Protests Engulf More Cities as Officials Fail to Rescue Metropol Victims

On Thursday night, May 26, 2022, citizens in Abadan flooded onto the streets for the second night. The people initially gathered in various areas to mourn for those who lost their lives during the May 23 Metropol collapse. However, the mourning ceremonies immediately turned into anti-regime protests.

“Death to [Supreme Leader Ali] Khamenei,” “Khamenei; shame on you, let go of the country,” and “My soul and life are for Abadan,” protesters chant.

The regime’s poor approach toward the collapse of the ten-story twin towers of Metropol extremely fueled public ire. After three days, officials have yet to provide the necessary equipment to pull out dozens of people who remain under the rubble.

Instead, citizens bravely risk their lives and put the rubble aside with primary tools like pots, searching for their loved ones. “Officials have sent anti-riot forces and armored vehicles rather than ambulances and machinery,” said a man looking for his family. “None does anything if we stop.”

At the same time, officials dispatched some forces to destroy the building while several people are still under the rubble. “[Officials] want to bury alive and dead people; they did nothing,” said a woman, saying some trapped people are still alive.

People in Various Cities Join Abadan Protests

However, the protests were not limited to Abadan. On the second night, hundreds of people in Khorramshahr and Behbahan, Khuzestan province; Shahin Shahr, Isfahan province; and Bandar Abbas, Hormozgan; joined protests.

They primarily gathered to show their solidarity with the grieving families in Abadan. Nevertheless, they immediately pointed to the main culprit for the Metropol catastrophe and 43 years of misery, lies, crimes, and mismanagement.

“Death to the dictator,” “I will kill whoever killed my brother,” “Our enemy is right here, [the mullahs] lie that it is in America,” “Leave Syria; think about us,” “[President Ebrahim] Raisi; resign,” and “Canons, tanks, firecrackers; the mullahs must get lost,” protesters chanted in Khorramshahr.

In Shahin Shahr, the central province of Isfahan, hundreds of people flooded onto the streets showing their solidarity with the people in Abadan. “I’ll kill those who killed my brother,” citizens chanted in Shahin Shahr.

Citizens in Bandar Abbas, the southern province of Hormozgan, and Behbahan, Khuzestan, extend their condolences to the citizens in Abadan. “Death to the dictator,” defiant youths chanted in Bandar Abbas.

Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), saluted brave citizens, particularly women, in Khorramshahr and other cities, who raised in support of their compatriots.

“Hail to the people and women of Khorramshahr who have risen in support of the people of Abadan and its protests. Hail to Bandar Abbas, who supports Abadan with chants of ‘Death to the dictator.’ The enemy of all our people is the predatory clerical regime that has occupied Iran,” She wrote.

“The tragedy in Abadan is a manifestation of the 43-year rule of the clerical regime, which has brought Iranian people nothing but crimes, corruption, and theft. The people of Khorramshahr cry out, ‘I’ll kill whoever killed my brother,’ ‘the people of Khuzestan will die but won’t accept humiliation,’ and ‘Raisi, shame on you, let go of the country.’ They reflect the desires of all Iranians to overthrow the mullahs’ ominous rule.”