Strikes, Protests Continue In Iran To Mark ‘Bloody November’
Small businesses in Iran are still on strike for the third consecutive day with shops kept closed in different cities to show solidarity with the uprising against the Islamic Republic.
Reports say bazaars and markets of Tehran, Mashhad, Kermanshah, Shiraz, Arak, Qazvin, Kerman, and many other cities were closed on Thursday.
Workers in some large government-owned companies, such as steel and oil producers are also on strike.
Massive strikes come in response to calls published on the anniversary of the massacre of protesters in November 2019.
A series of nationwide protests in Iran, sometimes known as Bloody November, took place in 2019. Initially triggered by a 50 to 200-percent increase in fuel prices, the demonstrations quickly turned into calls for the overthrow of the government and Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. According to a report by a rights group, at least 3,000 protesters were killed by the Islamic Republic security forces from November 15 to 17, and nearly 20,000 arrested. Reuters at the time reported 1,500 deaths.
Grassroot groups last week called for protests across the country for November 15, 16, and 17.
Videos from the western city of Bukan show that people held a protest rally in front of the municipality of the city on Thursday after the funeral of Mohammad Hassanzadeh and Salar Mojaver, who were killed by regime forces Wednesday. There have also been reports that people attacked the municipality building.
According to reports, security forces attacked people during the funeral ceremony firing live rounds and tear gas.
In Sanandaj, the capital of Kordestan province, the protesting people also gathered at a cemetery to mark the fortieth day after the death of some demonstrators chanting slogans such as “Death to the dictator”.
