Iran’s ‘blackout’ of Kurdistan. “Military regime” in Western Azerbaijan
Western Azerbaijan from the province deputy Jalal Mahmudzade said that 11 people have been killed in the city since October 27
A leading member of Iran’s Christian community says security officials are pressuring religious minorities to keep quiet and not participate in anti-government protests.
The semi-official ISNA agency, the head of Tehran Assyrian Society YOnatan Betkoliaor disseminated information with reference. He said that the intelligence and security agencies of the Islamic Republic asked Christian representatives, bishops and Assyrian priests to prevent Christians and Assyrians from joining the protests.
22 years old Mahsa AminiAfter the death of It is reported that at least 300 protesters were killed and thousands of people were detained.
Iran The government blames the West for the protests, which have been going on for three months, and says that the protesters will be punished more severely.
Betkoliya has said that he agrees with the idea that foreign provocations are at the root of the protests. But this is the first time Iran admits that some Christians support anti-government policies.
Iran Christians of parliament He criticizes Betkolia, who has been a member for 5 years, for being close to the government.
In an earlier statement, the United Churches Council of Iran condemned the “systematic oppression of women and human rights violations in Iran” and demanded “freedom, justice and equal rights for all Iranians.” Council mandatory said that he was against the hijab rule, that it was a violation of human rights.
Meanwhile, there are reports that the Iranian authorities are cracking down harder on protesters in the country’s western Kurdistan region. Human rights groups say government forces have killed at least 12 people in recent days. A large number of armed in the region soldier placed.
RFE/RL employee Gulnaz Isfandiyari writes with reference to the activists that the power structures want to intimidate the protesters and suppress the protests with this violence.
Mahsa Amini from Kurdistan died after being detained by the morality police for allegedly not tying the hijab properly.
“The Islamic Republic is trying to silence protests in Iran by resorting to such intense violence in Kurdistan. The authorities think that by suppressing the protests in Kurdistan, they will send a warning to people in other parts of the country.” – From the “Hengaw” human rights group, which is registered in Norway and publishes news about the Kurdish region of Iran Gina Mostajar he told the radio.
“Hengaw” reports that in November 20At least 13 people were killed in the main Kurdish cities.
According to the Oslo-based Iran Human Rights Organization, a total of 378 people participated in the protests, including 47 child was murdered. Kurdistan, Kermanshah, West where the Kurds live Azerbaijan at least 83 people were killed in their provinces.
In the city of Javanrud in Kermanshah province, there were reportedly “intense clashes” between protesters and security forces. On November 21 social videos uploaded to the media show injured protesters scattered on the streets, and the sound of gunfire is heard.
Protesters in the provincial capital, Kermanshah Ali religious leader Ali “Death to Khamenei” is heard shouting.
November 20in the West Azerbaijan A 16-year-old boy was among those killed in Piranshahr city of the province.
in France President of the Kurdistan Human Rights Network Fatima Karimi He tells RFE/RL that the Kurdistan Region has become a “black hole” for the government.
“People are paying a heavy price, the number of dead and wounded is high, but they continue to protest.” – he said.
It is reported that the situation is tense in the city of Mahabad, West Azerbaijan province. Social there in the videos spread in the media military forces and equipment appear to be deployed. Activists are in town military they say that the regime is applied.