Fourth Day of Nationwide Protests Following Mahsa Amini’s Death

On September 20, 2022, nationwide protests over the death of Mahsa Amini by Morality Police were held in at least 26 cities in Iran. In most cities, the protest turned violent as the police used teargas, pellet guns and shotguns against the protestors. According to the reports obtained by HRANA, the internet and phone services were shut down or disrupted in numerous cities across the country, including in Arak, Qazvin, Kermanshah, Bukan, Baneh, Sanandaj, Tehran, Saqqez, and Ahvaz.

On several university campuses, students held protests against compulsory Hejab. In many cases, the university security used violence against the students.

During the past few days since the death of Mahsa Amini, several individuals have been arrested.

The map below shows the geographical distribution of protests in the past four days in at least 26 cities. These cities include Mashhad, Tabriz, Qazvin, Sabzevar, Mariwan, Bandar-Abbas, Bukan, Rasht, Rafsanjan, Sari, Arak, Hamedan, Tehran, Qom, Yasuj, Ilam, Kermanshah, Birjand, Karaj, Isfahan, Kerman, Shiraz, Khorramabad, Kish, Zanjan, and Naqade.


 

The students in several universities held demonstrations, including the University of Science and Technology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, University of Science and Culture, Kharazmi University, Yazd University, Tehran University, the University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, and the Sharif University of Technology.

 

During these protests, Iranians chanted slogans such as “woman, life, freedom”, “we are all Mahsa, we will fight back”, “from Kurdistan to Tabriz, we are fed up, “justice, freedom, not compulsory hejab”,  “students die, but do not accept disgrace”, “years of atrocities, death to the regime.”

As the map below illustrates, during the past four days, cities such as Arak, Qazvin, Kermanshah, Bukan, Baneh, Sanandaj, Mashhad, Tehran, Saqqez, and Ahvaz faced internet and mobile service disruptions or shutdowns.


The representative of Saqqez in the parliament said that if the city remains calm, the internet will be connected again.

In response to a user’s comment asking if Starlink can be used for satellite internet access, business magnate Elon Musk asserted “The Starlink will ask for an exemption to Iranian sanctions in this regard.”

Mahsa Amini was arrested by Tehran Morality Police at a train station for improper hejab. She fell into a coma after a head trauma caused by police brutality and later died at a hospital in Tehran.

Below is a compilation of the videos gathered on the fourth day of protests in Iran:

 

 

Report on the Third Day of Nationwide Protests Following Mahsa Amini’s Death

On September 19, 2022, the nationwide protests for Mahsa Amini’s death continued for the third consecutive day. People protested Amini’s death in the streets and they chanted slogans against the regime and police brutality against women. These protests turned violent by the police and security forces, and several protestors were injured. In Divandarreh, the government forces killed two individuals. The police also used tear gas, pellet guns and water cannons.

Universities of Tehran and Isfahan students chanted slogans “death to the dictator”, “Iran is soaked in blood, from Kurdistan to Tehran”, “Kurdistan, a graveyard for fascists”, “Woman, life, freedom”, and “we are all Mahsa, we will fight back.”

In the Kurdistan region of Iran, in response to a call for a general strike by media and opposition political parties, shopkeepers went on strike and closed the markets.

According to Shargh News Agency, MCI, the biggest internet service provider, has filtered the Keyword “Mahsa Amini”. NetBlocks, an internet monitoring organization reported a near-total disruption in some cities, including Sanandaj, Kurdistan Province.

Dozens of protestors have been arrested in different cities. In Saqqez, Mahsa Amini’s hometown, the security forces arrested at least 22 individuals, of which three have been taken to an unidentified location and the rest to the Saqqez Prison. The arrest of four individuals in Sanandaj, five in Paveh, one in Oshnavieh and one in Bukan have been verified so far. Two civil rights activists, Ribvar Kamrani-Pour and Amjad Saedi have also been arrested in Mariwan.

HRANA has also reported the arrest of two individuals, Nazanin Haji-Zadeh and writer and film director Mahnaz Mohammadi in Tehran.

Mahsa Amini was arrested by Tehran Morality Police at a train station for improper hejab. She fell into a coma after head trauma caused by police brutality and later died at a hospital in Tehran.

