182 executed, 63 newspapers shutdown and 7,000 arrested on political charges in one  year

NCRI - According to a report by the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI), during the Persian calendar year of 1384 (March 20, 2005 - March 20, 2006), Iranian cities were the scenes of over 4,100 protests, strikes, and clashes between the people and the suppressive forces.  These protests involved different sectors of society from white collar workers to teachers and students to political prisoners.

At least 1,380 protests were staged by workers and 737 protests by students, academics, and university professors.

The continuation and spread of protests came while 182 prisoners were executed and 123 execution sentences were handed down.  Last year, 63 newspapers were shutdown, eight amputations were carried out, and hundreds of thousands arrested, 7000 of whom were detained for political reasons.

In 1384, political prisoners and members of the Iranian Resistance staged hunger strikes for a total of nine weeks.

During this period, the regimes' henchmen attacked the houses of Tehran's transit workers and arrested their wives and children in order to crush their strike. In Qom, the regime staged crackdown on Dervishes' mosques and gathering centers, destroying their buildings and arresting a number of them.

The protests included hunger strikes by political prisoners, uprisings in Mahabad, Gheshm, Piranshahr, and demonstrations during the Festival of Fire celebration at the year's end, strikes, sit-ins, road closures by workers, commemoration of the International Women's Day in Laleh Park in Tehran, protest by young women outside the gates of sports stadiums, and protests following football games.

In many uprisings, people took to the streets and engaged the State Security Forces (SSF) and the Paramilitary Bassij forces, Intelligence Ministry and Plainclothes agents. Many banks, government offices, security operation centers and Intelligence Ministry offices were attacked and destroyed by the people.

The dramatic rise and continuation of protests, uprising and demonstrations clearly reflect the anger and hatred of the Iranian people towards the ruling medieval theocracy.  It also reflects the Iranian people's resolve to overthrow this inhuman regime in its entirety and bring about democratic change in Iran.

Secretariat of the National Council of Resistance of Iran
March 26, 2006