Bloody Friday Anniversary: Zahedan’s Makki Mosque Under Siege

Heavily armed Iranian forces deployed across Zahedan ahead of the first anniversary of the Bloody Friday massacre, which claimed the lives of more than 100 people in the southeastern city. 

The authorities, fearing a flare up in protests ahead of the September 30 anniversary, put Makki Mosque, the largest Sunni mosque in Iran, under siege, according to Haalvsh, a website which focuses on news related to Sistan and Baluchistan province.

"Security and military forces have blocked all the streets and alleys around Makki Mosque, completely surrounding the area," it said, adding that "security and military forces have fully barricaded the alleys surrounding the mosque and have set up tents in those alleys." 

The security forces are conducting strict checks on people entering or exiting the area and are preventing cars from entering.

The internet has been severely disrupted across the province since last night, making it impossible for residents to make phone calls. 

Earlier this week, military forces from other provinces were deployed to cities in Sistan and Baluchistan.

Zahedan is the capital of Sistan and Baluchistan, which is home to Iran's Sunni Baluch minority of up to 2 million people. 

The restive city has seen protest rallies almost every Friday since September 30 of last year, when security forces killed nearly 100 people in the deadliest incident in the widespread demonstrations sparked by the death in police custody of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini.