Protests in Iran continue, human rights group says 83 dead

Protests continued in several cities in Iran on Thursday (29) over the death of a young woman in police custody. The information was released by the government itself and on social networks. A human rights group says at least 83 people have been killed after nearly two weeks of demonstrations.

The uprisings began this month after Mahsa Amini, 22, was arrested by morality police in Tehran for wearing “inappropriate attire”. This police enforces the Islamic Republic’s strict dress code for women.

The young woman’s death sparked the first major demonstration of opposition on the streets of Iran since authorities quelled protests against rising gasoline prices in 2019.

“At least 83 people, including children, are confirmed dead under the hashtag #IranProtests,” Iran Human Rights, a Norway-based group, said on Twitter.

Despite the mounting death toll and a fierce crackdown by authorities, videos posted on Twitter showed protesters calling for the downfall of the clerical establishment in Tehran, Qom, Rasht, Sanandaj, Masjed-i-Suleiman and other cities.

The state television channel said police had arrested a large number of “protesters” but gave no figures.

Human rights groups said dozens of activists, students and artists were detained. The Committee to Protect Journalists said on Twitter that it learned that security forces had arrested at least 28 journalists on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Germany’s foreign minister said she wants the European Union to impose sanctions on Iran after Amini’s death.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said the unrest was the latest move by hostile Western powers against Iran since its Islamic revolution in 1979.

“Enemies have made computational errors in the face of Islamic Iran for 43 years, imagining that Iran is a weak country that can be dominated,” Raisi said on the state channel.