Human Rights Sources: Increase in Number of Detainees on the Anniversary of 'Bloody Friday' in Zahedan

Human rights sources have reported that with the identification of three more individuals, the number of detained Baloch citizens on Friday, September 29, 2023, by military and security forces in Zahedan, Khash, and Mirjaveh has increased to at least 51. The website 'Halosh', which covers news related to Sistan and Baluchestan province, announced early on Saturday, September 30, that government forces carried out widespread and mass arrests of citizens in the cities of Zahedan, Khash, Mehristan, and Mirjaveh after Friday prayers. The names and details of the identified detainees indicate that more than half of them are between the ages of 16 and 30. The website 'Hrana', the news agency of the 'Human Rights Activists in Iran', also reported that on the anniversary of the events of 'Bloody Friday in Zahedan', a number of citizens held protest gatherings in various areas of Zahedan, which turned violent due to the intervention of security forces. Images and reports published in this regard show that several citizens were injured due to inhaling tear gas. Halosh also reported that at least 29 people, including eight children, were injured during the clashes between security forces and protesters on Friday. Simultaneously, 'NetBlocks', an organization that monitors internet access restrictions worldwide, reported disruptions in internet connectivity in Zahedan, describing it as a 'systematic action to suppress the people's protests'. Molavi Abdolhamid, the Sunni Friday prayer leader of Zahedan, referred to the events of October 29, 2022, as a 'terrible catastrophe' and stated: 'The general public demands punishment for those responsible for the massacre of Bloody Friday.' These events and the images published on social media come as the prosecutor of Sistan and Baluchestan has completely denied any gatherings or clashes, claiming that 'contrary to calls for gatherings that had been published days before, the people managed the situation well, did not participate in the calls, and nothing significant happened.' Shir Ahmad Shirani Naroui, the editor-in-chief of the Halosh news website, also emphasized in an exclusive interview with VOA that 'on Friday, September 29, people in various cities of Sistan and Baluchestan took to the streets and confronted government forces, and in Zahedan, despite the onset of night, protesters are still in the streets.' Naroui described the atmosphere in Zahedan on Friday as highly security-oriented and noted: 'After people left Makki Mosque and peaceful protests began, government forces attacked the protesting people with stones, shotguns, and even live ammunition and heavy machine guns, and there is still no news about the possible number of casualties from this incident.' Journalist Mehdi Nakhlahmadi also discussed the reasons for the year-long continuation of protests in Sistan and Baluchestan and the enthusiastic presence of people at the anniversary of 'Bloody Friday in Zahedan', stating: 'The multitude of unanswered demands and the wisdom of Molavi Abdolhamid have led to the continuation of protests.'