Continuation of Popular Uprising for the Sixth Day Despite Government Suppression

As protests continue across various regions of Iran, the scope of gatherings and protest actions expanded to more cities on Thursday and Friday. Despite a heavy security atmosphere and efforts by government forces to suppress the protests, citizens in different cities continued their demonstrations in various forms. Reports of protests in Zahedan on Friday, January 1, indicate that demonstrators chanted slogans such as 'Death to the Dictator' on the sixth day of nationwide protests. In cities including Fardis, Qom, Babol, Arak, Hamadan, Ilam, and Shiraz, reports indicate street gatherings, chanting of protest slogans against the entire regime, and calls for citizens to join the protests. In Hamadan, protesters blocked part of a street and lit fires to continue their protests, while in Ilam, nighttime gatherings took place in the dark. In Babaheidar, located in the Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province, protesters brought down the flag of the Islamic Republic during protests on Thursday, January 1. In Shiraz, a number of citizens chanted slogans such as 'Death to the Dictator' and 'Death to Khamenei' from their homes on Thursday evening. In Babol, citizens also took to the streets to chant slogans against the Islamic Republic. In Fardis, protesters called for broader participation in the protests, repeating the slogan 'Iranian, shout out, demand your rights.' The funerals of several protesters killed during the protests turned into scenes of open protest against the regime. In Fooladshahr, Isfahan province, the funeral of Dariush Ansari Bakhtiarvand, who was shot by government forces on Wednesday, January 10, was held on Friday, January 1. Attendees at this ceremony chanted slogans against Ali Khamenei. In Marvdasht, Fars province, participants at the funeral of Khodadad Shirvani Monfared, another killed protester, shouted: 'The cannon, tank, and firecrackers of the clerics must be gone.' In Kuhdasht, Lorestan province, the funeral of Amir Hossein Khodayari-Fard was attended by a large crowd. Participants at this ceremony chanted: 'This flower that has wilted is a gift to the homeland.' During this ceremony, Amir Hossein Khodayari-Fard's father rejected claims by government institutions that his son was a 'Basij' member. Previously, the IRGC of Lorestan province and some government institutions had introduced this young protester, who was killed on Wednesday, January 10, in Kuhdasht, as a Basij member. Molavi Abdolhamid, the Sunni Friday prayer leader of Zahedan, addressed the economic situation of the country in his Friday sermon, stating: 'The life and livelihood of the people of Iran have reached a dead end.' He defended the right of citizens to peaceful protest, adding: 'People have the right to peaceful protests; the atmosphere of protests in the country has expanded, and officials should not beat protesters; we are all Iranian people.' Molavi Abdolhamid referred to the widespread economic crisis, saying: 'Everyone is hungry; even some capitalists have problems. Officials should hear the voice of the people and think fundamentally.' He also deemed the government's support policies ineffective, stating: 'The coupon plan or issues like this are of no use; officials should see what the people want; the path and demands of the people are the criteria, and no one should impose their demands on the people.' In the continuation of security crackdowns, the head of the judiciary in Lorestan province announced the arrest of several protesters in the cities of Azna and Delfan, without specifying the number of detainees. He stated that judicial authorities in these cities have been instructed to 'take legal, judicial, and decisive action against the rioters and disruptors of public peace and security.' This comes as extensive images of popular protests in Azna were published yesterday, and domestic media reported that during these protests, the police station was attacked, resulting in 'three deaths and 17 injuries.' The Narges Mohammadi Foundation issued a statement on Thursday in response to the new wave of protests and security crackdowns, emphasizing: 'Silence is not permissible; we stand with the people of Iran.' In another part of this statement, it was noted: 'In days when the streets of Iran are once again witnessing gunfire, tear gas, beatings, and widespread arrests, and the lives of defenseless protesting citizens are taken, silence is not permissible. Standing with the people is not a political choice but a human and moral duty.'