Wednesday, April 20, 2005

Wave of violence spreads to other Khoozetan cities

SMCCDI (Information Service) via email until their website is restored:
Violent clashes continued, yesterday and this evening, in several southern Iranian cities, such as, Ahwaz, Khoramshahr, Mahshar. This wave of unprecedented unrest which has started from Ahwaz, since last Friday, has spread to other cities of the oil rich Khoozestan province, such as, Dezful and Masjed Soleiman. READ MORE

Sporadic demonstrations are still taking place despite the heavy security presence and injunctions to end the riots. Slogans against the Islamic regime and its leadership are the main motto of these actions.

New reports are stating about the increase of number of deaths among the demonstrators but also security forces. Two militiamen were killed in an armed attack against a security post yesterday evening in Ahwaz.

Houses of some of the regime officials or their relatives have been set ablaze by some armed demonstrators resulting in several deaths.

Acts of sabotage are increasing against Petroleum industry's infrastructures, such as, pipe lines or symbols of authority of the Islamic regime, such as, governmental
buildings, security posts and banks.

The riots started following the rumor that the Islamic regime is intending to diminish the social impact of residents of Arab origin who are living in the area. Sources are confirming that the rumor was spread by the Islamic regime's intelligence in order to fuel racism and to create a general situation making fear to Iranians on possibility of a split of the country in case of the overthrown of the Islamic State.

The regime's leadership is hoping to create a situation rallying Iranians behind the candidacy of Hashemi Rafsanjani in the upcoming Presidential elections.

Few separatists have tried to transform the rallies in their favor but their calls have been ignored by most demonstrators as Iranian Arabs believe strongly in the
territorial integrity of Iran. Most of them fought Saddam forces and their local mercenaries during the Iraqi invasion of 1980-82. They do remember the separatists' dark and blooded records and the so-called "Al-Ahwaz" group's
activities during the occupation of Khoozestan.

Rapes and murders of hundreds of young Iranian Arab females and the looting of the cities were made by members of this group who helped Saddam's forces.