In November 2019, a sudden rise in gasoline prices led to widespread protests across Iran, sparking a historic anti-regime uprising that spread to over 190 cities in all 31 provinces. The protests quickly turned into calls for regime change, with slogans like “Death to the Dictator” and “Death to Khamenei” becoming widespread.
Khamenei responded to the protests by identifying demonstrators as enemies and issuing orders for a brutal and swift crackdown: 1,500 Iranians, mostly young people, were killed, the vast majority of whom died from direct gunfire by security forces. the names of over 750 martyrs of this uprising have been documented.
Numerous images of the confrontation between people and suppressive forces emerged, showing security forces shooting at protesters from close range and, in some cases, by helicopter. In the southern city of Mahshahr, the Revolutionary Guards killed at least 100 people after trapping them in a marsh and shooting them with heavy machine guns.
In this crackdown, more than 4,000 young people were injured, and around 12,000 were arrested, many while still wounded. Reports of torture of detainees emerged, and some prisoners died under suspicious circumstances in custody. Security forces even attacked hospitals, arresting the wounded, confiscating bodies, and pressuring families to refrain from holding mourning ceremonies or funerals.
92 officials were also identified involved in the killing and detention of protesters in seven provinces, the scenes of widespread protests.
To limit news about the uprising, officials imposed a near-total internet shutdown, reducing connectivity to 5% nationwide. This blackout prevented global awareness of the regime’s violent response. However, the crackdown led to a wave of international condemnation, with UN officials reporting severe human rights violations.
As the anniversary of the November 2019 uprising approaches, the Iranian regime shows clear signs of fear over the potential for renewed dissent. Executions have reached unprecedented levels. The number of executions in October and November 2024 is the highest in three decades. Arrests are increasingly focused on supporters of the PMOI/MEK and Resistance Units. Three of them have been sentenced to death, and seven others are being tried for membership in the PMOI and “moharebeh,” a charge punishable by death. This intensified repression demonstrates the regime’s determination to crush opposition while also highlighting the resolve and sacrifice of those who have lost their lives in the fight for freedom.
This anniversary is not only a memorial to their courage but also a reminder of the persistence of the democracy movement in Iran amidst the regime’s ongoing suppression.
