Today is the fifth anniversary of beginning a series of uprisings that began on December 28, 2017.  Those anti-regime protests continued until January 2020, when Iranian authorities deliberately paved the path for coronavirus to quash demonstrations. The all-rounder of Iran’s regime, which is the supreme leader Ali Khamenei issued a warning about his regime’s fate.

“Look, we have faults inside the country, we have ethnic faults, we have ideological faults, we have factional faults, if these faults are activated, then an earthquake will occur; the enemy is trying to activate these faults; mind your step,” he said.

Khamenei, who was aware of the impasse and inefficiency of its regime, never had a solution and a way for the country’s progression except for internal repression and the export of terrorism; therefore, at the same meeting, he gave desperate instructions to his minions and said: “Pray, plead and ask God to make you successful.”

In fact, what Khamenei called faults were the crises and hyper-crises resulting from four decades of authoritarian rule and the looting of the national wealth and resources, which manifested themselves from time to time in more and increasing contrasts.

This continued until the uprisings from 2017 to 2019 arrived, and it became clear to the people’s friends and enemies that the promised ‘earthquake’ that Khamenei had been warning about has come.

With this definition, every simple and complex issue, such as housing, employment, high prices, and even electricity and ‘water’ became a crisis, and as a result, society distanced more from the state.

And for this reason, whispers within the regime gradually turned into shouts, and its media warned that a super water crisis has gripped the country. Every day, one of the strata rises and shouts to demand its share. Social faults have awakened, and every day it is not healed, the situation and solutions become more complicated.

December 28 marked the 104th day of anti-regime protests in Iran. The demonstrations began following the heinous murder of Mahsa Amini, 22, in police custody. However, it immediately turned into a revolution against the entire theocratic regime.

According to the Iranian opposition Mojahedin-e Khalq (MEK/PMOI), the protests have extended to 280 cities. The regime has killed over 750 citizens, injured tens of thousands, and detained more than 30,000. The MEK has published the names of 601 killed protesters.

Follow the Day-by-Day Report of the Iran Revolution…

Key Developments:

  • In an open letter from the notorious prison of Semnan, political prisoner Maryam Akbari-Monfared marked the beginning of her 14 years in jail. “If you ask me, then how did I survive the cruelty of torture and intolerable time? I say that it is the rebellious flame of faith in my heart that has kept me going.”
  • Authorities reportedly gunned down Mehrdad Malek, 17, in the Dashtabi area, Qazvin, on December 26. Locals say a security forces car chased them; however, the car got stuck in the mud, and officers opened fire, killing Mehrdad.
  • The MEK declared its domestic network Resistance Units practiced thousands of anti-regime activities against oppressive and propaganda centers, including Revolutionary Guards bases, Khamenei’s local representations, etc.
  • UK shadow foreign secretary David Lammy said Magnitsky sanctions, which target human rights violations, should be used against organizations or individuals involved in the crackdown in Iran.
  • In an interview with the state-run Tabarestan TV on December 27, Hamid Abazari, an advisor to the IRGC commander-in-chief and the former deputy of Imam Hossein Military Academy, admitted to increasing stress and defection among IRGC leaders and Khamenei’s inner circle.
  • Khamenei’s close advisor Haddad Adel expressed his concerns over the MEK’s domestic and international achievements. “Americans appoint a president for Iran. They announce that Maryam Rajavi is the president-elect of Iran. Those, who are on the streets and conduct odd anti-establishment activities, what would they do if take power?” he said.
  • Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani summoned the Ambassador-designate of Iran. He urged the Iranian authorities to cease executions and halt violent repressions. He called for dialogue with the protesters. The ???????? government will do its utmost to ensure that human rights are respected in Iran.
  • Since the beginning of the first protests in Iran, UNICEF has made several unequivocal public statements and called for the protection of children and young people.
  • The International Coordination and Response Group for the victims of Flight PS752 today issued the following joint statement: “We, Ministers representing Canada, Sweden, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom, have taken concrete action today to ensure that our efforts to hold Iran to account for the unlawful downing of Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 (Flight PS752) can progress to the dispute settlement phase.”
  • “Journalist imprisonments reached a new record in 2022, according to Committee to Protect Journalists prison census. The worst jailers in Iran,” the committee stated.

Tehran Province:

Merchants and storeowners in the Aladdin district are closing and going on strike, protesting the extreme currency fluctuation in the country’s national currency, the rial. Source

Protesters chant in Saadatabad district: “Death to the dictator!” and “Death to Khamenei!” Source

Protesters chant in Ferdowsi district: “Death to the dictator!” “Death to the child-killing regime!” and “Death to Khamenei the murderer!” Source

Protesters chant in Aryashahr district: “Death to the dictator!” Source

Follow more updates on protests in Tehran

West Azarbaijan Province:

Locals in Bukan gathered to mark the 40th day of Ghafour Moludi’s murder by the regime’s oppressive security forces began chanting: “Martyrs don’t die!” Source

Locals in Bukan gathered to mark the 40th day of Shahriar Mohammadi’s murder by the regime’s oppressive security forces. Source

Locals near Mahabad gathered to mark the 40th day of Mehran Rahmani’s murder by the regime’s oppressive security forces. Source

Razavi Khorasan Province:

Protesters chant in Mashhad: “Death to the dictator!” Source

Kurdistan Province:

Locals continued the nationwide protests against the regime. Source

Hormozgan Province:

Locals in Bandar Abbas are reporting a major shortage of diesel fuel in gas stations for many days now. This crisis is crippling the country’s fleet of trucks. Source

Ilam Province:

The local petrochemical site workers went on strike today, protesting the expulsion of one of their colleagues, Arash Tabarrok, that led to his committing suicide. Source

Follow more updates on day 104 of the protests

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