Home News Human Rights Khamenei Uses “Security” As Excuse for Suppression

Khamenei Uses “Security” As Excuse for Suppression

Following the Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei's lecture about security, authorities intensified oppressive measures.

“Education in the Armed Forces’ universities is one of the most valuable tasks because they preserve the state’s security. Without security, all of our values will fall into disorder. Security is a critical element for the state,” said Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei on October 12.

Furthermore, he attempted to evade himself of the country’s economic dilemmas. “The treatment of economic problems depends on preventing the national currency from devaluating and closing cracks such as smuggling, wasteful imports, and financial corruptions,” he added in an online meeting with graduates of the Armed Forces’ universities.

Following Khamenei’s remarks, the state security forces (SSF) intensified the suppression in different cities across the country. In this respect, they humiliated several youths in Tehran, calling them “thugs and hooligans.” Furthermore, they targeted poor porters in Kurdistan and Kermanshah provinces, western the country, raided youths’ celebration in Golestan province, northern Iran, and executed several people in the past week.

The regime is amplifying oppressive measures in the run-up to the anniversary of the November 2019 protests. Hundreds of thousands of people flooded onto the streets on November 16-17, 2019. The fed-up people initially took onto the streets to express their denounce against gasoline price hikes. However, economic grievances rapidly turned into political demonstrations and demands for overthrowing the entire ruling system.

Summary of Repression and Human Rights Violations in Iran – July 2020

Humiliating, Cursing, Beating Youths in Public

On October 8, the SSF took several youths on their pick-up trucks and paraded them in Tehran to humiliate them. Oppressive forces called the youths “thugs and hooligans” to justify their inhuman act. However, this disgusting act prompted public anger, pushing even the judiciary chief Ebrahim Raisi, a notorious executioner of political and ordinary prisoners, to ban such shocking stunts.

This was not the first time that the SSF paraded poor youths in public to break their reputation. Iranian oppressive forces frequently use such horrendous torture to terrify society and spread panic among citizens, who are openly expressing their fury against Khamenei and President Hassan Rouhani these days.

Targeting Kulbars and Killing Them in Kurdish Provinces

According to local reports, the SSF targeted car occupants in Dolat-Abad town in Kermanshah province on October 13. In the incident, 17-year-old driver Ashkan Azizi immediately lost his life. Another 17-year-old occupant Borhan Azizi was severely injured, and he is now in a coma.

Another report says that a merchant from Saqqez city in Kurdistan province crashed and was killed during a car chase by the SSF. The victim’s name was Hiva Vakili. He was married and had two little children. “He was accused of smuggling and pronounced dead in Rashid Abad T-junction at 10:30 pm. The SSF arrested another merchant who was with Mr. Vakili,” a local source said.

Raid on Party in Golestan Province

On October 14, dozens of Basij paramilitary forces affiliated to the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) raided youths’ party in different districts of Golestan province, northern Iran, including the margin of Shad river. They arrested at least 19 young boys and girls, labeling them as “thugs.”

Earlier, the regime formed Basij forces in several patrol divisions to counter possible protests as the frontline infantry. For instance, military newly commanders indicated that they had established local hit squads, called Razaviyoun Patrols, in different cities.

New Hit Squads Established in Iran

More Executions in Iran

Additionally, Iranian authorities executed at least five prisoners, including two women, in the past week. On October 11, a 37-year-old woman only identified by her first name Razieh was hanged in Mashhad Central Prison, northeastern Iran. The female head of the household had been on death row for four years.

On October 18, the regime executed another female prisoner in Sanandaj Prison, western Iran. She had been on death row for five years. Furthermore, prison guards transferred another prisoner to solitary confinement on the same day.

Also, the authorities secretly executed three men whose cases were scrutinized during unjust proceedings. The regime executed Mohammad Yadi, Mehdi Ali, and Saman Yamini in the notorious Rajai Shahr prison in October 2020.

The intensification of suppression apparently shows the regime’s concerns over new protests on the one hand. On the other hand, it reveals that the mullahs’ have lost their social base and oppressive measures are their primary instrument for preserving their rule. However, they can unlikely contain further protests while corruption and mismanagement have disappointed even Khamenei’s loyal forces.

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