Ahead of the anniversary marking Iran’s 2022 uprising, the government left no stone unturned in its attempts to quell potential protests. In Greater Tehran alone, a whopping 23,000 IRGC and Basij forces, in addition to 21,000 State Security Forces, were on high alert, casting an oppressive atmosphere over the city. Some areas even saw security forces preventing gatherings of more than three people.
Such was the overwhelming presence of security personnel that Rahim Ghomishi, a retired IRGC officer, poignantly noted, “What I saw with my own eyes in the streets of Tehran today… if a foreign state had occupied Tehran and Iran, there wouldn’t be so many security forces.”
Yet, the Iranian populace displayed commendable courage, taking to the streets with fervor. Anti-regime rallies echoed throughout more than a dozen cities, with clashes between protesters and the heavy-handed security forces becoming commonplace. “The ensuing nights in cities like Tehran and Mashhad resounded with slogans such as “Death to the dictator!” and “Death to Khamenei!”
September 16 marked the sorrowful anniversary of Mahsa Amini’s death. On this day, the regime intensified its security in Saqqez, her hometown. Pathways leading to her resting place were blocked, and her parents’ home became a fortress, surrounded by security forces.
Ghomishi, in his memo, wrote about witnessing fearless young women, both with and without headscarves, boldly defying security forces. Their laughter in the face of oppression contrasted starkly with his own fear.
The regime’s attempts to downplay the protests failed even in its own media. State-run IRNA news, on September 17, reported gatherings of young people in Tehran, hinting at an “inflammatory and explosive atmosphere.” Several other reports indicated mass arrests across various cities.
But such suppressive measures could not curb the indomitable spirit of the Iranian people. Protests continued unabated on September 17, with families of arrested protesters staging sit-ins outside police stations, demanding clarity on the fate of their loved ones.
The regime’s intensified crackdown hints at a nation on the brink. As the academic year begins anew, there’s a sense of looming confrontation. Many students, known for their prominent role in previous protests, face an uncertain future as the regime purges universities of any dissident elements.
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