Chanting "Down with mullahs' rule," the crowd attacked the headquarters of repressive agencies as well as the municipality building, the city hall, Khomeini's Committee, and other government buildings, turning Piranshahr into a liberated city.
When it became clear that the local detachments of Revolutionary Guards and security forces could not quash the growing protests, the authorities sent in the special anti-riot units from the nearby cities of Orumieh and Miandoab. The security forces then attacked the crowd and opened fire on them. At least two young men, one aged 20, were killed of gunshot wounds one in the abdomen and the other his head.
A large number of protesters were wounded or arrested. Some of the wounded, who were in more critical condition, were taken to Orumieh hospital.
Clashes began at 9:30 pm local time on Monday, when a 12-year-old boy, Ako, was harassed by an armed gang of intelligence agents of the mullahs' regime. The gang is led by Abbas Bablagha, a notorious and detested agent working for the regime's Intelligence Ministry and the Revolutionary Guards' Bassij. It was Bablagha who shot dead the 12-year-old child. Bablagha has 40 armed men in his gang and they are all employed as the Intelligence Ministry's agents. They suppress the people and extort money in Piranshahr region.
When the news of the child's murder reached the people of Piranshahr, infuriated people took to the streets and staged a large demonstration. They attacked the headquarters of these agents in Beheshti Street and burnt it down.
Clashes between the people and the Revolutionary Guards grew more intense on Tuesday, as thousands of young people demonstrated in different parts of Piranshahr, including Istighlal Square and Istighlal Sharqi Avenue. In clashes with Revolutionary Guards, several demonstrators were wounded when Guards opened fire on the protesters. One of the wounded was identified as Seyyed Shafi Taheri. Several Revolutionary Guards were also wounded in these clashes.
At the moment, security forces and special anti-riot units are patrolling the city and a curfew is imposed on the residents.
Secretariat of the National Council of Resistance of Iran
July 5, 2000
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