In Iran, new demonstrations against power took place this Friday after collective prayer in the city of Zahedan in the far south-east of the country, nearly 80 days after the start of the protest movement.
With our correspondent in Tehran, Siavosh Ghazi
According to videos shared on social media, a large crowd, possibly a few thousand people, demonstrated in Zahedan against the government on Friday. Protesters chanted slogans against the leaders of the Islamic Republic and in support of Molavi Abdolhamid, the region’s Sunni religious leader. In his speech, he asked the release of those arrested in recent weeks.
Riot forces intervened violently against the demonstrators. In one of the videos, a protester claims that tear gas and pellets are used by riot forces. We can indeed hear on the videos of the firing of weapons while the demonstrators try to disperse by running in all directions.
Other demonstrations also took place in several towns in the region, where a large Sunni minority lives. This Friday, slogans were also launched against power in at least three cities of the country by people who came to pray at the graves of young people who died in recent weeks.