in a rice bag,” Abdul Wahab Bakhshandeh, Ilam prosecutor said adding that “the reasons for this shooting were personal disputes. “An important point that was not properly stated about the shooting incident is the use of the incorrect term ‘hostage-taking’. Since the assailant was an employee of the General Directorate, he was not prevented from entering the building.”
The prosecutor of Ilam stated that according to the managers of this foundation, the salaries of the employees were paid on time, claiming: “The reasons for this shooting were personal disputes.”
Ilam’s prosecutor vowed that the reasons for the shooting will be determined upon the finalization of the investigations.
The “Mostazafan (Arabic for the abased) Foundation”, which operates under the supervision of the Supreme Leader’s office, was established one month after the 1979 revolution to collect confiscated property and assets from the regime’s dissidents.
Absent any transparency in the Iranian regime’s Judiciary, especially when addressing domestic disputes, one cannot rule out that the current socio-economic crises that are unraveling across the country have reached sensitive centers and state institutions.
Terrified to Inflame Unrest, Government’s Spokesman Denies New Increase in Fuel Prices
Recent statements made by the Iranian regime’s president Ebrahim Raisi that “his administration has to make tough decisions” have led to serious speculations about a new soar in fuel prices, forcing the government’s spokesman to deny such an increase almost immediately.
“There is no plan to increase the price of gasoline, and the president meant we need to make tough economic decisions, regarding privatization and fighting against rent-seekers, not increasing the price of gasoline or other energy carriers,” Bahadori Jahromi, the government spokesman said on Saturday night.
According to state media, rumors of rising gasoline prices sparked concerns on social media while the elimination of the state preferred currency rate, as well as a policy change of subsidies on basic goods, have sparked unrest and a new wave of uprisings in several provinces.
“We are going to make tough decisions, with which some people may disagree,” Raisi had said during a meeting called “privatization in the economy” on Saturday, May 21. “But this is an inevitable necessity.”
UPDATE: 8:00 AM CEST
Iran’s Recent Protests Are a Prelude to Another Nationwide Uprising
From May 6, coinciding with the regime in Iran adopting plans to cancel the country’s subsidized currency exchange rates and beginning to ration bread for the public, people across Iran took to the streets in major protests. This anti-regime initiative quickly spread to the provinces of Khuzestan, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, Kohgiluyeh and Boyer Ahmad, Lorestan, Ilam, Isfahan, and several other cities. This new round of protests has been dubbed by the Iranian people and numerous experts working for the regime as “bread protests.”
In the Central Prison of Urmia, Detainees Have Limited Access to Medical Care
The Central Prison of Urmia was founded in 1969. The prison is called Darya Prison, as well, because it is located on the 5th km of Darya Road in Urmia, the capital of West Azerbaijan Province. The Central Prison of Urmia was initially built to detain 700 inmates. Presently, however, it holds 5,000 detainees. Ward 18 is the women’s ward in the Central Prison of Urmia. It is a large hall divided into eight compartments or rooms by short walls. Some 20 prisoners are in every room, which has only 16 beds.
Iranians, Fed up With Price Hikes, Take to the Streets in Nationwide Anti-regime Protests – Report
Iranians in dozens of cities have taken to the streets in the past two weeks to call for an end to the clerical regime. Protesters chanted against the regime’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and his appointed president Ebrahim Raisi during the 11 days of nationwide anti-regime protests. The protests started after the government removed subsidies on basic food items which have sent prices skyrocketing including the price of non-traditional bread, flour, dairy products, cooking oil, poultry, and eggs.
Iran: 5,197 Prisoners Are on Death Row
However, this is not the whole story. The ayatollahs have simultaneously led more inmates to the gallows, showing their ruthless approach toward any cry for equality, justice, freedom, and a decent life. In this context, authorities hanged at least six inmates in the prisons of Yazd, Birjand, and Amol in the last week.
Political Activist Keyvan Samimi Arrested and Sent to Semnan Prison
The lawyer of former political prisoner Keyvan Samimi said that his client was arrested after going to forensic medicine and sent to Semnan prison.
On May 18, Keyvan Samimi’s lawyer Mostafa Nili tweeted, “Today, after business hours, the Implementation Bureau of the Moqadas Court called Mr. Keyvan Samimi and told him he must come to the Bureau to receive the medical examiner’s opinion.”
“After he presented himself to the department and after receiving the medical examiner’s assessment, he was detained and sent to Semnan Prison,” Nili added.
The Netherlands, The Hague: Freedom-Loving Iranians, MEK Supporters Rally in Front of Parliament in Support of the Iran Protests – May 20, 2022
May 20, 22: Freedom-loving Iranians, supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) demonstrated in front of the parliament in support of the Iran protests.
MEK supporters expressed their support for the spread of uprisings and protests of the Iranian people in various cities and condemned the brutal repressions against the Iranian people.
Read more: Iran News in Brief – May 21, 2022