There were yet more protests in Sistan and Baluchistan, Iran, on Sunday February 28. 2021, over the extra-judicial killings of several fuel porters there, just over a week ago, by the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC).
The protests began on Monday, February 22, 2021, in Saravan county near the Iran-Pakistan border, where IRGC forces, armed with heavy artillery and tanks, opened fire on the impoverished fuel porters. The protest spread across the province over the week, before growing to its biggest level yet on Sunday, despite increased security presence. In fact, the regime even had to send security forces from neighbouring provinces to Sistan and Baluchistan, but the suppression is not succeeding.
Sunday’s protests(February 28)
- Meh Gas residents blocked their town entrance
- Suran blockaded the Suran-Naser Abad road and the situation is reportedly tense, as protests here have been going on all week despite a crackdown by the authorities that has definitely not stopped the protesters
- Mir Javeh citizens set fire to tyres to block the roads, as well as setting light to posters of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and Regime Founder Ruhollah Khomeini
Meanwhile, all across Iran, members of the Iranian Resistance Units organized protests in support of Sistan and Baluchistan residents. In Isfahan, they put up posters of Iranian Resistance leader Massoud Rajavi, with the slogan of “In the struggle of the country’s destiny, either death or freedom”, and president-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) Maryam Rajavi, with the slogan of “Despair is the will of the mullahs, and we must rebel against it”.
In Baneh, a young man was filmed calling for national solidarity with Saravan.
He said: “In the name of God and the brave people of Iran. I’m a member of the Resistance Units. Hail to the MEK inside Iran and the rebels and fighters of Baluchestan who stood against tyranny and religious dictatorship and taught its mercenaries a lesson. I ask all our compatriots, from Bakhtiraris, Turkmen, Gilaks, and Turks to rise up in solidarity with Baluchistan and overthrow this usurping and murderous regime. Iran and the Middle East will not see peace as long as this fundamentalist regime is in power. We must stand side by side to overthrow the mullahs’ regime. Down with the regime of the Supreme Leader, and hail to those who fight against Khamenei.”
In cities like Tabriz, Shahriar, Kermanshah, Goshneh, Shiraz, Kerman, Kordestan, and Shahroud, Resistance Units used graffiti and handmade signs to put up the messages:
- “Saravan is not alone”
- “Hail to the brave people of Saravan who stood against tyranny and religious dictatorship”
- “Down with Khamenei, down with the IRGC”
- “The mullahs will pay for the ongoing bloodshed”
- “Hail to Maryam Rajavi”
