Over 200 Arrested on Anniversary of 'Bloody Friday Zahedan'; 'At Least 32' Are Teenagers

Human rights organizations report that over two hundred individuals have been arrested by the Iranian government during tensions in Sistan and Baluchestan province, with at least 32 of them being teenagers and individuals under 18 years old. Some human rights activists estimate the number of detainees in the four cities of Zahedan, Khash, Mirjaveh, and Chabahar to be 216 by early Monday, October 2. Among these detainees, individuals aged 14 to 18 are noted. October 2, 2023, marks the first anniversary of the massacre of protesters in Zahedan, known locally as 'Bloody Friday Zahedan.' On this day in 2022, law enforcement officers shot at protesters in Zahedan, resulting in dozens of deaths. The provincial security council reported 35 fatalities, while Baloch activists claim at least one hundred were killed. On the eve of the anniversary, on Friday, October 1, 2023, shortly after the Sunni Friday prayers, officers again fired on protesters, injuring dozens, including several children. Earlier, Voice of America reported that protesters in Zahedan chanted 'Death to Khamenei' during demonstrations on Friday and Saturday nights, continuing the protests on the anniversary of 'Bloody Friday.' In visual reports, protesters blocked several streets in Zahedan on Saturday night by burning tires to prevent military and law enforcement presence. Videos from areas such as Shirabad in northern Zahedan, Majidieh, Kowsar, and the common market of Zahedan show protesters chanting 'Death to Khamenei.' Voice of America previously reported that shopkeepers in various parts of Zahedan, as well as in Chabahar, Saravan, and Nobandiyan, went on strike to commemorate the victims of 'Bloody Friday.' Strikes and protests continue despite the security atmosphere in the cities of this province, especially in Zahedan. In a video, Sonobar, the mother of Khodad Nour Lajahi, stated, 'We do not want blood money; we seek justice for our children.' This article also discusses the motivations of the Islamic Republic behind the massacre on Bloody Friday in Zahedan, as explained by Hossein Soori. The anniversary of 'Bloody Friday Zahedan' saw strikes by merchants in Sistan and Baluchestan. The Sepah newspaper defended the shooting of protesters during 'Bloody Friday.' Reports indicate an increase in the number of detainees on the anniversary of 'Bloody Friday' in Zahedan, with law enforcement firing on protesters during the anniversary. Strikes occurred in four cities of Sistan and Baluchestan province, and protests continued in Zahedan. A journalist claimed that the repression is framed as a counter-terrorism operation. Night protests in Zahedan on the anniversary of 'Bloody Friday' included chants of 'Death to Khamenei.'