Protests Continue in Cities Across Iran on the Ninth Day of Demonstrations

Reports indicate that on Friday, January 5, during the ninth day of protests, several cities in Iran witnessed gatherings of demonstrators. Social media has shared images of protests in Tehran, Takestan, Khomein, Arak, Mashhad, Qazvin, Rasht, and Lahijan. Reports suggest that at least 101 cities have experienced protests over the past nine days. Videos released show a heavy presence of security forces on the streets of Tehran. Nevertheless, protests have been held around 16 Azar and Vali Asr streets. Images from the Tractor Sazi and Esteghlal game in Tabriz also show spectators chanting, 'The people of Azerbaijan do not accept humiliation.' Videos and images from the funerals of two of the recent protest casualties in Masjed Soleiman have also been published. Additionally, video footage indicates that protests took place on Friday in Khomein. According to reports, during the past nine days of protests in Tehran, Markazi, Kerman, Golestan, West Azerbaijan, Gilan, Alborz, Ardabil, and Razavi Khorasan provinces, at least 1,700 people have been arrested. Meanwhile, judicial officials in other provinces of Iran have reported arrests of some demonstrators without specifying numbers. While reports indicate that gatherings have occurred in over 100 cities in recent days, only officials from a few provinces have announced the number of detainees in those areas. Meanwhile, Parvaneh Salahshouri, a representative from Tehran in the parliament, reported that around 90 students have been arrested as of Friday, January 5. She stated, 'According to the list I have been given, about 90 students have been arrested across the country, and this number may increase or decrease with the release of some, but we are currently certain of the arrest of 90 individuals.' The 'No to Price Hikes' protests began on Thursday, December 28, in Mashhad and several other cities, but as these gatherings continued, protesters began chanting political slogans against the leader and officials of the Islamic Republic in addition to economic slogans. The crackdown on these protests has so far resulted in at least 22 deaths.