Popular Revolution Continues in Iran // FAI ONLINE

Forty-four days after the death of Masha Amini, street protests continue in cities across the Islamic Republic of Iran. From the Kurdish-majority cities of Sanandaj and Marivan in the west, to Astara along the Caspian Sea coast, to Arak and Tehran in the center of the nation, to Mash’had in the East, Iranians continue to take to the streets and squares across the country in a popular movement that has transcended age, gender, ethnic and socio-economic boundaries. The protests are especially vibrant in student communities, including primary, secondary and university campuses, as thousands of young students declare their opposition to the ayatollahs in Tehran. Acts of open defiance continue across the country, including women appearing in public with no hijab, defacing and destroying images of Iran’s Grand Ayatollah Khameni, and even violent assaults against security forces and religious clerics. Popular street chants include, "Death to Khamenei," “Mullahs must get lost,” and “Basiji! IRGC! You are our ISIS!” Besides popular demonstrators, different sectors of Iran’s workforce have gradually joined the movement by declaring general labor strikes, including Tehran’s influential merchant class, public school teachers, steelworkers, and more.

The supreme commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corp (IRGC), Hossein Salami, addressed demonstrators directly on Saturday, claiming that the protest movement is a "sinister plan…a plan hatched ... in the White House and [by] the Zionist [Israeli] regime.” While cautioning protesters to not “sell your honor to America,” Salami also warned them, “Don’t come to the streets! Today is the last day of the protests,” a veiled threat indicating the government’s intention to crack down further on protesters in coming days. Despite this, demonstrators gathered in even greater numbers on Sunday in front of Tehran University, enduring bloody attacks by the Basiji militia, the security force responsible for the death of Masha Amini on September 16th. At least 283 demonstrators have been killed by regime security forces since then, including at least 44 children. Over 14,000 have been arrested, including over 250 students, in over 130 cities across Iran.

Besides the popular uprising inside their country, Iranians have found a growing tide of sympathy and solidarity from their exiled compatriots and like-minded people across the world. Massive street marches in Berlin, Stockholm, Istanbul, Rome, Los Angeles, and even Tel Aviv in Israel have drawn tens of thousands of people, as well as the attention of political leaders, as the movement continues to gain traction internationally. US and EU governments are considering additional punitive sanctions against the regime, including the leadership of security forces who have killed and detained protesters.

We invite the Maranatha family to join us in continued intercession for the people of Iran during this season of upheaval and uncertainty. We pray for truth and justice to be vindicated in Iran, and for the the schemes and designs of the enemy to be brought to nothing. Regardless of whether the protests succeed in bringing the regime to its knees, or whether they are quelled once again in bloody repression, we pray that the Spirit of Jesus would be at work through the underground churches of Iran as they continue the work of making disciples.

Maranatha.