On Wednesday, Hossein Salami, the commander-in-chief of the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC), went to Sistan and Baluchistan province to further increase the regime’s oppressive measures ahead of the weekly protests in the province after Friday prayers.
The main goal of Salami’s abrupt and unannounced visit was setting up an IRGC helicopter base, cloaked in the benign intention of building a hospital. In a state-staged rally, Salami blatantly claimed that the IRGC “always prioritize people to itself, and their security is always more important than its forces’ security and well-being. The IRGC ground forces embody bravery and sacrifice!”
“Security stands as an indispensable imperative for the [system]. With unwavering determination, we relentlessly strive to establish and fortify regional security through a multifaceted approach that places the people at the heart of our efforts. We are resolute in our commitment to localizing and popularizing security measures, ensuring the well-being and tranquility of our communities,” he claimed, calling the regime “people.”
May 12 – Zahedan, southeast #Iran
Protesters are in the streets in a large demonstration and chanting: "Freedom! Freedom! Freedom!"#IranRevolution pic.twitter.com/obYZs83U6z— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) May 12, 2023
Salami made these brazen remarks while, for the past few months, the IRGC thugs have been killing innocent protesters across Iran, particularly in Sistan and Baluchistan, the country’s most impoverished province.
On September 30, 2022, at the height of Iran’s nationwide uprising, IRGC forces opened fire on unarmed protesters in Zahedan who were marching peacefully following the Friday prayer. At least a hundred Baluchi citizens were killed, including children, and many more were wounded and arrested. Among the victims of the “Bloody Friday” of Zahedan was the eight-year-old Hasti Naroui, 16-year-old Mohammad Eghbal-who even didn’t have an ID card due to poverty- and the 88-year-old Zoleikha Torzi.
Only 20 days later, the IRGC opened fire on another group of protesters in the city of Khash in Baluchestan, killing at least two dozen protesters.
In recent weeks, Zahedan has witnessed a series of raids by security forces and the subsequent arrest of numerous young individuals. Shockingly, within the same timeframe, the regime executed over 30 Baluch prisoners in multiple prisons. These distressing events paint a grim picture of the oppressive tactics employed by the regime, targeting the youth and perpetrating grave human rights violations.
This is how Salami’s thugs provide security to locals in Sistan and Baluchestan and across Iran!
May 12 – Zahedan, southeast #Iran
Protesters are in the streets in a large demonstration and chanting: "Freedom and justice are our inalienable rights!"#IranRevolution pic.twitter.com/3ZqclCRISK— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) May 12, 2023
Moreover, the IRGC has unleashed a wave of devastation upon Iran’s economy, exerting its monopoly and leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. With a stranglehold on key sectors, the IRGC’s influence has hindered production, resulting in a crippled economy and escalating poverty.
The IRGC has infiltrated various sectors, including energy, construction, telecommunications, and banking, effectively monopolizing these industries and hindering fair competition. Their corrupt practices, embezzlement, and mismanagement have resulted in a significant drain on the country’s resources while simultaneously enriching the IRGC’s elite members.
The impact is felt most acutely in impoverished regions like Sistan and Baluchestan provinces, where the absence of industries exacerbates the plight of the people. The IRGC’s pervasive grip on power has stifled opportunities for development, leaving these areas marginalized and deprived of essential resources.
People in Sistan and Baluchestan have been continuing their anti-regime protests despite the regime’s oppression, keeping the flame of Iran’s uprising alit. They have also preserved the democratic spirit of the revolution in the making by rejecting the return of the ousted monarchy by chanting slogans such as “Down with the oppressor, be it Shah or the Mullahs.”
In a nutshell, Salami’s bogus claims and desperate pleas can be considered a humiliating debacle for the self-proclaimed “regional power” that is being haunted by the nightmare of its downfall.
May 12 – Khash, southeast #Iran
Regime authorities had dispatched a large number of security units to prevent anti-regime protests.#IranRevolution pic.twitter.com/QYRa1gUwzb— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) May 12, 2023