A commemoration ceremony was held in Iranian capital city of Tehran for 35 people who lost their lives in the 10-storey Metropol building collapsed in Abadan located in Khuzestan province, Iran. Drums and cymbals used for mourning peculiar to Arab traditions were played at the commemoration ceremony performed by Khuzestan people living in Tehran. Iranian Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Shamkhani also attended the program held in Tehran’s Khalid Islambouli Street. While some of the participants, most of whom were from Khuzestan, couldn’t hold back their tears. At the commemoration ceremony, dirges were read accompanied by drums and cymbals and some people chanted slogans with banners that read “Congratulations to Abadan”. Tehran security forces took extensive security measures at the commemoration ceremony where slogans such as “Lonely and derelict Abadan” and “May our souls and blood be sacrificed for you Abadan” were chanted.

On the other hand, the commemoration ceremonies that continued in the southern cities of the country turned into violent events. While demonstrators chanted anti-regime slogans in Bushehr, Ahvaz and Isfahan province of Iran’s Khuzestan province, clashes broke out between security forces and protesters.