Iran admits 35 dead in protests, organizes veil support

At least 35 people died in demonstrations that began in Iran more than a week ago after the death of a young woman arrested for wearing the Islamic headscarf “inappropriately”, according to an official report on Saturday (24).

Protesters have taken to the streets of Iran’s major cities, including the capital, Tehran, for eight consecutive nights since the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old who fell into a coma after being detained by Iran’s moral police for wearing the hijab “inappropriately.” “.

The regime reacted, cutting the internet signal in the country and repressing the protesters with security forces. The state also organized rallies on Friday in several cities in support of hijab wear and against the protests.

State media, which had admitted 17 people had died in the demonstrations, raised the number to 35, including five members of the security forces. Human rights organizations dispute the figure: the NGO Human Rights of Iran, based in Oslo, estimated at least 50 deaths as of Thursday (22).

The number of protesters arrested is also unclear. Local media had been reporting 280, but on Saturday, Iranian police admitted they had arrested more than 700 people, including 60 women, in just one province over the week of protests, the Tasnim news agency reported.

Among the activists and journalists arrested is Niloufar Hamedi of the reformist newspaper Shargh, who reported on Amini’s death.

Also on Saturday, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said he would be firm in dealing with the protests. Raisi, quoted by state media, called the acts a “riot” and said it was necessary to “distinguish between protest and disturbance of public order and security.” He said he would “decisively deal with those who oppose the security and tranquility of the country.”

The Iranian leader paid his condolences over the phone to the family of a member of a voluntary security force who died while helping to suppress protesters in the northeastern city of Mashhad.

On Friday, thousands of people took to the streets of Tehran in a pro-hijab rally, in honor of security forces trying to quell what official media calls “conspirators”.

Demonstrations in support of security forces were also held in cities such as Ahvaz, Isfahan, Qom and Tabriz.

AK-47 against protesters

Videos circulating on the internet of Friday’s protests against the regime show clashes in Tehran and other major cities such as Tabriz. Some footage showed security forces in the cities of Piranshahr, Mahabad and Urmia firing what appeared to be live ammunition at unarmed protesters.

In a video shared by the NGO Human Rights Iran, a uniformed member of the security forces fires an AK-47 assault rifle at protesters on Ferdowsi Boulevard in Tehran.

According to the Norwegian-based Kurdish rights group Hengaw, protesters have “taken control” of parts of the town of Oshnavih in West Azerbaijan province.

Amnesty International warned on Friday of “the risk of further bloodshed amid a deliberately imposed internet blackout”.

According to the London-based NGO, evidence collected in 20 cities across Iran points to “a terrible pattern of Iranian security forces deliberately and illegally firing live ammunition at protesters”.

Amini died after being detained by Iranian morality police, charged with enforcing the country’s strict dress code for women.

According to human rights organizations, she received a blow to the head while in detention, information not confirmed by the authorities, who opened an investigation.

Some protesters removed the hijab in defiance and burned it or symbolically cut their hair before cheering the crowd, according to images posted on social media.

Acts were also organized by the Iranian diaspora in several countries, including Brazil. On Friday, a group of immigrants protested on Avenida Paulista, in São Paulo, against the violation of human rights in Iran.