THIS PAGE WILL BE UPDATED WITH THE LATEST NEWS
UPDATE: 1:00 PM CET
Iran Uprising at a Glance – Day 120
Based partially on reporting by PMOI (MEK) Network in Iran
Friday, January 13, 2022 – 8 PM GMT+1
- Days: 120
- Protests: 282 cities
- Fatalities: 750+ estimated deaths, 627 identified by MEK
- Detentions: 30,000
January 13 – Zahedan, southeast #Iran
Locals apprehended a regime spy.#IranRevolution2023 #زاهدانpic.twitter.com/84UwZuznwB— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) January 13, 2023
The nationwide uprising in Iran entered its 120th day on Friday as the country’s Baluch minority took to the streets yet again in Sistan & Baluchistan Province in further anti-regime rallies. People in the provincial capital of Zahedan and other Baluch cities have long been suppressed by Iran’s ruling regime and have courageously been protesting the mullahs’ atrocities for decades, especially in the past four months.
In Zahedan, southeast Iran, people took to the streets and launched their anti-regime rallies with slogans targeting the mullahs’ rule. Brave protesters began marching in a large demonstration and chanted:
- “Basij and IRGC, you are our enemies!”
- “Death to the dictator!”
- “Death to Khamenei!”
- “No to monarchy! No to [mullahs’ regime]! Democracy and equality!”
- “No to the so-called Islamic republic!”
January 13 – Zahedan, southeast #Iran
People in large numbers in today's anti-regime demonstration.#IranRevolution2023 #زاهدان pic.twitter.com/PjshFnKvFw— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) January 13, 2023
Also in Zahedan, locals and especially courageous women were chanting:
- “Proud Tehran residents, support!”
- “This is the last message: another execution and we’ll rise up!”
- “Zahedan and Kurdistan are the pride of Iran!”
- “Death to the republic of executions!”
- “Death to the Basij!”
- “Death to Khamenei! Damned be Khomeini!”
Locals in the city of Rask in Sistan & Baluchistan Province rallied today in solidarity with their compatriots in Zahedan and chanted anti-regime slogans. The mullahs’ security forces have a long history of imposing harsh measures and severe crackdowns on the brave people of this city.
Similar rallies and demonstrations were seen today in the city of Khash, also in Sistan & Baluchistan Province.
January 13 – Khash, southeast #Iran
Protesters chanting: "Death to the dictator!"#IranRevolution2023#FreeIran2023 pic.twitter.com/xuylzhap4M— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) January 13, 2023
People in the cities of Ahvaz, southwest, and Isfahan central Iran, held vigils and ceremonies to honor the memory of four martyrs of the recent protests, who were tortured into coerced confessions and rushed to be executed by the mullahs’ regime.
Ahvaz, southwest #Iran
Locals held a vigil and ceremony in memory of four #IranRevolution protesters executed by the mullahs' regime.Mohsen Shekari
Majidreza Rahnavard
Mohammad Mehdi Karimi
Seyed Mohammad Hosseinipic.twitter.com/0K5sp2373C— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) January 13, 2023
Iranian opposition coalition NCRI President-elect Maryam Rajavi once again hailed the brave Baluchis who continue their protests against the mullahs’ theocracy despite the regime’s ongoing crackdown and oppression and seek to continue this revolution to establish freedom and democracy. She reiterated: Our Baluch compatriots once again took to the streets of Zahedan, denouncing the principle of Velayat-e Faqih, rejecting both the monarchic and religious dictatorships. They underscored the Iranian people’s desire for people’s sovereignty and the regime’s overthrow.
Our Baluch compatriots once again took to the streets of #Zahedan, denouncing the principle of Velayat-e Faqih, rejecting both the monarchic &religious dictatorships. They underscored the #Iranian people’s desire for people’s sovereignty &the regime’s overthrow. #IranRevolution pic.twitter.com/CgcZIclowO
— Maryam Rajavi (@Maryam_Rajavi) January 13, 2023
UPDATE: 1:00 PM CET
Iran Executions and the Role of ‘Revolutionary Courts’
The Iranian government has attempted to brutally suppress the widespread protests sparked by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody in September 2022.
