Internet Shutdown and Heavy Security Presence in Zahedan; 'Silent March' Held

The website 'Hal-Vash' reported on Friday, October 27, from Zahedan that people silently exited the mosque at the request of Molavi Abdolhamid, amidst a significant presence of government security forces in the city. 'Hal-Vash', which focuses on issues in Sistan and Baluchestan, added that the people of Zahedan held a silent march in response to the internet shutdown and the intensification of the heavy security atmosphere, following the request of Molavi Abdolhamid, the Sunni Friday prayer leader of Zahedan. Reports from Zahedan indicate that military and security forces, similar to the previous Friday, blocked many streets in the city, including Azadegan, Khorramshahr, Khayyam, and Razi. According to Hal-Vash, government forces prevented many people from participating in this week's Friday prayers by blocking streets leading to the mosque and Maki Mosque, setting up tents in many passages, and subjecting worshippers to searches and body checks. Reports from the city of Khash also indicate that government forces blocked streets leading to the Jamia al-Khalil Mosque in Khash and prevented citizens from attending the mosque. Additionally, see: Amnesty International's criticism of the 'brutal crackdown' on protesters in Zahedan by Islamic Republic agents. On Thursday, November 2, Amnesty International criticized a 'new wave of brutal attacks against protesters and worshippers from the oppressed Baluch minority' in Zahedan by Islamic Republic forces last Friday. The organization noted that the weekly protests, including the one on October 20, were peaceful, adding that security forces resorted to the illegal use of tear gas and water cannons, severely injuring protesters. Amnesty International also referred to 'mass arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, and other forms of torture and cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment' against peaceful protesters, calling on Iranian authorities not to resort to illegal use of force during the upcoming Friday protests on November 3 and to respect the right to peaceful assembly. According to Amnesty International, 'hundreds of people, including dozens of children, were violently arrested, and many of them have gone missing. Detained children and adults have faced torture and other ill-treatment, including severe beatings and injuries from close-range paintball shots.'