However, it is entirely possible that the Iranian Regime warned IRNA to underreport the number of protesters, as they have done in the past.
Although IRNA also did not report on the protesters’ chants during the gathering, likely also at the behest of the Regime, videos on social media show the protesters chanting common slogans, like “Death to the dictator” and “Don’t be afraid – we are all united”.
On Saturday, the protesters gathered to demand that the governor speak to them and address their concerns, but the governor did not show. Instead, the deputy governor and the Friday Prayer leader attempted to get the crowds to disperse, but they were chased off by angry protesters.
According to local reports, the taps in Borazjan were turned off several days ago and residents are blaming the Regime’s corruption and mismanagement.
Over recent weeks, there have been many protests against the water shortages in Iran’s southern provinces, which have led to many peaceful protesters being arrested or indicted of “incitement”.
A provincial official in Borazjan has admitted that since the beginning of the spring, the water supply to the area has decreased by 30,000 cubic meters daily, supposedly to decrease the amount of water used for irrigation by influential people.
However, it is important to note that drought is now affecting 95% of Iran and the Regime has not dealt with the problem. Instead, they seek to deny climate change and reroute water to ethnically Persian provinces, which only exacerbates the problem and harms more of the Iranian people.
Protests
Water shortages are not the only issue causing protesters in Iran, but actually make up part of a wider ongoing protest movement that has been taking over the country since December. The Iranian people are concerned about a failing economy, constant human rights abuses, and foreign wars, but recognise that the mullahs are at the root of every problem in Iran.
That’s why the Iranian people are clear that the mullahs have to go, with many even calling for the death of the dictators in their protest chants, despite the very real danger of being imprisoned or even executed for this.
