Neue Proteste im Iran
Protest auf dem Behesht-e Zahra Friedhof, Bildquelle: Twitter
Auch heute kam es erneut zu Protesten in verschiedenen iranischen Städten:
Memorial services for several protesters killed by security forces turned into new protests in several Iranian cities Thursday, including in the capital Tehran.
“This blossom killed in the bud was an offering to the homeland”, a large crowd of protesters who gathered around Hamidreza Rouhi’s grave at Behesht-e Zahra Cemetery in the south of Tehran chanted Thursday afternoon.
Rouhi, a university student who also had a modeling career since childhood, was shot dead near his home in Shahr-e Ziba neighborhood in the west of the capital on November 18. Thursday was the 40th day after his death, when Iranians hold a memorial.
Later, protesters began chanting against Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who they believe has ordered the killing of protesters. “Down with the Dictator”, video footage shows hundreds of protesters chanting. A new slogan was also heard against Khamenei: This homeland will not thrive before he is wrapped in a shroud.
“Poverty, corruption, high cost of living, We will continue until the toppling [of the regime]”, people began chanting as the crowd grew even larger. Security forces used tear gas against the protestersat Behesht-e Zahra, who burned trash cans to neutralize the gas. Government forces also reportedly fired shotgun pellets at them, and shut the gates to prevent more people from joining those already inside.
Behesht-e Zahra, a massive cemetery spread over an area of 1,320 acres, and other cemeteries in Iran are generally very busy on Thursdays as people traditionally visit the graves of their loved ones. Many visitors may have joined in the protest when they heard the chanting.
Several hours later, after darkness fell, people reported on social mediathat protesters were still chanting inside the cemetery and traffic on the road outside had come to a standstill by honking cars.
All this happened in the absence of Hamidreza’s parents who security forces did not allow to leave their home to attend their son’s memorial. Many later went to Hamidreza’s neighborhood as a gesture of support for his parents.