Iran Appoints IRGC Commander As Governor Of Restive Province

Karami served as the commander of IRGC Ground Forces in southeastern Iran where the province is located during the recent crackdown on protesters.
The appointment comes as more than 100 people have been killed by IRGC-led security forces in the largely Sunni province since protests began in September.

Karami replaced Hossein Modarres Khiabani, who was first proposed as minister of Industry, Mines and Trade in the government of Ebrahim Raisi, but after a negative vote in the parliament, he was appointed governor of Sistan-Baluchestan in September 2021.

Raisi’s hardliner government has appointed several IRGC generals as provincial governors.

Sistan-Baluchestan has been one of the main centers of protests against the Iranian regime in recent months, and after the September 30 "Bloody Friday" in Zahedan when forces shot and killed more than 80 protesters, demonstrations have been held every Friday in the city. Zahedan is the provincial capital.

The Bloody Friday in Zahedan, the provincial capital of Sistan and Baluchestan took place September 30, when security forces killed at least 93 people, and injured hundreds more.

Zahedan is one of the few Sunni-majority cities in predominantly Shiite Iran.

The outspoken Sunni Imam of Zahedan, Mowlavi Abdolhamid, said Thursday that the Islamic Republic authorities are the main culprits behind the massacre in his city.