A sectarian attack on a Shiite holy place by gunmen resulted in at least 15 deaths in Iran.
The country’s antiregime actions, which have been ongoing for weeks around the Mullah’s religious dictatorship, now have another twist.
Iranian state TV reported that three Sunni Muslim extremists, known as “takfiris,” attacked the Shah Cheragh mosque, in the southern city of Shiraz, killing at least 15 people.
Most Iranians are Shiite Muslims, who separated in a schism while Islam was still young. But memories are long and tempers are volatile, and forgiveness and hospitality don’t seem to be options in that area of the world.
According to AP, the attack appeared to have nothing to do with the demonstrations.
It could be another sign that the Mullahs are losing control of the country they have ruled with iron fists in 1979.
Following the death of Mahsa Amini (22 years old), protests began 40 days earlier. She was arrested and beaten by Iran’s Guidance Patrol morality officers for not wearing her hijab properly.
Since then, the country has been rocked by protests each day, including a wildcat strike that impacted Iran’s vital oil sector.
I should also add that protests have continued despite increased violence against civilians unarmed by the regime.
Despite Tehran’s crackdown against social media, videos continue leaking to the rest of the world.
Anti regime protests in Ferdows boulevard of #Tehran tonight. Anti-regime protests are reported in several cities across #Iran tonight.#MahsaAmini #مهسا_امینی pic.twitter.com/9lmYpfrm7x
— Babak Taghvaee – Μπάπακ Τακβαίε – بابک تقوایی (@BabakTaghvaee) October 26, 2022
According to reports, Iranian security forces use either birdshot or a type of pellet gun ammunition against protestors, sometimes blinding them.
Watch Police Forces of #Iranian regime using shotguns against protesters in #Qazvin today. Many of the protesters have lost vision in one eye or both because of the birdshot used by these terrorists.#MahsaAmini #مهسا_امینی pic.twitter.com/Snue8sUcdt
— Babak Taghvaee – The Crisis Watch (@BabakTaghvaee1) October 26, 2022
“Hello we are the New York Times and would like to know your opinions on the gay people you rape and flog in jail. Thank you so much”
Is what they all fucking sound like. #Oplran pic.twitter.com/MpcvpbWieB
— Chelsea Hart (@chelseahartisme) October 19, 2022
Some protestors may not be unarmed or even civilians.
In #Iran 🇮🇷, the Colonel of the #IRGC Javad #Kikh, who was responsible for the supply of Iranian 🇮🇷 unmanned aerial vehicles to #Russia 🇷🇺, was killed today. pic.twitter.com/qe7wFMa4Be
— Dylan Frank (@DylanFrank21) October 26, 2022
Two members of Iran’s elite Republican Guard were shot to death in a car yesterday. The exact location is unknown. It is not clear who their ranks were. Some claim that they were involved in the production of drones for Russia to attack Ukraine’s civil infrastructure.
As you can see, some protests are actually peaceful as you will see in the next clip.
Iran: With regime blocking all roads to the cemetery where #MahsaAmini is burried, people are heading to her grave on foot, Oct26, 40th day since her death, Saqez, Kordestan. #مهسا_امینی pic.twitter.com/H7CRo4qLAm
— Khosro Kalbasi Isfahani (@KhosroKalbasi) October 26, 2022
Half of me had expected the protests would end by now, six weeks after Amini was murdered. Both sides seem to be increasing, with some protestors taking refuge on Tehran’s rooftops in order to throw chairs and tables at security forces.
It just happened in #Tehran.In Bagh Sepehsalar neighborhood, people throw tables, chairs and other heavy objects from the roofs of the buildings on the security forces of #Iranian regime in the streets. Anti-regime protests are reported in tens of cities across #Iran.#MahsaAmini pic.twitter.com/TXJyMweqh3
— Babak Taghvaee – The Crisis Watch (@BabakTaghvaee1) October 26, 2022
Serves them right, naturally.
Others, such as my enthusiastic source on Twitter, claim that these aren’t just protests anymore — that Iran is going through another revolution.
A political organization and a charismatic figurehead are essential for a revolution to be successful. In any of the stories I’ve read, or in any foreign accounts on Twitter I follow, I have not seen either.
After six weeks of growing restlessness, it is clear that these protests have become much more than a protest against the police killing of a young girl.
We don’t know what the future holds. These brave men and women might have made the Mullahs fear God, if not.
