Quiet Replacement of the Police Commander in Zahedan; One Day After the Anniversary of Bloody Friday

Local media reported the appointment of "Shahpour Fallahi" on Sunday, October 1, as the second police commander of Zahedan after "Bloody Friday." Fallahi was one of the police commanders who played a significant role in suppressing the protests in November 2019. The news website "Halosh" published this information while the official announcement of this appointment had not been released by any of the official news agencies of the Islamic Republic at the time of this report. However, the day before, news about the seizure of a "shipment of smuggled tramadol" in Zahedan was published by official media, quoting Shahpour Fallahi, "the police commander of Zahedan," which confirms his new position. This comes as a week prior, official news agencies referred to Fallahi as the "police commander of Quds County." The "Halosh" website stated that Ahmadreza Radan, the commander of the Islamic Republic's police, replaced "Dostali Jalilian" despite Jalilian having conducted the most repression and arrests in Zahedan during his one-year tenure. "Halosh" also claimed that Radan had made a "secret" trip to Sistan and Baluchestan two weeks ago, attempting to persuade the families of the "martyrs of Bloody Friday in Zahedan" with promises alongside "threats and pressure" to cease their protests. Shahpour Fallahi previously served as the police commander of Quds City in Tehran and, according to media reports, began his activities in Zahedan by collaborating in the wave of arrests following the anniversary of "Bloody Friday." In this context, on Wednesday, official government media reported the arrest of two individuals on charges of "disturbing public opinion" and "disrupting national security" in Zahedan. The names of these individuals were not disclosed in the reports from official news agencies. The actions of this police officer indicate that he has played a significant role in the repressions that have occurred in recent years. A review of news surrounding his performance shows that during the crackdown on businesses regarding optional hijab in May, 98 businesses were closed in just three days. The organization "Justice for Iran" published a report on its website claiming that Shahpour Fallahi, in his capacity as the police commander of Quds County and a member of the security council of Quds County, was responsible for issuing and executing the order to shoot protesters during a meeting on November 25, 2019, which resulted in the deaths of at least ten protesters. Fallahi was also prominently involved in the suppression of protesters in November 2019, to the extent that "Leila Vathi," the then-governor of Qaleh Hassan Khan (Quds City), explained the confrontation with the people at that time by saying: "Protesters were shielding themselves and saying if you can, hit us. Because they knew the police had no orders to shoot. I ordered the police to shoot anyone who entered the governor's office." Vathi emphasized in an interview that during the November 2019 protests, the police arrested a large number of people. Shahpour Fallahi has also previously held command positions in Varamin County and conducted operations in Kurdistan. During the nationwide protests following the death of Mahsa Amini while in custody of the "morality police," Quds City was one of the areas where protesting citizens took to the streets and were suppressed by police, military, and security forces. Reports indicate that as a result of these suppressions, several citizens of Quds City were killed by gunfire during the protests. It is noteworthy that on November 6, 2022, nearly a month after "Bloody Friday in Zahedan," the security council of Sistan and Baluchestan announced in a statement that the police commander of Zahedan and the head of the 16th police station in the city were dismissed. The security council of Sistan and Baluchestan stated at that time that this dismissal followed the events that occurred on October 8 of that year. Human Rights Watch reported in December 2022 about the massacre on Friday, October 8, 2022, in Zahedan, which became known as "Bloody Friday," describing it as "the deadliest crackdown of the year." "Bloody Friday" occurred after worshippers at the Makki Mosque in Zahedan marched after prayers on October 8, 2022, demanding accountability for those involved in the case of the rape of a 15-year-old Baluch girl by the police commander of Chabahar. In response to this protest gathering near the police station close to the Makki Mosque in Zahedan, officers opened fire on the protesters. The anniversary of "Bloody Friday" was marked by two days of protests and strikes, accompanied by widespread arrests and injuries among several Baluch citizens. Halosh: The security atmosphere in Zahedan continues; patrols of suppression forces in the Kowsar area in memory of the victims of Bloody Friday in Zahedan. Fariba Borhan-Zahi: Bloody Friday was an intellectual renaissance that left no option but to fight. Fariba Baluch: Bloody Friday made the wounds of the Baluch people's suffering visible after years. Remember - Part One: Sanobar! Mother of Khodad Nour. Over 200 arrests on the anniversary of "Bloody Friday in Zahedan"; "at least 32 of them" are teenagers.