ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) top commander labeled protesters as "disbelievers" on Sunday during a speech in the Baluchistan region where the forces have killed at least 100 people, including a nine-year-old girl.
“Today the enemy namely America, United Kingdom, Israel and House of Saud have entered the scene with all their might but decisively this … great sedition and this world war will be turned into a graveyard of the enemies; Americans, Israelis and their allies,” Hossein Salami said while speaking to 15,000 Basijis in the city of Zahedan, repeating the regime narrative of protests being fueled by the West and Israel.
“Today on one side is the Front of Kufr [disbelief] with all its might and on the other is the Front of Islam, one cannot stand in the middle, the lines are clear, one side is led by America and Israel and the other side is led by the Supreme Leader of the revolution [Ali Khamenei] and believers and revolutionaries,” he continued, suggesting that the protesters are infidels and acting against Islam.
The labeling of the protesters as “disbelievers” by the IRGC chief comes a day after Supreme Leader Khameni warned protesters to bring the movement to an end and green lighted further crackdown against them.
The guards under Salami have become the most oppressive tool used by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to confront the protests sparked on September 16 when a young Kurdish woman, Zhina (Mahsa) Amini died at the hands of the morality police in Tehran.
Baluchistan has become one of the most restive regions in Iran, with thousands of protesters taking to the streets, often after Friday prayer and confronting the IRGC and its militia force Basij.
Security forces led by the IRGC have killed at least 450 protesters and bystanders across the country, including 63 children. Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) said that at least 107 protesters were killed in the Kurdish areas including 11 children as of Sunday.
The IRGC is currently struggling with the extent of the protests in the country where almost every corner has risen against the regime. The Kurdish areas have become a real dilemma for the IRGC and its militia.
On Thursday, Salami warned that its tolerance is over with protesters and said that the guards would “drown” anyone who violates the country’s national security.
