Facts: The Revolutionary Guard
When the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps was formed in Iran shortly after the 1979 Islamic Revolution, it was to protect the new religious state from possible coup attempts, especially from the Iranian National Army. It is also with the religious regime that loyalty lies, not with the Iranian people.
Under the umbrella of the Revolutionary Guard is the so-called Basij Militia, which consists of voluntary recruits who, in addition to their regular jobs, are ready to defend the Islamic Republic.
They are the ones seen in several of the video clips that are now being circulated from Iran, where protesters are ruthlessly attacked with batons, stun guns and sometimes even sharp shots. Those who are recruited into the militia are often poor people who obey orders to the letter with promises of a higher standard of living. Many have been indoctrinated from childhood into loyalty to the regime, no matter what.
A few days ago, in mid-November, two protesters were killed by security forces in Mahabad in northwestern Iran. That led to extended protests, with the largely Kurdish population shouting the same slogans against the regime that echoed in Iran for over two months.
— There were completely peaceful protests, but security forces attacked with live ammunition. They injured and killed many, said Shaho, who was there.
During Saturday night, the situation changed completely, he says in an interview on Sunday morning, which takes place through an encrypted app. Around six o’clock in the evening, the electricity was cut off and special units linked to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard rolled into the city in armored vehicles and set up bases in at least two locations. The soldiers are armed with machine guns and fire indiscriminately into homes and civilians, according to Shaho.
— Mahabad is completely under the control of the military now.
Injured are arrested
Shaho has participated in most of the protests that have taken place since 22-year-old Mahsa Zhina Amini, also from the Kurdish parts of Iran, died in the custody of the morality police in mid-September. His account of the terror of the past 24 hours is consistent with images and videos that have been shared on social media, where loud gunshots and screams can be heard echoing through the city.
Human rights organizations such as Hengaw and Iran Human Rights warn of a critical situation in Mahabad.
Shaho is part of a group of residents trying to arrange safe places in homes where protesters can receive care. Namely, those injured in the regime’s crackdown cannot seek care at the hospitals in Iran – there they risk being arrested, according to testimonies from cities across the country.
— People’s homes have turned into emergency departments. It is difficult to obtain medical equipment, but we have managed to treat many.
Enters housing
The special forces have also begun to attack and arrest people in their homes. Injured people are particularly at risk, as their wounds indicate that they took part in the protests, according to the regime.
Shaho estimates that hundreds of people have been arrested in the past 24 hours. He warns that the Iranian state has started spreading rumors that the population of the hard-pressed Kurdish part of Iran has armed itself, and that this is why so many are being killed by the security forces. That is not true, he says.
— They are only civilians, with nothing but possibly stones to defend themselves with.