September 16 saw Iran in turmoil as the nation marked the first anniversary of its tumultuous 2022 uprising, sparked by the tragic death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini.
Despite stringent security measures implemented by the regime, citizens across the country organized protest rallies, strikes, and chanted anti-regime slogans.
A year ago, Amini was arrested in Tehran for allegedly violating the regime’s dress code. Her subsequent death due to wounds inflicted by the morality police unleashed the people’s latent rage against decades of oppression and corruption.
Recent protests echoed the sentiments of last year’s uprising. In cities from Mashhad to Tehran to Rasht, defiant citizens faced off against security forces, chanting slogans such as “Death to Khamenei!” and “Mullahs must get lost!” In remembrance of the nationwide upheaval, shop owners from multiple cities also partook in a general strike, including in Saqqez, Mahsa’s hometown.
The protests that followed Masha’s death soon spread like wildfire across hundreds of cities, leading to a fierce backlash from the regime that claimed over 750 lives and saw more than 30,000 arrests.
Reports also surfaced of the regime’s anticipatory crackdown. The father of Mahsa, Amjad Amini, was arrested and pressured to avoid commemorating his daughter. Security measures escalated around Mahsa’s resting place in Saqqez and her family’s residence, showing the regime’s anxiety over potential mass gatherings.
A particular point of contention is the horrific event of September 30, 2022, known as “Zahedan’s bloody Friday”, where over 100 civilians were killed by security forces in Sistan and Baluchestan province. In the lead-up to this grim anniversary, citizens of Zahedan once again took to the streets on September 15, despite the regime’s attempt to quell potential unrest.
Mashhad, northeast #Iran
Security forces attack peaceful assembly in Ahmad Abad, fearing anti-regime protests. Security forces use firearms to disperse the crowd.#IranProtestspic.twitter.com/tVnq3cuZf0— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) September 16, 2023
The chants of these protesters were evocative of a united front against the regime. “From Zahedan to Tehran, my life for Iran!” they shouted, demonstrating a unified resistance. Clear denunciations against the Revolutionary Guards and the regime’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, were prevalent.
Nightly protests also became a widespread phenomenon, occurring in numerous cities. The chants were unanimous in their sentiment: a strong repudiation of the dictatorship.
September 15—Zahedan, southeast #Iran
Protesters chanting, "This government is invalid, the IRGC are the criminals!"#IranProtestspic.twitter.com/6Le7aIDHXx— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) September 15, 2023
This nationwide wave of protests, in spite of the regime’s heavy-handed tactics, signifies the people’s persistent quest for justice and change. The spirit of the 2022 uprising seems to have not only endured but possibly grown stronger, echoing the collective desire for an end to tyranny and the beginning of a new era for Iran.
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