Inmate Executed in Karaj Central Penitentiary

On September 19, 2022, an inmate convicted of drug-related crimes was injured in Karaj Central Penitentiary, Alborz Province.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on September 19, 2022, the Karaj Central Penitentiary officials executed an inmate identified as Sirus Sha’alani, 22.

This execution has not been reported by official sources and media outlets inside Iran so far.

Melika Gharagozlou Sentenced 

The Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced Melika Gharagozlou, a student of journalism at Allameh Tabatabaei University, to four years and four months in prison and additional penalties.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, Melika Gharagozlou was sentenced to four years and four months in prison.

According to this verdict, Gharagozlou was sentenced to three years and eight months in prison on the charge of “assembly and collusion”, eight months on the charge of “propaganda against the regime”, and pay a fine of 8 million tomans. If the verdict is upheld on appeal, based on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, three years and eight months for the first charge will be enforceable to her.

As additional punishment, the court has also banned Gharagozlou from leaving the country and membership in political groups.

On July 13, 2022, security forces arrested Gharagozlou after she published a video of herself without a headscarf.

Gharagozlou faced arrests and convictions for her civil activities in 2019.

Mahsa Amini’s Death Sparks Nationwide Protests

The death of Mahsa Amini has sparked nationwide condemnation and protests in several cities in Iran. Amini was a 22-year-old woman from Saqqez, Kurdistan Province. She was arrested by Tehran Morality Police at a train station for improper hejab. She fell into a coma where she was in custody and then died in a hospital in Tehran.

Since Amini’s death, hundreds of individuals have organized protests, and businesses in a number of cities were closed in protest. On Saturday, September 17, there were also angry demonstrations during her funeral at her burial and in front of the governorate building in Saqqez, Kurdistan Province. The police used violence against the protestors using tear gas and gunshots. Several people have been injured. Kurdpa has identified Kian Derakhshan as being in critical condition. The video below shows the moment he was injured. 

Another individual identified as Parsa Sehat was injured in the eye and nose and is hospitalized in Tabriz.

The protests continued on Sunday, September 18. In Sanandaj, Kurdistan Province, people rallied and chanted slogans against the regime such as “Kurdistan, a graveyard for fascists”, and “Death to Dictator”. The police used the shooting to crack down on the protestors. Sanandaj’s residents have reported internet disruptions. Some videos show the deployment of special guard forces and water cannons. Moreover, several pictures on social media show some citizens have been injured by pellet guns.

Confirming the arrest of several protestors, the Deputy Governor of Kurdistan claimed that so far no one has been killed in the past two days.

In Mahabad, The police with a heavy presence attempted to scatter the crowd in order to prevent the protest.   

The University of Tehran students held a protest on campus. Also, in the Gohardasht district of Karaj, Mahabad, Sanandaj, Rasht, and several other cities demonstrations were held, where people chanted “death to the dictator”, “death to Khamanei”, and “woman, life, freedom.” 

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Several Arrested Following Protests for Mahsa Amini’s Death

On September 16, 2022, security forces arrested Zaniar Mohammadnejad, age 23, during a protest against Mahsa Amini’s death close to Kasra Hospital (where Mahsa Amini died) in Tehran. He was transferred to an unidentified location.

An informed source close to Mohammadnejad’s family told HRANA that he had joined the crowd gathering in front of Kasra hospital, but he was arrested and taken to an unidentified location. 

Kurdpa also reported the arrest of several individuals in connection with the recent protests in the past two days, including Lotfollah Ahmadi, Faranak Rafiee, and Shahoo Eghbal in Sanandaj, and Kamiar Heidari, 40, and Mohammad Zabihi, 22 in Saqqez.

Fatemeh Ziai Azad Arrested in Tehran

On September 17, 2022, security forces arrested former political prisoner, Fatemeh Ziai Azad at her house in Tehran and transferred her to Ward 209 of Evin Prison.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, on September 17, 2022, Fatemeh Ziai Azad was arrested in Tehran.

An informed source told HRANA that during the arrest, the agents confiscated Ziai Azad’s mobile. After arrest, in a short phone call, she informed her family that she had been taken to Ward 209 of Evin Prison and had not yet been notified about the charges.

Ziai suffers from Multiple sclerosis (MS) but is denied access to medical care.