The tragic event known as “Bloody Friday in Zahedan” refers to the devastating massacre of the Baluch people by the Iranian regime security forces on September 30, 2022. It bears a haunting resemblance to the infamous “Black Friday” of September 8, 1978, when the shah dictatorship sought to suppress anti-regime protests on the build-up to the 1979 revolution. Astonishingly, 44 years later, the ruling clerics repeated this fatal mistake, committing a crime on Zahedan’s Bloody Friday.
The regime’s supreme Leader Ali Khamenei mistakenly believed that he could quell the nationwide uprising by brutally targeting the most deprived and impoverished segments of society, who had nothing to lose but their already miserable lives.
On that fateful day, thousands of Baluch citizens, demanding justice and equality, were mercilessly shot by security forces, paramilitary units, and snipers positioned on rooftops. Countless videos capturing this atrocious crime were recorded and widely shared on social media. Through these harrowing visuals, the people of Iran witnessed Baluch worshipers and innocent passersby drenched in their own blood, desperately calling for help amidst the chaos and horror.
This flagrant crime against humanity claimed the lives of 120 Baluchi citizens, while more than 300 others were left injured, including four women and 17 children.
Similarly, on November 4, 2022, in Khash, the people experienced another bloodbath. Security forces ruthlessly killed 18 individuals, including two children.
The wounds inflicted by Zahedan’s Bloody Friday and the tragedy in Khash continue to deeply affect Baluchestan and its people. The children of Baluchestan, victims of long-standing deprivation and corruption under the ruling clerics, remain unaware of why their family members were brutally killed after the Friday prayer sermon on September 30, 2022. Mothers in this troubled region still mourn the loss of their loved ones. Many families have lost their breadwinners, and numerous wounded individuals have been disabled indefinitely.
On the first anniversary of Zahedan’s Bloody Friday massacre, people in various cities throughout Sistan and Baluchestan province defiantly organized protest rallies against the regime. Despite the regime’s deployment of extensive security measures and a heavy presence of security forces, particularly in Zahedan, these rallies boldly took place. The regime had even dispatched anti-riot forces and deployed heavy weaponry in an attempt to suppress any form of protest.
On September 29, 2023, in Zahedan, a sizable crowd gathered near the Makki Mosque to honor the victims of the tragic massacre. They resolutely chanted anti-regime slogans, defying the oppressive atmosphere that surrounded them.
Protesters were chanting:
“I will avenge my murdered brother!”
“Death to the tyrant, be it the shah or the mullahs!”
“Death to Khamenei!”
“Death to the Basij!”
In response to the protests, the regime opted for a repressive approach. NetBlocks, an organization that monitors global internet connectivity, reported that the regime imposed restrictions on internet access in Zahedan and other areas of Sistan and Baluchestan. This deliberate action aimed to limit the flow of information and further suppress dissent.
⚠️ Confirmed: Metrics show a significant to disruption to internet connectivity in Zahedan, Sistan and Baluchistan in #Iran, on the first anniversary of the "Bloody Friday" massacre; authorities have systematically shut down telecoms to suppress weekly anti-government protests 📉 pic.twitter.com/h5HBrShCo8
— NetBlocks (@netblocks) September 29, 2023
In Zahedan, the tense situation escalated as security forces launched a violent assault on the protesters, using firearms and tear gas. Numerous videos captured the disturbing scenes of security forces firing upon the demonstrators.
However, the courageous people of Zahedan showed incredible resilience, confronting the security forces with nothing but their bare hands and managing to force them into retreat. Initial reports indicate that a significant number of individuals, including several children, sustained injuries as a result of the security forces’ actions.
In the aftermath of Bloody Friday, the Baluch people have continued to demonstrate their unwavering spirit by organizing regular protest rallies every Friday. The regime’s attempts to intimidate and suppress the people’s yearning for freedom have proven increasingly futile, as their determination remains unshaken.
