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Iran: Brutal Suppression Inspires More Citizens to Protest

As the regime tries to quell the cries of mourning families of Metropol victims in Abadan, protests extend to many cities, including Tehran.

On Saturday, May 28, 2022, citizens took to the streets in Abadan for the fourth consecutive night, showing solidarity with the grieving families of the victims of the collapsed Metropol twin towers and venting their anger over the regime’s 43 years of misery, crimes, mismanagement, and massacres.

Read More: Protests Engulf More Cities as Officials Fail to Rescue Metropol Victims

State media have reported 29 dead, 37 injured, and dozens are still trapped under the rubble. However, locals say the actual number of casualties is much higher.

“There were between 80 to 120 people; the official death toll is false because the Khuzestan governor ordered health officials to keep the death toll secret,” a citizen said.

“Death to the dictator,” “[Supreme Leader Ali] Khamenei is a murderer; his rule is invalid,” “The state-run TV is a disgrace,” “Khamenei; shame on you, let go of the country,” and “Death to the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) Basij,” chanted protesters in Abadan despite the regime’s brutal suppression.

Notably, the authorities fired teargas and birdshot against defenseless people and arrested dozens of grieving youths.

On the other hand, locals say that the regime has suspended the rescue mission, and native citizens are pulling out their loved ones. “There is no rescue team, neither firefighters nor relief nurses. These are all native citizens,” says a citizen.

“Reports from Abadan indicate authorities were heavily disrupting internet access. Security forces also forced stores to close, arresting their owners and transferring them to unknown locations,” reported the opposition Mojahedin-e Khalq.

“Despite intense measures by regime authorities, locals in the capital Tehran held a vigil for the people of Abadan and held rallies where people began chanting ‘Death to the dictator!’ referring to regime Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.”

Authorities have also dispatched and placed anti-riot forces to quell potential protests in various cities, including Tehran; however, the regime’s atrocities led more citizens across the country to flood onto the streets, expressing their hatred against the regime’s failures.

Protests Extend to Many Cities, Including the Capital Tehran

Videos circulated on social media show the people of Tehran, Shahr-e Rey, Andimeshk, Behbahan, Qom, Minoo Island, and Susangerd joining protests. “Death to the dictator,” chanted Tehran and Shahr-e Rey citizens, turning mourning ceremonies into anti-regime protests.

At the same time, citizens in Ahvaz, Khorramshahr, Omidiyeh, Shiraz, Behbahan, Shahinshahr, Isfahan, Yazd, Bushehr, Bandar Abbas, Mahshahr, Sar-Bandar, and Baghmalek continue demonstrations.

The regime’s poor response to the Metropol collapse fueled public anger. In the first hours known as the golden time, the mullahs dispatched several anti-riot forces and armored vehicles instead of sending relief forces. “Death to this velayat for all these years of crimes,” outraged citizens chanted in Abadan.

“Down with the dictator,” “Basiji must get lost,” “Death to Basiji, the shameless thugs,” “Our enemy is here. They lie, saying it’s America,” “I will kill, whoever killed my brother,” “People of Khuzestan will die, but will not accept humiliation,” “Leave Syria alone, think about us,” “They colluded with the thieves and killed the nation,” and “We will fight and take back this city” were chanted across the raised-up cities, according to the Iranian opposition coalition National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI).

NCRI President-elect Maryam Rajavi hailed the people of the arisen cities. “Through their continuing their protests, the people are conveying the message that Khamenei and his president, Raisi, should be terrified because the Iranian people are all together and no longer intimidated by the regime’s suppression,” she said on May 27.

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