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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAKU 000108 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/17/2020 
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KISL AJ IR
SUBJECT: IRAN: OVERVIEW OF 22 BAHMAN PROTESTS OUTSIDE 
TEHRAN 
 
Classified By: Political/Economic Counselor Rob Garverick, Reasons 1.4 
(b) and (d) 
 
¶1.  (C) The following provides an overview of February 11/22 
Bahman opposition protests and official activities in several 
provincial Iranian cities.  Information was obtained by Baku 
Iran watcher via an outreach/reporting effort involving 
information obtained from Baku-based Iranians and multiple 
Iranians in each of the cities covered.  The bottom line is 
that anti-government turnout was apparently modest in most 
Iranian provincial cities, with the exception of Isfahan, 
Shiraz, Mashad, to some extent Tabriz, and the small urban 
center of Shahrekord.  There was considerable variation in 
police activities and levels of violence in the various 
cities tracked 
 
¶2.  (C) While most provincial city protests were relatively 
modest, anti-government turnout often exceeded turnout at 
officially organized "pro-government" rallies.  For example, 
sources in the Iranian Azerbaijan city of Ardebil reported 
that approximately 3,000 anti-government and "less than 
1,000" pro-government marchers appeared on the streets. 
While violent clashes occurred in several cities, sources 
reported no confirmed deaths as of February 12. 
 
¶3.  (C) Begin city-by-city 22 Bahman demonstration overview: 
 
¶A.  Isfahan.  Sources estimated protest turnout at between 
15-20,000, and pro-government marchers at "less than half" 
that.  Clashes with Basij elements and security personnel 
began at approximately 10:30 AM in Engelab Square, continuing 
there and at other areas of the city until about 1730. 
Numbers of protesters increased after a body of students 
joined the other marchers near 33 bridge.  A small group of 
pro-Green marchers was reportedly attacked by a mob of Basij 
while crossing Azer bridge; two protest marchers were 
allegedly thrown off (condition unknown as of February 12). 
Sources claimed that Isfahan police and other uniformed 
security forces did not participate in direct repression of 
green marchers, but also did nothing to interfere with Basij 
and plain clothes security attacks. 
 
Sources said that hundreds of protesters were arrested by 
Isfahani police and other security, who received and 
transported to special prison holding centers individuals 
handed over to them by the Basij. Many thousands of Isfahanis 
reportedly took to rooftops that night, chanting "Allah 
Akbar." 
 
¶B.  Shiraz.  Shiraz sources reported that anti-government 
protests began at approximately 0900.  A group of protest 
marchers estimated at about 20,000 and was led by Ayatollah 
Dastgheib, a prominent supporter of Mir Hossein Moussavi. 
The group reportedly chanted "death to dictatorship," and 
similar slogans.  After about half an hour a group of 
approximately 1,000 Basij positioned on streets alongside the 
streets and park where the marchers were gathering began 
pelting the green marchers with stones that had been brought 
in by truck and dumped the previous day.  Sources claimed 
that police took no action against the stone-throwing Basij, 
but later sought to block regrouping of the marchers through 
beatings and use of tear gas.  Sources claimed that several 
hundred protesters were arrested, as in Isfahan. 
 
¶C.  Shahrekord.  An approximately 3,000-person protest march, 
including many high school students and other young people, 
allegedly started in Kabir street at approximately 12 noon. 
The march reached Bahunar park, where it was addressed by 
reformist Majlis member Nusratullah Torabi (from Khatami's 
faction).  However, Torabi had barely begun his speech before 
the group was set upon by uniformed police.  While a number 
of demonstrators were arrested, sources reported that Torabi 
himself was not arrested.  (Note: the majority of Sharekord's 
population is non-Persian, including Arabs and Kurds). 
 
¶D.  Mashad.  Sources in Mashad reported that establishment of 
a massive, visible police presence in Mashad began three days 
before 22 Bahman.  On the day itself, some of these police 
allegedly fired Kalashnikov rifles in the air to intimidate 
marchers.  A large gathering of pro-green marchers was 
attacked by Basij outside Mashad Bagh.  Local news sources 
claimed that approximately 100 demonstrators were arrested. 
 
¶E.  Tabriz.  Tabriz anti-government turnout was estimated by 
 
BAKU 00000108  002 OF 002 
 
 
sources at approximately 5,000, with only about 1500 turning 
out for pro-government events, "despite free food, juice 
packages, and cash packets." Only minor clashes were 
reported. 
 
LU