Widespread protests against inflation; High security state in Junaqan and detention of hundreds of protesters
16-May-2022
Category: Freedom of Expression، Repression
May 14, 2022
Newsgroup: Freedom of Expression – Repression –
Breathing in Confinement: In recent days, the people of Junaqan in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province, along with other cities, took to the streets to protest the poor economic situation and the high cost of basic goods. On May 13, 2022, Habib Fadai and several members of his family were arrested by security forces and taken to an unknown location. On May 14, security forces arrested Soroush Abazari, a civil activist living in Junaqan. In addition, special forces have taken control of the city’s entrances.
According to Breathing in Confinement, the news organ of the Prisoners’ Rights League in Iran, widespread protests in various cities in at least six provinces were violently treated by security forces, and a large number of citizens were arrested.
According to the reports received by “Breathing in Confinement”, in the past two days concurrently with the widespread protests in the city of Junaqan in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province, a large number of young protesters were arrested and taken to an unknown location.
Reports from the city indicate the arrest of hundreds of citizens. A number of detainees who have been identified by the Prisoners’ Rights League in Iran, are: Habib Fadaei and four members of his family, including Kamran Fadaei, Farzad Fadaei, Mehrdad Fadaei, and Behnam Fadaei. They all were arrested on May 13, 2022 and transferred to an unknown location. Also on May 14, Soroush Abazari, a civil activist living in Junaqan was arrested by security forces and taken to an unknown location.
The identities of the other detainees are yet to be known.
On May 14, IRNA, the official news agency of the Islamic Republic, confirmed the protests in eight provinces of the country as well as the arrest of 22 protesters.
IRNA reported that in the cities of Dorud in Lorestan; Andimeshk, Izeh and Dezful in Khuzestan; Yasuj, the capital of Kohkiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Provinces; Shahrekord, Farsan and Junaqan in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari; Fashafoyeh in Tehran and Khorramabad people protested against high food prices. They took to the streets and in some areas attacked supermarkets and shops.
During the protests in various cities, the authorities of the Islamic Republic shut down the Internet. The news indicates that the internet has been completely cut off in Izeh and Junaqan.
The Prisoners’ Rights League in Iran condemns the violent treatment of protesters by the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran and calls on the UN Human Rights Council to take decisive and practical action against the Internet cut-off in cities where protests are taking place, and to investigate into the condition of the detainees.