Ongoing Clashes in Kazeroon; 'Damage to Police Vehicles, Arson of a Bank'

Despite the large presence of security forces in Kazeroon, sporadic clashes continue in the city. The deputy governor of Fars reported that protesters on Friday 'set fire to a bank building' and 'caused damage to police vehicles.' According to IRNA news agency, Hadi Pajoohesh Jahromi stated that early on Friday, May 28, a group of protesters 'set fire to a bank building in Kazeroon and caused damage to public property and police vehicles.' He noted that on Thursday, protesters also 'attacked law enforcement and set two police vehicles on fire.' Videos released show that security forces are widely present in various parts of Kazeroon, and internet access has been cut off. A protest by a group of Kazeroon residents on Wednesday evening led to clashes with security forces. While some sources report at least three deaths and numerous injuries and arrests during the protest on Wednesday evening, the governor of Fars confirmed only one death. Several social media users shared images and videos claiming that following the arrest of some Kazeroon residents on Wednesday, a number of people gathered in front of the police intelligence base, but this gathering turned violent due to the assault and gunfire from security forces. Meanwhile, Hadi Pajoohesh Jahromi, the political, security, and social deputy of the Fars governorate, stated that after the arrest of some protesters, others 'attacked the police station to free the detainees and broke the windows with stones, but faced police resistance.' The violent response to the Kazeroon protest has also drawn reactions from various political figures and groups. Reza Pahlavi, son of the last Shah of Iran, referred to the events in Kazeroon as 'another crime' by the 'occupiers of Iran' in a tweet, praising the 'steadfastness and bravery' of the people of this city. The National Council of Resistance, the political branch of the People's Mujahedin Organization of Iran, also reported in a statement the deaths of 'at least two demonstrators' and a 'large number' of injured and detained individuals. The Iranian Ministry of Interior announced on Thursday evening, May 27, that the plan to create a new county in Kazeroon has been halted and threatened to take 'decisive legal action' against 'disturbers of public order and security.' However, some protesters have labeled the Ministry of Interior's statement about halting the new county plan as a 'trick' to end the protests. According to the previous plan by the Ministry of Interior, a new county named 'Kohchenar' was to be created by separating several towns and districts from Kazeroon, with the name derived from two districts, 'Kohmareh Noudan' (now called Qaemiyeh) and 'Chenar Shahijan.' Protesters view this plan as a means of 'dividing Kazeroon.' The creation of the new county has also been a subject of conflict among Kazeroon officials. Local media reported that while Mohammad Kharsand, the Friday prayer leader of Kazeroon, opposes the creation of the new county, Hossein Rezazadeh, the representative of Kazeroon in parliament, has sought to separate his hometown (Qaemiyeh) from Kazeroon.