Baluchestan, Zahedan – September 29, 2023: On the first anniversary of Zahedan’s Bloody Friday tragedy, Baluch communities across the Sistan and Baluchestan province staged anti-regime protest gatherings. These demonstrations persisted despite the extensive security measures undertaken by the regime, which deployed anti-riot forces and heavy weaponry to quell any potential dissent.

In Zahedan, a significant assembly of individuals congregated around the Makki Mosque to pay their respects to the victims of the tragic massacre, resounding with fervent anti-regime chants.

The protesters voiced their grievances with chants such as:

“I will avenge my murdered brother!”
“Death to the tyrant, be it the shah or the mullahs!”
“Death to Khamenei!”
“Death to the Basij!”
Simultaneously, protests erupted in various other cities, including Khash, Suran, and Taftan. In Khash, a sizable assembly gathered, echoing chants like “Death to Khamenei!” and “IRGC and Basij are our murderers!” In Suran, demonstrators declared, “Basij and IRGC are like ISIS!” While in the Nukabad district of Taftan, chants of “Death to the dictator!” and “Death to Basij!” rang out.

In response, the regime resorted to repression tactics. NetBlocks, an organization monitoring global internet connectivity, reported internet access restrictions in Zahedan and other regions within Sistan and Baluchestan.

Security forces in Zahedan used excessive force, firing live ammunition and tear gas at the protesters. Numerous videos captured these violent clashes between security forces and demonstrators.

Remarkably, the brave residents of Zahedan stood their ground, confronting security forces unarmed and ultimately compelling their withdrawal. Preliminary reports indicated that several individuals, including children, sustained injuries from the security forces’ actions.

On September 30, 2022, in the wake of the regime’s morality police killing Mahsa Amini, security forces in Zahedan again resorted to deadly force, resulting in the tragic loss of over 100 lives, including at least a dozen children. This tragic event, known as the Bloody Friday of Zahedan, remains etched in the collective memory of Iran as one of the regime’s most heinous crimes against humanity.

Since that fateful day, the Baluch people have steadfastly convened protest rallies every Friday. The regime’s attempts to intimidate and suppress their longing for freedom have proven increasingly ineffectual.