Despite the vast presence of anti-riot and uniformed officers in various cities of Kurdistan, reports indicate that various gatherings in different cities still continue.
According to reports received by Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) from Sanandaj, Kermanshah, Ilam, Islamabad, West of Oromiyeh, Bukan and Dehloran, Hundreds of anti-riot forces and Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) plainclothes forces have been stationed in the main squares and streets of the cities to prevent any protest rally in these cities.
“In the past few days, not only the anti-riot forces but also IRGC militia forces dressed in Kurdish dresses and equipped with a stick and baton have been present in Azadi Square, Nobahar, Chahar Ershad and Moallem park. These forces have been heavily involved in suppressing the protests over the past few nights.” A protester in Kermanshah told Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN).
“Other than Islamabad, the protest has not been carried out by citizens of other cities of Kermanshah. So, the troops of these cities have been used to suppress the protesters in Kermanshah,” he said. The IRGC militia has also forced all its activists in governmental offices to be present at the bases of their offices every day in case there was a need to send them to the streets. “, he continued.
“After the recent protests, Sanandaj has become a military base. The riot forces are stationed in most of the squares and main streets of Sanandaj, and the infantry forces of the Ministry of Intelligence and IRGC also constantly monitor different parts of the city. “A citizen from Sanandaj also said.
According to this citizen, the presence of various military and security forces in different parts of the city of Sanandaj has created “a state of fear and terror”. According to him, since the murder of Shawn Seyed Ghadr in July 2005, the presence of such forces in the city has been unprecedented. However, despite the fact that the security atmosphere in the city is dominant, the city’s youth are holding protest rallies every night in the main streets leading to the Azadi Square.
Reports from Ilam also indicate the continuation of protests in this city. On Wednesday, January 03, protesters in Ilam held a protest rally for the fourth consecutive day on the 22 of Bahman’s streets and Confronted the anti-riot forces.
Furthermore, during the last few days, at least five students have been arrested by security forces in Sardasht and Kermanshah. “Mohammad Javaheri”, an undergraduate student of Anthropology, University of Tehran, who was detained on January 02, was released after several hours. Four other students, called Nabi Tardat, Mohammad Mazhari and Omid Jamshidi, were arrested by security forces on Friday, Dec 29, 2017 while another student known as Loghman Visi, a student of the Razi University in Kermanshah was arrested on January 01. There is still have no news about the fate of these citizens.
Moreover, Mukrian News agency reported that the Mahabad Intelligence Office has given a warning to the site’s administrator (Khosrow Kardpour) on Dec 30, 2017 during a telephone call regarding the coverage of protests’ news by the Telegram Channel of the Mukheran News Agency.
