Threats, arrests and shootings by security forces have failed to prevent the widespread demonstrations continuing in the province.
Residents in the city of Rodan gathered on Monday in the city’s main square to protest the regime’s plan to separate a city from their province. State security forces clashed with protesters as they tried to disperse the crowd.
The protests have in the city of Bandar Abbas continued despite a pledge from the regime’s authorities to shelve the proposal, with a parliament spokesman saying: “The plan to separate the Parsian city has been halted in the Majlis.”
The demonstrations in Bandar Abbas began on October 8 outside governor’s office. Five days later people protested outside the main state-run Television Network in objection to its silence over the protest. They also demanded that a local resident be chosen as the province’s governor.
On October 18, a large group of women gathered after the Friday prayer and chanted and anti-government slogans.
On October 13, hundreds of people in the city of Bandar Abbas protested outside the main state-run Television Network in objection to its silence over the separation of Parsian City from this province. Protesters demanded the state-run TV network to broadcast their protest. They also chanted slogans in anger at the separation plan and demanded a local resident be chosen as the province’s governor.
This was the fourth protest of the people of Bandar Abbas. So far more than 100 protesters have been arrested by the security forces.
On October 18, a large group of women gathered after the Friday prayer and chanted and anti-government slogans. In fear of a wider protest, government authorities raised the speaker volumes to overcome their voice.
The Friday preacher then announced that any gathering from this on would strongly be condemned.
Finally the men also join in and with the women chant slogans in solidarity forming a wider protest.
To create a fearful atmosphere among the people, security forces arrested around 35 youths in different parts of the city of Bandar Abbas. There is no information on their whereabouts so far.
In the meanwhile, the Iranian regime increased its security and patrol forces in almost all districts, streets, intersections and cities.
Following the expansion of the protest, government forces opened fire on the protesters to disperse the people and put an end to this demonstration.
“We have been ordered by the city officials that if the number of protesters reaches 1500, do not engage in any activities against the people. If the number goes above 1500, withdraw and if they were less, attack the protesters and greet them with sticks and batons,” a commander of the security forces has said.
Following the widespread protest on Friday, October 18, police and security forces raided the protesters in the afternoon and opened fire.
These protests continued on to the next day, October 19 in the cemetery of Bandar Abbas. Protesters chanted against government decisions and plans to separate parts of this province.
Security forces raided the protest, dispersing the people. The protesters however, did not quite and the gatherings continued sporadically with anti-government slogans. This process continued throughout the day.