Central to Iran’s response have been the country’s “revolutionary courts”. They have conducted heavily-criticised trials resulting in at least four executions, while over 100 protesters are in considerable danger of imminent execution.
Criminal trials in these courts often occur behind closed doors presided over by clerics, with none of the standard guarantees of criminal procedure such as allowing time and access to lawyers to prepare a defence.
EU Urged by Over 100 MEPs To Strengthen Response to Iran’s Crackdown on Protests
Over 100 members of the European Parliament have called on the European Union to take a tougher stance in response to Iran’s crackdown on protests, saying that the current measures taken by the EU are not enough.
In a letter to EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell dated January 11, the lawmakers said that the measures taken by the EU so far “are by far not enough to deter the Iranian regime.”
The letter, signed by 118 members of the EU’s law-making body, called on the bloc to take a series of steps to increase pressure on Tehran, including imposing sanctions on Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and President Ebrahim Raisi, and designating the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization.
Documents Show Eu’s Planned New Iran Sanctions List
The EU is considering fresh sanctions against nearly 40 Iranian individuals and entities, according to draft documents seen by POLITICO.
The additional sanctions are being discussed as part of the EU’s ongoing response to Iran’s lethal crackdown on protesters following the death last September of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who died in custody after the country’s morality police detained her. The outburst of anger is considered one of the strongest challenges to Iran’s regime since the 1979 Islamic revolution.
There are overall 27 EU documents, seen by POLITICO, which are called an “evidence pack,” as they include the information — mostly press reports — backing up the proposed sanctions.
UPDATE: 8:00 AM CET
Iran Sees Protests Continue with a Focus on Night Rallies
Iran’s nationwide uprising is marking its 119th day on Thursday as protesters are continuing their anti-regime campaign with a focus on night rallies. There are increasing reports of people burning the regime’s propaganda billboards and posters of regime Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, writing anti-regime slogans in graffiti, and launching attacks using Molotov cocktails targeting various regime-affiliated sites, mostly bases of the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) paramilitary Basij units. Statues and posters of former IRGC Quds Force chief Qassem Soleimani have also been constantly targeted in these attacks.
Reyhaneh and Ghazal Pakzad Arrested and Taken to an Unknown Location
Reyhaneh and Ghazal Pakzad, two sisters from Zabul, were arrested on January 2 and 3, 2023, and were taken to an undisclosed location.
According to social media reports, on January 2, 2023, IRGC intelligence forces in Zahedan attacked Ms. Ghazal Pakzad’s residence and arrested her. Ghazal Pakzad is a 30-year-old clothing designer. She has been detained on charges of activity in cyberspace and publishing posts in support of the nationwide uprising of the Iranian people.
Javad Rouhi’s Life in Danger After Sentenced to Death
35-year-old Javad Rouhi from Amol, north Iran, was arrested by security forces in Nowshahr. He was detained on September 22, 2022, for taking part in nationwide protests. The Revolutionary Court of Sari sentenced him to death and his family is pressured to keep silent. According to the court’s statement, Mr. Rouhi was charged with “Corruption on earth, Moharebeh, destroying property, causing fire, and defaming the Quran.”
The Court’s statement charged Javad Rouhi with corruption on earth by committing crimes against state security. Also, setting fire to public property and destroying it, severely disturbed public order and created insecurity.
Zurich—January 10, 2023: Iranian Resistance Supporters Held an Exhibition in Support of the Iran Revolution
Zurich, Switzerland—January 10, 2023: Freedom-loving Iranians and supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) held a photo exhibition in memory of the martyrs of the nationwide Iranian Revolution. They also expressed their solidarity with the nationwide Iran protests.
Stockholm, Sweden—January 11, 2023: Iranian Resistance Supporters Demonstrated at the Beginning of the Appeal Trial of the Executioner Hamid Noury
Stockholm, Sweden—January 11, 2023: Freedom-loving Iranians, and supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) and the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) held a rally at the beginning of the appeal trial of the executioner Hamid Noury in front of the court.
Also, read Iran News in Brief – January 12, 2023
