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62 killed, hundreds wounded in six-day Khuzistan uprising |
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Thursday, 21 April 2005 |
 Over 1,000 arrested, taken to undisclosed locations
The People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI), a member of the
National Council of Resistance of Iran, issued a statement inside Iran
today, which said in part, "At least 62 people have been killed and
hundreds wounded in widespread demonstrations and clashes between
enraged residents and the suppressive forces that began on April 15 in
the cities of Ahwaz, Mahshahr, Abadan and Shush (in the southwestern
province of Khuzistan)."
The statement added: Clashes occurred in different parts of Ahwaz,
including Zergan, Kut Abdullah, Hamideih, Kian Abad, Siahi, Kian Pars,
Khashayar, Kourosh, Zeitoun Kargari, Molashieh, Taleqani Township,
Khalaf-Abad and Shelang-Abad.
In Hamideih, residents clashed with the suppressive forces and overran
State Security Forces (SFF) bases in that region. Young people took
control of Ahwaz highway to Abadan. Residents of Molashieh attacked the
SSF base in the district and killed the base's commander and his deputy.
During the demonstration angry residents set fire to the clerical
regime's centers and buildings and shattered their windows. Witnesses
describe Ahwaz as a war-torn city. The clerical regime cordoned off the
city's airport and cut off water, electricity and telephone lines in
Lashgar-Abad and Dayereh to intimidate the people.
Some 55 people have been killed and at least 400 wounded so far during
clashes in Ahwaz. Most of those slain were between 18 and 22 years old.
Hundreds of young people have been arrested and taken to Karoun Prison.
Arrests are continuing in Mahshahr, Abadan, Shish and other cities in
the province.
To date, 1,000 people have been arrested and many transferred to
undisclosed locations. The security forces continued dispersing the
demonstrators by opening fire and using tear gas canisters. The
Revolutionary Guards and Intelligence Ministry agents prevented any
assistance to those wounded.
Despite brutal attacks by the suppressive forces, the chants of "down
to the clerical regime," "death to Khamenei, death to Khatami" echoed
throughout Ahwaz.
In Old-Mahshar, residents and young people engaged in armed clashes
with the anti-riot forces. Fearing the spread of the protests, the
clerical regime dispatched reinforcements from other provinces to the
city. Angry residents destroyed a large number of government buildings
and set fire to government vehicles. Seven people have been killed and
hundreds wounded in the clashes so far.
Reports indicate that 500 residents have been arrested and no
information was available on their fate. Three of those slain were
named Asgari, Ghargholi and Alboughobeish. The latter's family had to
give 50 million rials to government agents in order to get burial
permission for their son.
The clashes spread to Masjid Soleiman, Dezful and Howeizeh. This
morning, residents in Masjed Soleiman held a rally to voice support for
demonstrators elsewhere in the province. They also changed
anti-government slogans. All schools in the city were closed down and
the security forces used tear gas and live fire to disperse the crowds.
Clashes have been reported in Dezful and Howeizeh as well.
The security forces prevented domestic and foreign journalists from
entering the province to report on the uprising. The regime has also
disrupted telephone lines in those cities.
In an attempt to undermine the expanding uprising, the clerical regime
described the demonstrations as "suspicious and malicious actions by
the enemies to incite ethnic riots." It also described the protesters,
whose cry was freedom, as secessionists in order to justify the
crackdown.
In its statement, the PMOI referred to the call by the Iranian
Resistance's President-elect Maryam Rajavi to all Iranians to rush to
the aid of the oppressed Arab people of Khuzistan and to expand that
heroic uprising to the rest of the country.
Secretariat of the National Council of Resistance of Iran
April 21, 2005 |
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