Iranian protesters ignore a “last day” ultimatum

Iranian protesters ignore a “last day” ultimatum
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Commander-in-Chief Major General Hossein Salami, speaks during a funeral ceremony in Shiraz, Iran October 29, 2022. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS

It’s been more than a month of mass protests in Iran following the death of Mahsa Amini while she was in police custody. The protests against the Iranian government have been met with deadly violence. Other young people, including Nika Shakarami, have been killed during these demonstrations.

Rather than negotiate with protestors, officials have issued an ultimatum. The head of the Revolutionary Guards, Hossein Salami, warned that this past Saturday would be the “last day” of protest.

It wasn’t.

On Sunday, protests continued, with demonstrators totally ignoring Salami. But, with this warning, some think that security forces are preparing even harsher crackdowns, meaning more violence, internet restrictions and mass arrests. Videos taken Sunday showed security forces beating protesters, firing tear gas and shooting into crowds. They also tried to block students inside university buildings, fire tear gas and hit protesters with sticks. The students appeared to be unarmed. Will the violence continue to intensify?

Key comments:

“Today is the last day of the riots. Do not come to the streets again. What do you want from this nation?” Revolutionary Guards leader Hossein Salami said on Saturday.

In some videos from Sunday, protesters can be heard chanting: “Dishonored Basij get lost” and “Death to Khamenei.”

At Mazandaran University, the crowds chanted: “If we do not stand together, we are killed one by one.”