Coverage Of Protests in Iran On September 28

Amid widespread disruption of Internet services in Iran, news and images trickle out Wednesday evening, but it is clear protests rage on in the capital Tehran.

Social media reports speak of heavy police, anti-riot troops, and Basij militia presence in the streets, while people try not to congregate in one location to avoid attacks, tear gas and in some instances gunfire.

One report from the capital’s eastern district of Narmak said government forces in hundreds have taken over major squares and intersections, not allowing crowds to gather, but people were shouting slogans against Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Videos received at 21:30 local time show protests in the second largest city, Mashhad, an important religious center.

Iran International reported earlier that activists have intensified calls for labor and commercial strikes to put further pressure on the government. In the wake of these calls, oil industry workers issued statements threatening a general strike. A statement by oil contract workers and another by regular employees on Wednesday threatened that if the government does not stop its use of force and release all prisoners, they would start strikes.

The oil industry is the most critical sector in Iran’s economy and oil workers’ strikes played a major role in the 1979 revolution against the monarchy.

“We strongly condemn the murder of Mahsa Amini, which was in fact a warning to all of us and had no justification. Such a crime and other crimes cause great pain,” the regular employees of the government oil industry said.