Protests in Iran: Security crackdown and calls for a general strike
The Iranian scene has witnessed a dangerous escalation in clashes between protesters and security forces, with authorities resorting to excessive force, including tear gas and live ammunition, in an attempt to quell the widespread protests across the country. These developments come as the popular movement continues for the twelfth consecutive day, fueled by deteriorating living conditions and the economic crisis.
From economics to politics: A radical shift in demands
The first spark of this wave of protests ignited on December 28, with a strike by merchants in Tehran's bazaar protesting the collapse of the local currency and the erosion of citizens' purchasing power. This economic deterioration comes in the context of years of international and US sanctions imposed on Tehran, which have severely impacted the Iranian economy.
As the movement continued, the scope of demands expanded beyond the economic aspect, turning into a purely political movement that raised slogans against the regime and the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has held the reins of power since 1989. This transformation reflects the depth of the gap between the street and the authority, and indicates the accumulation of popular resentment that is no longer limited to a specific group or a particular region.
Police officer killed, western regions ablaze
On the ground, local media, including the Fars News Agency, reported that police officer Shahin Dehghan was stabbed to death in the city of Malard, west of Tehran, while attempting to quell unrest, indicating an escalation in the violence. The clashes are concentrated in the west of the country, where the Kurdish and Lur minorities have a significant population.
In this context, the opposition abroad entered the fray, with Iranian Kurdish parties based in Iraq, most notably the banned Komala Party, calling for a general strike in predominantly Kurdish areas, in a move aimed at unifying the ranks of protesters and increasing pressure on the regime.
Human rights violations and unprecedented geographical expansion
Human rights organizations have documented an unprecedented expansion of the protests, with the HRANA organization recording movements in 348 locations spread across all 31 provinces of Iran. Videos circulating online showed scenes of fires being set in the city of Karaj, and the use of excessive violence in the northern city of Tonekabon and the city of Abadan.
For their part, Amnesty International and Human Rights in Iran (based in Norway) condemned the unlawful use of force, pointing to the shooting of unarmed protesters and targeting them with tear gas, as well as disturbing reports of hospitals being raided to arrest the injured, which constitutes a flagrant violation of international conventions.
