This time, it was in reaction to the regime’s latest move – the arrest of Molavi Fathi Mohammad Naghshbandi, a revered religious figure.
In the cities of Zahedan, Khash, and Rask, protesters took to the streets despite a dominating security presence by regime forces. Chants of “Death to the dictator!” and demands for Naghshbandi’s release resonated in the air. They made it clear that their spirit wouldn’t be broken easily, rallying with the cry, “Our silence is our death!”
Molavi Fathi Mohammad Naghshbandi’s arrest holds significant implications. As the father of Molavi Abdulghaffar Naghshbandi, an outspoken critic of the regime, many see the arrest as a calculated move to silence the younger Naghshbandi. The timing isn’t coincidental, with the anniversary of the 2022 nationwide uprising looming, an event that saw Zahedan emerge as a fulcrum of resistance against the regime.
The people of Zahedan continue their protests rally after the Friday prayers.
"Our silence is our death!" protesters are chanting.#IranProtestspic.twitter.com/841Ct12UaI— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) August 25, 2023
Memories of the tragic events of September 30, infamously known as the “Bloody Friday of Zahdan,” where security forces massacred over 100 civilians, including children, are still fresh in the minds of the populace. This backdrop, coupled with the recent arrest, made Zahedan a hotspot for heightened protests.
Sistan and Baluchestan’s history with oppressive regimes, both of Shah and mullahs, has instilled a resilience in its people. They made this evident in Rask, where supporters rallied for Naghshbandi’s release, and in Khash, where locals united against the regime’s oppressive tactics.
August 25—Rask, southeast #Iran
Locals rally in protest to the arrest of Molana Naghshbandi by security forces in order to intimidate his son, an outspoken critic of the regime.#IranProtestspic.twitter.com/YjUSnbklDM— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) August 25, 2023
Social media platforms have been abuzz with reports that the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) explicitly threatened Abdulghaffar Naghshbandi. They allegedly warned him that harm would come to his father if he continued his vocal criticism.
In a defiant response, Abdulghaffar stated, “If the smallest thing happens to my father, Molana Fathi Mohammad Naghshbandi, the IRGC will be responsible for it. With these threats, you can never distract us from the path of seeking justice for the blood of our martyrs. It is only death that silences us.”
Beyond organized rallies, the youth showcased their spirit by blocking various roads throughout the province. The Suran-Paskuh and Sarbaz-Afshan roads saw fiery barricades and impassioned chants, all signaling a fervent opposition to the regime and its recent actions.
August 25—Khash, southeast #Iran
Locals gathered after Friday prayers to protest the arrest of Molavi Fathi Mohammad Naghshbandi by security forces to silence his son, an outspoken critic of the regime.#IranProtestspic.twitter.com/jSpmdhdeD8— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) August 25, 2023
As the anniversary of the 2022 uprising approaches, the regime’s attempts at instilling fear through a campaign of repression, including increased executions and arrests, seem to have backfired. Instead of cowering, the people of Sistan and Baluchestan have shown that their quest for justice and freedom remains undeterred.
MEK Iran (follow us on Twitter and Facebook), Maryam Rajavi’s on her site, Twitter & Facebook, NCRI (Twitter & Facebook), and People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran – MEK IRAN – YouTu
