In the city of Abadan and other cities in the Arabistan-Ahvaz province of Iran, mass demonstrations and protests took place, which began a few days ago and continued until late in the evening from Sunday to Monday. A notable development that took place during these protests was that Arab tribes, who constitute the majority of the population of the region, joined the protesters in Abadan, and they raised the flags characteristic of each tribe.
It is noteworthy that the Iranian central authorities, after the fall of the “Arab Emirate”, led by Prince Khazal al-Kaabi, gave the name “Khuzestan” to the region of Arabistan, which was historically called “Ahwaz”, and politically as “Ahwaz”. According to videos posted on social media, Arab tribesmen and residents of the city of Abadan itself chanted slogans in Arabic in the style of haws or al-yazal, a verbal-kinetic folk art that combines poetic chants and physical movements. for example, knocking down two men on the ground. Arab tribesmen also fired heavily into the air, warning Iranian security forces not to fire on the protesters.
It is noteworthy that the Arabs, who make up the majority of the population of the Arabistan al-Ahwaz province, belong to the tribes of Bani Kaab and Bani Tarf Tay, Bani Tamim, Bani Asad, Az-Zarkan, Al-Bawiya. , Al-Hamid, Al-Qatir, Banu Kinana, Khazraj, Al-Sawaid, Al-Bobald and Al-Hawahim with their various branches, as well as Bani Khalid, Al-Fatla and Al-Sawariya. Protesters interrupted a government funeral in the city of Abadan on Sunday evening, chanting anti-government slogans and preventing preacher Mohsen Haidari al-Qatir, the region’s representative to the Assembly of Experts, from speaking.
He also released videos of special forces firing directly at demonstrators in the streets, forcing shops to close and turning demonstrations into the alleys of Abadan, the second largest city in the province after Ahwaz. Thus, mass protests continued about a week after the collapse of the Metropol tower in Abadan and other cities in the region, such as Ahwas, Muhammara, Maashour, Al-Amidiya, Salhiya and Salbukh Island. solidarity with them. The protests have spread to other cities such as Bushehr, Bandar Abbas, Shahin Shahr and parts of the capital Tehran.
On the other hand, the official news agency IRNA reported on Monday morning that the death toll from the collapse of the Metropol Tower had risen to 31 after two more bodies were found under the rubble. According to the agency, rescuers also identified the body of another person, but his body has not yet been removed from under the concrete.
Meanwhile, the atmosphere in major cities in the Arab region, especially Abadan, Ahwas and Muhammar, continues to be described as tight security, with some citizens confirming the deployment of special forces to high-profile areas and mobile internet shutdowns as of Saturday evening. In another video, Imam Jumaa Abadan addressed the participants of the commemoration ceremony for the victims of the collapse of the Metropol tower, saying: “Well done, you, people of Abadan.” In another video, demonstrators chanted slogans such as “We are all warriors, fight us so we will fight you” and “Oh Bashiji, go back where you came from.” The protesters blamed systemic corruption in public institutions as the most important cause of events such as the collapse of the Metropol tower in Abadan on the one hand, and condemned the harsh living conditions and confiscation of freedoms on the other.