The Iranian Resistance Units have organized a major campaign across the country in recent days to support the ongoing protests in Sistan and Baluchistan province, even though support for the Resistance is heavily punished by the regime.

The show of support included putting up huge posters of Iranian Resistance leaders Massoud and Maryam Rajavi in the cities of Tehran, Mashhad, Zanjan, and Shiraz. The Massoud poster read, “The uprising of the people in Baluchistan is the uprising of all the Iranian people”, while the Maryam poster read “The rebels will overthrow the regime; Baluchistan is not alone”.

In the cities of Ahvaz, Behbahan, Khash, Ilam, Arak, Shahriar, Yazd, Shahre Rey, Sari, Qazvin, Rasht, Dezful, Shahre Kord, and Shahre Quds, the Resistance Units sprayed graffiti and wrote in marker on walls in public spaces, with the following slogans:

• “The victims of Saravan are martyrs fallen for freedom”
• “In the struggle of the country’s destiny, either death or freedom”
• “Rise up to overthrow the regime of the Supreme Leader”
• “Khamenei is a murderer, and his rule is illegitimate”
• “The Supreme Leader’s end is near”
• “Down with Khamenei, hail to Rajavi, hail to freedom”

What are the protests in Sistan and Baluchistan?

Protests began in the province last week after the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) extrajudicially killed fuel porters in Saravan when they opened fire on them for protesting the closure of the Iran-Pakistan border.

The regime cut off internet access to try and stop the protests spreading, along with the images showing the IRGC armed with heavy artillery and tanks. During the protests over the killings, the IRGC have killed dozens and arrested many more.

Their argument for killing the porters is that they are smuggling, but the true answer is that the IRGC actually controls a country-wide smuggling operation, while the poverty-stricken Iranians are just trying to make a living by moving small amounts of fuel across the border.

The IRGC are angry that someone is encroaching on their turf, but the only reason that these Iranians smuggle is that they are suffering from 40 years of discrimination against the Baluch minority by the regime that has left them out of work.

Since the protests began, people from all over the country have been showing support for the  Baluch people, something driven by the Resistance Units who were behind the 2019 uprising that nearly took down the regime. The protesters across the country are risking their lives.