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Iran-Kurdistan: Clashes erupt in Mahabad,
SSF vehicle set on fire
16.7.2005
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Mahabad, Iran,
Jul. 16 - Unrest continued in the north-western town
of Mahabad, Iranian Kurdistan province, last night,
with clashes erupting between locals and State
Security Forces, following a week of similar
anti-government protests which flared up after news
broke out of the brutal murder of a young Kurdish
man by the SSF.
Yesterday evening, close to 1,000 people gathered in
the main path leading to Independence Square and
started to march forward. They were joined quickly
by several thousand of the local population and
together they started chanting anti-government
slogans and burning tyres. As they crowded
Independence square, chants of “Death to Khamenei”
could be heard, referring to the clerical state’s
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Chants of “Shoan, we will continue your struggle”
echoed in the square.
On Sunday, agents of the SSF opened fire on Shoan
Qaderi and two of his friends in an avenue near
Independence Square. The security forces then
proceeded with tying Qaderi’s body to a Toyota jeep
and while driving dragged him in streets, according
to eye-witnesses.
Witnesses said that the act was carried out because
Qaderi was active in anti-government protests and
authorities wanted to intimidate the local
population to prevent further demonstrations in the
volatile city.
Minutes after Qaderi’s body was dragged throughout
the town, several hundred angry residents gathered
in nearby streets and started to chant
anti-government slogans.
Last night’s demonstration was met with swift and
fierce retribution by anti-riot forces already
stationed there to prevent a re-emergence of
dissent. The SSF fired live rounds and tear gas to
disperse the crowd. Several protestors including a
child were gravely wounded and were driven to a
local hospital by fellow demonstrators. A number of
SSF agents were also injured. At least a dozen
people were detained and taken to unknown locations.
Gasoline was poured onto the ground and set alight
at several locations surrounding the square to stop
the sting of the tear gas.
As the violence escalated, protestors set an SSF
vehicle and several nearby government buildings on
fire. Clashes ensued until well after midnight.
Several hundred people have been arrested over the
past week during numerous hit-and-run clashes and
house-to-house raids.
Several other large anti-government demonstrations
have rocked the town of Mahabad in recent month.
www.iranfocus.com
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