Reports and videos reviewed by Radio Farda indicate that on Friday, the 9th day of protests in Iran, there were fresh demonstrations in several cities.
On social media, there are many videos showing protests in Tehran, Takestan and Qazvin northwest of the capital, Arak and Khomein in central Iran, Mashhad in the east, Esfahan province, Masjed Soleiman in southwest.
Protest in the evening of January 5, in Tehran
Security forces had an overwhelming presence in Tehran to prevent the gathering from turning into larger protests.
In nine days since the start of unrest, there have been protests in at least 101 cities and towns.
In Tabriz, the capital of West Azerbaijan province, during a soccer match the crowd shouted, “The people of Azerbaijan reject suffering and abjection”.
Protest during a soccer match in Tabriz, January 5
In Masjed Soleiman a large crowd came out to mourn the death of two protesters killed in recent days, shouting anti-Islamic Republic slogans. The city in Khuzestan rpovince, which is the center of oil production in Iran. Protests have been especially intense in Ahvaz, the largest city in Khuzestan.
A large crowd in Masjed Soleiman mourning death of two protesters
Khomein, the birthplace of ayatollah Rouhollah Khomeini the founder of the Islamic Republic was not spared the anger of protesters. A large crowd came out for the first time in the city shouting, “God bless your soul Reza Shah”.
This has been an a slogan often repeated by protesters who want to show their opposition to the Islamic Republic and highlight the role of the founding king of the Pahlavi dynasty, who put Iran on the path to modernization.
For the first time in recent unrest, people came out in Khomein to protest
Based on figures announced by various officials, more than 1,700 people have been arrested since the start of unrest. The real number might be much higher, since provincial officials often do not provide exact figures.
One member of parliament announced that so far 90 students have been arrested. This is a much higher figure than what Radio Farda had been able to verify on Friday, January 5.
