Iran Focus: London, Nov. 20 State Security Forces (SSF) have been dispatched to the streets in the Kurdish city of Mahabad, north-western Iran, and the volatile city is in a de facto state of martial law, according to local Kurdish activists. Iran Focus
London, Nov. 20 State Security Forces (SSF) have been dispatched to the streets in the Kurdish city of Mahabad, north-western Iran, and the volatile city is in a de facto state of martial law, according to local Kurdish activists.
The crackdown comes in the wake of numerous hit-and-run clashes between anti-government protestors and the para-military police in the city, a Mahabad resident told Iran Focus in an email. His account was confirmed by another resident reached by telephone. The paramilitary police attacked protestors with teargas canisters.
Clashes broke out after a uniformed soldier shot dead a local Kurd after a scuffle between policemen and young men.
As news of the killing of the young man spread, people poured on to the streets and chanted anti-government slogans.
It is unclear if there have been any arrests.
Over the summer, there were continuous anti-government protests in Irans Kurdish regions. A number of demonstrators were killed by agents of the SSF who were attempting to prevent an escalation of dissent.
The protests erupted after news emerged that the SSF had shot another young anti-government activist, Shawane Qaderi, in cold blood. His body was tied to the back of a jeep and dragged around the city.
