Shiraz is a city in south-central Iran, the birthplace of ancient Persian civilization, known for its literary history and many gardens. The marble Tomb of Hafez, honoring the revered poet, sits within its own terrace. People from all over the world learn Persian to read his beautiful poems.
To the east, the Mausoleum of Sadi houses the 13th-century writer’s mosaic-tiled tomb and an underground pool. Shiraz is a gateway to Persepolis. Pasargadae is where you will find the Tomb of Cyrus, King of Persia.
The city of Shiraz was spared destruction by the invading Mongols in the 13th century. In 1503 the Safavid Shah Esmāʿil I took Shiraz and killed Sunni religious leaders in an effort to enforce Shiʿism. Shiraz rapidly declined due to large-scale sacking and massacres by the Afghans (in 1723).
In 1979, The Mullahs established a system of religious rule with the ambition of becoming an Islamic empire, a mega-caliphate, encompassing the whole Muslim world. Since its establishment 40 years ago, the “regime of the Mullahs” has conducted violent attacks on human rights, including limiting freedom of expression and the support of international terrorism (including terror attacks and hostage-taking) and funding armed movements hostile to Westerners such as Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hash-ol- Shabi in Iraq and Houthi in Yemen.
Nevertheless, the Iranian people struggle against the Mullah’s dictatorship. Khomeini, and after him Khamenei, acting as despotic leaders, consistently blocked any possibility of popular sovereignty and increased the absolute authority of the Supreme Leader as the head of power.
Consequently, through their history of bloodshed, Shiaraz’s citizens have never witnessed dictators like the supreme leader Ali Khamenei, who has given orders to open fire on demonstrators, slaughter the injured in hospitals, and resort to Internet blackout to quell the demonstrations by depriving them of this crucial protest tool.
Protests flared up across Iran on last Friday with chants of “Death to Khamenei”, “No to Gaza, no to Lebanon; I sacrifice my life for Iran,” after the government imposed a gas price hike. At least 251 people are dead, more than 3,500 injured and more than 7,000 arrested in 141 cities since security forces started cracking down on demonstrators. Protesters blocked roads, burned buildings, banks, government institutions and clashed with police across the country.
In recent days, people in Shiraz have captured most parts of the city. The government forces have lost control over this metropolis. Police stations have been evacuated, no security forces are seen in the streets, and even the plain clothed members of the Ministry of intelligence are not seen. The metropolitan train has been stopped.
The incident in the IRGC compound on Nov.17 seems to have disrupted all plans, and government forces are in confusion.
One Shiraz local reported from the scene, “All the banks were set on fire, the bases of the Revolutionary Guards’ Basij forces were destroyed. The city is in a very disordered state. Law enforcement officers have fled around government buildings. Moreover, all the buildings are in people’s hands. No gas stations are active. The mothers support the protesters and bring them food and water. The situation is irreversible. In the year 2017, the regime was able to recapture all the sites, but it is no longer possible for the government to do it.
Another local said “This morning at 10 AM, all shops on Mulla Sadra Street was closed. Convenience stores owned by the IRGC have been vacated and have been set on fire.”
Another Local said, “It is like a hunger revolution here.”
Another local said, “Shiraz is falling, the death toll is high, I see blood and smoke everywhere. A few police stations have fallen into the hands of youth.”
Another local said, “Khamenei’s forces were not able to have any reaction, therefore, they launched a helicopter and fired against protesters from the air.”
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