Exclusive to Voice of America: An Opponent Injured by Government Supporters Says He Will Continue the Fight

Navid, who was injured during an attack by supporters of the Islamic Republic in London on June 4, and was hospitalized, told Voice of America: "As soon as I am discharged from the hospital, I will continue my struggle." In an exclusive interview with Voice of America from his hospital bed on Sunday, June 6, he said: "Supporters of the Islamic Republic, fearing the presence and protests of opponents, changed the previously announced location for the memorial ceremony for Ebrahim Raisi from the Islamic Center of the Islamic Republic to the Iraqi Islamic Center, which we became aware of, and we went there for a peaceful protest." This Iranian opposition figure added: "Supporters of the Islamic Republic, angry at our joy, attacked us with a repressive strategy, beat me, and stole the mobile phone of one of the protesters." According to Navid, the presence of protesters in front of the Iraqi Islamic Center, which supports the Islamic Republic, disrupted the memorial ceremony for Ebrahim Raisi, and the clashes led to the absence of many invited guests at the event. The London police have obtained documents and videos of the attack by supporters of the Islamic Republic and have arrested one of the attackers; however, they have not pursued the matter as they should have." In another part of the interview with the Persian section of Voice of America, Navid emphasized that despite severe physical injuries, he is in high spirits and will continue his struggle against the Islamic Republic as soon as he is discharged from the hospital. A group of supporters of the Islamic Republic attacked protesters holding a memorial for Ebrahim Raisi in Wembley, London, on June 4. The police in the British capital reported that four people were slightly injured in the clash, and one person was arrested on suspicion of causing a riot and violence. Ebrahim Raisi, the president of the thirteenth government of the Islamic Republic, along with Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, his foreign minister, the Friday prayer leader of Tabriz, and several others were killed after their helicopter crashed in the Dizmar forest in East Azerbaijan province on May 30. This incident was met with a wave of joy among Iranians inside and outside the country. To prevent the emergence and display of public joy inside the country, the government has dealt with users who expressed opinions or joy about this event on social media, arresting several of them in various cities. Siamak Aram, director of the "National Solidarity Group of Iran," also said on June 6 about the violent actions of the Islamic Republic against its opponents inside and outside the country that the Iranian government, by increasing confrontations and overt violence, seeks to cover up its unprecedented and historical weakness and compensate for its humiliations by the people.